[ISF]

Dear Promoters & PA Announcers:

Being lifelong bleacher jockeys we've witnessed how things have changed over the years. I've also harangued on this subject before. I believe I speak for many regular racing attendee's. I'll try to lean in the direction of brevity as much as possible but I could rant ad nauseum.

I, like most here on IOW, attend many racing events as well as being a FLORACING subscriber. Very nearly every racing event we attend or watch on the internet the PA announcers incite and implore the crowd to stand up for the 4 wide salute. We've even attended racing events where the PA announcers incite and implore the crowd to stand for the closing stages of the race. Are you all aware that standing renders my wife's vantage point and the vantage point of other shorter women and young people useless. Those folks might as well get up and leave. Does that seem fair to you?

The exception to the rule is Scott Daloisio out west at The PAS. Hat's off to Mr. Daloisio!! When he requests everyone to stand for the 4 wide salute (I've begun to question whether that practice is still necessary but that's a subject for another day) he just as firmly tells people to set back down after it's over so everyone, regardless of their physical stature, can see and enjoy the racing. So far Scott is the only announcer that we've heard do this. Apologies to anyone else who does. Every race announcer in the country could learn from him.

Bottom line, if you PA announcers are going to incite and implore people to stand please take an additional 5 seconds to also incite and implore them to set back down afterwards. In addition, please don't incite and implore fans to stand for what might be a very exciting segment of the finish to a race. Shorter women and young people are just as anxious and excited to see the action as anyone else and that is impossible if everyone stands.

This has been going on for a while now and seems to be somewhat ingrained into the culture of people who attend entertainment events and probably won't make much difference but we tried and we feel better for doing so. It would be very cool if the sport we all love was the exception!

I know there are countless racing fans who's sentiments on this subject are similar to ours. Thanks to the promoters and PA announcers who took the time to read this. We'd ask you to please at least consider the above.

Becky & Kenny