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Churchill Downs Bans Selfie Sticks To Prevent Possible Distraction For Horses

Churchill Downs "has banned" selfie sticks for next month's Kentucky Derby, according to Bruce Schreiner of the AP. Churchill Downs VP/Communications John Asher said, "You'll still be able to take a selfie. You just won't be able to take one of yourself as if your arms were nine feet long." He added that the selfie stick ban will "extend beyond Derby Day to apply whenever there is live racing" at the track. Asher said that Churchill Downs officials "worried that a selfie stick along the rail could become a distraction for horses." Schreiner noted the Kentucky Derby is a day "when the alcohol flows during the long racing card." Asher said tongue-in-cheek, "Somebody might think it's a light saber after a little while. You never know." Thoroughbred Racing Associations Exec VP Chris Scherf said that he "hasn't heard of any other U.S. horse tracks banning the devices." However, he added that he "wouldn't be surprised if other big tracks follow Churchill's lead." Meanwhile, NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said that the NFL is "evaluating whether to allow the devices into stadiums next season" (AP, 4/16).

GOING DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE? ESPN's Mike Golic noted Churchill Downs is the latest venue or event to ban selfie sticks, as they also have been prohibited from "museums, music festivals (and) the Smithsonian." Golic: "If we're going to start banning this thing, in baseball -- do they still have bat days or have those been banned? Bat day -- you’re handing people who are drinking a bat. But we have a problem with a selfie stick?" He added, "Do we think that nobody has control of their bodies when they have the stick and they’re just going to jab people?” ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco added, “What it is, is it’s an appropriate take on a social stance. The selfie stick should go, and these stadiums understand it's flawed” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 4/17).

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