Guest Interview: April 28th, 2005
Volume #2/Issue #17
Every now and then a book or movie comes along that defines a sport, a generation or
even a lifestile. I think our guest this week captured all of those things in his book
"Good Vibes" which was turned into the movie "Let it Ride". If you can find the book,
BUY IT!!! If you haven't seen the movie BUY IT!!!
Yes, we are talking about the GODFATHER of all railbirds.
Mr. Jay Cronley. Super cool guy and great writer. He was nice
enough to sit down and give us a great interview. Make sure you
listen to the audio interview!!! It's great!!!
Lovedagoat.com: Where are you from?
Jay Cronley: I was Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, took one look
outside, headed south.
LDG: Where do you live now?
JC: I live in Tulsa. Why? No traffic.
LDG: How did you first become involved in horse racing?
JC: I became interested/involved in horse racing in college when I learned that in this sport, the losers paid the winners. Look around. 97 percent losers.
LDG: What jobs have you held in the industry?
JC: This is the only job I have had in the industry -- taking the game to the average person, somebody has to do it, all the other fancy bastards
LDG: Jobs now: Who do you write for now?
JC: Jobs now: ESPN column, newspaper column (Tulsa World), novelist, screenwriter. Dog owner (two black and white springer spaniels).
LDG: How many tracks have you been too?
JC: I've been to most of the tracks.
LDG: Favorite?
JC: The one in York, England. After the races, nobody went home, everybody stayed around and visited and had cocktails
LDG: Worst?
JC: Oh, anything new. Smaller the better.
LDG: You wrote the book, "Good Vibes". What is the book about?
JC: Good Vibes is about a horse player who can't lose.
LDG: What year did you write it?
JC: I can't remember when it came out. I'll look it up late if you make me.
LDG: Where can one purchase the book?
JC: The book will be re-issued in soft back next year I think. The original hardbacks and paperbacks are available on the usual places on the internet: a hard back in good shape sells for hundreds of dollars! Swear to God. I have one left! I should have put some in the vault. It's what a movie does to a product.
LDG: How long did it take to write?
JC: It took about 9 months to produce, same as a child.
LDG: Is the book based on a certain track and on real characters?
JC: The book is based on what you see to this day in the great old tacks, characters and losers and hopefuls. One of my favorite scenes is where Dreyfuss asks random strangers who they like and bets what's not mentioned! I use that strategy to this day -- namely, eliminate the tv horse's ass experts!
LDG: The book, "Good Vibes" was made into the popular movie: "Let it Ride!"
LDG: Explain how that came about?
JC: The book was made into the movie because a horse player/movie guy read it, Ned Dowd, whose life was the basis for Slap Shot. Ned's sister Nancy Down wrote the script.
LDG: What year did it come out? Where was it filmed?
JC: I'm bad with dates; it came out when it came out. It was filmed in Hialeah in Miami, horse race heaven, that old joint, the pink birds all over
LDG: Sorry; we have to expand this to the movie which has become a "cult classic"
across the country: Do you ever watch it?!
JC: I love the movie, I love watching it, and it puts me in a great mood every time.
LDG: How close is the movie to the book?
JC: The movie IS the book. It's like the screenwriter tore the book pages out and glued them together and collected her screenwriting fee. It is 100 percent the book
LDG: Did you appear in the movie aka Alfred Hitchcock style?
JC: I wasn't in the movie; I was there the night before they started shooting. We all went to a dog track where an old-woman owner of the joint told Dreyfuss which dog to bet. He won a fortune but wouldn't share the tips. Other than that, I like him.
LDG: Did you do any consulting for the movie?
JC: Didn't have to consult, they followed the book perfectly.
JC: It is one of those rare occasions when a book writer loves what the movie freaks do with his work. Most books make crap movies because the big stars get $20 million and are stuck in all the scenes. In Good Vibes, Trotter was in all the stuff to begin with.They called Trotter "Jay" -- that was my influence I guess.
LDG: Do you think the movie represented the book well?
JC: Yeah, the movie nailed the book
LDG: Which actors did you get to meet, and which ones are the real "Railbirds?"
JC: Ms. Jennifer in the red dress, I don't think she was acting. Nah, writers only get writers.
LDG: Do you still get royalties now?
JC: Royalties are hard to find unless you're God. You sell a book the way you would a car, get all you can up front, hell with what happens next.
LDG: Where can one purchase the movie "Let it Ride"?
JC: The movie is available on the internet.
LDG: You write for the Tulsa World and ESPN.com.explain your duties?
JC: I write a general interest column for the Tulsa World Tuesday, Friday, Sunday -- it's going to be free access shortly. I write average-guy stuff for EXPN horse race site, colorful stuff. I hope. Also some pretty good and sneak advice, time to time.
LDG: Handicapping: What are some of the strategies you employ?
JC: Avoid the obvious unless it can't lose. Keep an open mind. Be creative. Embrace long-priced stuff. Listen to what the TV experts say, and then go the other way.
LDG: What do you suggest for the beginner?
JC: Think for yourself. Observe! Watch races without betting. See why big prices win. Shut out touts -- what could an expert know that you couldn't figure out?
LDG: Biggest hit?
JC: A Trifeta at a place near here called Will Rogers Downs. In the rain: A horse from New Mexico went off at a huge price and won by three quarters of a block. There was not enough money in the whole place to pay me. They like had to take up a collection.
LDG: Worst day at the track?
JC: I Lost a big pick six in an enlarged photo. Excuse me. I have to go throw up.
LDG: Blondes, brunettes, or redheads?
JC: Brunettes, no contest, because of an exaggerated sense of femininity.
LDG: What are some problems facing Horse Racing?
JC: It depends on your perspective. From my perspective: not that much. Not enough penalties for cheaters. National TV comes to the races a couple of times a year and says the sport is dead. Feeble crowds. Feeble in number and age, isn't bad as long as gambling is up. The spectacle is still there at the big races, Derbies, etc., record 73k in Arkansas last week. And the gambling is fine mid-week with my crowd.
It's just that you don't have to be in the stands anymore, which is pretty sad, if you ask me.
People watch screens, not live.
LDG: What are some solutions?
JC: Keep the morons pounding the slot machines.
LDG: Kentucky Derby: Give us your top three horses and why!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JC: Too early. Wait. Maybe not. Let's do it this way, this far out: Lay a stencil over the race. Let's box: two front runners, two stalkers, two deep closers.
See you at the bank.
LDG: Thanks Jay!!!! Let's do this again. See you at the rail!!
lovedagoat.com
