Black Caviar crosses the great divide

Matt Rigby | Tue 6 September, 2011

Those racing enthusiasts who watched the ABC's Australian Story on Black Caviar last night, have probably seen it all before. The emotive music, the layman's terms, the generic shots of morning trackwork, and the owners who have suddenly been thrust into the limelight.

As a "racing person's" story, the ABC did an ok job.

However, "Paint the town black", the story by the ABC's Caroline Jones, was a whole lot more than just a story. It was the first time the show had ever covered anything but a human being, which is something special in itself. But it was the fact that the story transcended the great divide between those hooked on racing, and those with only a cursory or general sporting interest.

The story reached out to the general public. Those who perhaps follow racing once a year, in the first week of November.

Australian Story is one of the ABC's more popular programs and to showcase one of our greatest racehorses was a huge publicity coup for the industry as a whole.

The arguments will rage on as to whether we are "going the early crow", declaring Black Caviar the best ever. It may be too early to make such a declaration, but who cares? What Black Caviar has done for racing in this deflated post GFC phase we are enduring, is priceless. And the ABC's willingness to cover a story that does not initially appeal to the masses, is a great success for all of us who love the sport.

Well done ABC and onwards and upwards Black Caviar!

The full story can be seen at: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/ and the story trailer above.