Barbaro = Passion = Blog = Community

07/19/2006

Quick question. What makes a successful blog?
Quick answer: Passion

Barbaro My pal Alex Brown is passionate about technology marketing and racing horses. He's combined both to tell the story and spread the word of Barbaro at Tim Wooley Horseracing. That alone would have been sufficient to write a post. But there's more to this story.

Barbaro is an American thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby. His win made him the sixth undefeated horse to win that race. Talk was that he was on track to become the next "superhorse." However, a few short weeks after his Derby success Barbaro was injured as he came out of the starting gate at the Preakness Stakes.

Alex was not the only person who was passionate about Barbaro. Hundreds. Pehaps millions of people were searching the internet every day for news about Barbaro's condition. Alex turned Tim Wooley Horseracing into Barbaro Central complete with daily updates, photos and a blog. At the time of this post Barbaro's July 18th's post showed 630 comments and counting. The site shot from a handful of visitors a day to over 16K a day.

Quick question. What makes a successful blog?
Quick answer: Passion

Alex did more than develop a space to provide information about Barbaro. He created a community where people who are passionate about Barbaro can rally.

  • Two soldiers presented Barbaro with an American flag that had been flown in from Iraq to honour the wounded warrior Barbaro!
  • His story is showing us the heart of this sport. We're discovering why we love animals so much. We're appreciating how special it is just to watch a racehorse compete and walk away healthy.
  • I can't thank you enough for all of the updates you are providing! I check this site 1st thing in the morning and all through the day!

It's the stuff that movies are made of .. I'm thinking Barbaro and the Blog. Alex who would you like to play you?

Ann Hadley, MarketingProfs, Mack Collier, Viral Garden. David Armano Logic + Emotion and Eric Kurtz, Marketing Excellence would be proud.

From sire to sire
It's born in the blood
The fire of a mare
And the strength of a stud
It's breeding and it's training
And it's something unknown
That drives you and carries
You home.
And it's run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined
In the dance
It's high time you joined
In the dance --
Run for the Roses

Barbaro_2 Read More About Barbaro
YouTube Videos
News Video
MSNBC
Photos At Bolton Center
LA Times

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Comments

thanks Toby. BTW, the site has more than 6k comments, we get about 700 comments A DAY right now (as you can imagine, my planned relaxed summer has been postponed)!

Posted by: alex on Jul 19, 2006 5:11:59 AM

Yup, passion is what it's all about. Otherwise, who's going to read?

700 comments, though... geez... that's more than just passion!

Posted by: J.D. on Jul 19, 2006 9:46:51 AM

Great example of the "need" of people to connect and the "need" to express ourselves with/to others who care about the same issue/s.

So, J.D. - what's beyond "passion?"

Posted by: Toby on Jul 19, 2006 10:09:36 AM

That was a very passionate read. Something I've noticed lately is how "popular" it is now to be passionate in the workplace. I think the business world has realized that passion for what you do leads to success.

Maybe it's even simpler. Maybe it's just about caring. Caring about something is huge, because it means that you think outside of yourself on a regular basis. And that can only lead to good things.

Great post. Thanks for calling it out.

Posted by: David on Jul 20, 2006 2:17:03 PM

We might even sidestep with your business idea to the hiring and company culture. If HR gets it right you're one step closer to creating a productive team environment where caring/passion builds better products and customer and employee experiences.

Posted by: Toby on Jul 20, 2006 5:56:17 PM

Sorry we stoled your summer ALex! We love, and thank you for all you do!

Posted by: Debbie on Jul 31, 2006 9:18:24 AM

Thanks Alex for all the updates. You're the greatest.

Posted by: Greg Neel on Jul 31, 2006 4:41:40 PM

Liked your passion more than your blogs. Great work Alex!!

Posted by: Gina Kay on Aug 2, 2006 1:04:07 AM

Passion is definitely a key ingredient. However, Alex's credibility and integrity make him uniquely qualified to chronicle Barbaro's journey. No one does it better!

Thanks, Toby, for focusing on someone so worthy of praise.


Posted by: Brandi on Aug 4, 2006 6:59:03 PM

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