Guess it didn't work using crashes to show the razor-edge of danger a jockey walks on every single race. Too distracting to viewers worrying rather about the animal involved.

Who was the race writer that wrote, a couple years ago, that nobody should be allowed through a racetrack turnstile unless they were carrying $200 to drop at the windows that day? Anybody remember that, I'd like to re-read it.

I wonder if Santa Anita said they could only film if they agreed not to show spills where the horse brokedown and had to be euthanized? Someone might've had the sense to bar that. I mean it's not like Animal Planet's entitled to show it, SA's private and AP's not a news channel.

About NASCAR and the wrecks, I don't think it's like hockey where people get excited about fights. When there's a wreck, a lot of fans get upset cuz if their driver isn't in it, maybe his chances got compromised by it. Believe me a lot of them know where he needs to finish to not lose a spot in the points system and if some loser knocks them out of it by wrecking, the fans swear a blood oath to hate them for life.

As a queen of lobbying against PETA and almost any animal RIGHTS (please note key word rights, I absolutely support animal welfare)...I truly thought I would hate this show, especially after the commercials.

However I am quite pleasantly surpised with the outcome. Every horse that fell, got up and ran away. I thought this was going to be bunny huggers haven(bunny huggers=animal rights nuts)...to advocate yet another agenda to bring about the end of horse racing. It wasn't.

I have to disagree that this was a disparging show on the industry, breathing a great sigh of relief....maybe from an insiders view it was lacking and may not attract people to come to watch and bet. But it did not show as it a cruel and inhumane sport. I am relieved after watching the first 2 episodes, we shall see at it develops, but it seems the concentration is really on the jockeys and not horses breaking down.

Unfortunately there are no politcal groups that reap millions of dollars on the exploitation of humans, just animals..so the drama of jocks being hurt just doesn't create an agenda for the animal rights nuts.

Casino gambling does nothing at all for me either. I guess craps is kinda fun if you're really drunk - know some people at the table - and aren't losing.

It would be fun to beat the casinos silly as a cheat ... I love watching the breaking vegas shows when they're on.

let's stick to the show here people

what i learned this week:

mike smith looks like he's 65
chantel is hotter then i previously thought
kayla stra is fighting an uphill battle, and her agent kind skeeves me out
joe talamo is really only 18, and has a cool accent
aaron gryder ............
i had no clue go go was soo cocky
where did jeff mullins' mullet go?

i think its gonna be a goo show

-bt-

Big Z
 

I really think that this show could make Zenyatta a "equine superstar"... words like "undefeated" seem to stick with the public.

oh, so hot...

Chantel isn't that hot.....:confused:

Kayla Stra is ten times hotter

Far TOO many commercials for me. Though love seeing Gomez as a jag. He must have changed or refused to be on the show as he was a decent guy in Chicago. Couple inaccuracies noted: Oak Tree meet more important than Del Mar and Saratoga and gate handlers 2nd most dangerous job on the track? Did anyone let them know there are excercise riders who are not jockeys are out every morning trying everything from schooling babies at the gate to seeing how a horse will react to a whip for the first time? And I wouldn't want Kayla walking my dog.

I didn't watch the whole thing, but thought it was a bit ridiculous having Denman recreate a call at the Fair as if the race was just Gryder vs Talamo. At least I assume it was dubbed in, as I have never heard a race called that way.

I certainly never intended to lead you guys to believe that I thought, or was promoting the idea, that breakdowns were a good thing to watch and/or that people loved seeing horses euthanized. All I was trying to say is that I think these breakdowns are not what's turning anyone away from the game. Yes, the crashes are sometimes spectacular looking. If seeing that in a five second preview gets anyone to tune in and be exposed to the game that we are all on board with and love, then how is that a bad thing? I haven't seen the show yet, but I'm sure it's not a Fox "When Good Times Go Bad"-type hack job.

As for fantasy sports players being nerds obsessed with stats and more likely to gamble on poker than horse racing, that's the most asinine statement I think I've ever read anywhere. What do you think handicapping a horse race involves? Past performances, or flowery terminology for "statistics," and attempting to forecast what a horse will do based on them. It's exactly like fantasy sports except you don't have to wait until the end of the week to see if your team wins. You have to wait about two minutes.

And the reason poker is so popular is because someone had the good sense to think outside the box and educate potential fans/players during televised events and market its biggest stars. How is Phil Hellmouth more interesting than Bob Baffert?

I thought the show was very good. Making the jockeys and horses more personal only adds to the interest in the sport. If I was at Santa Anita today I would have a new appreciation if I were to see Mike Smith, Chantel, Joe Talamo, Zenyata, etc.

The more you know about their lives, the more connected to the sport. Heck, just look what DT Stables has done for so many of us that just watched and bet races from the stands. Getting inside the sport has greatly enhanced the pleasure and love of the sport. This is what this show can do.

In the same way American Idol (whether you like it or not) takes unknowns and over the season makes raving fans for many of them, Jockeys in a small way can do similar. Will it produce new fans? Maybe, but I think it will move a small segment of the population, whether they be new or exisiting players, closer to the sport and not away.

Too bad the % of people watching the show was most likely very small. I wonder how many did see it and what the reaction was.

Spyder

Bob, did you nod off at the keyboard mid-sentence?

Yea, I agree with that. I wish they would make the calls real instead of only focused on the people in the show. That I did not like.

we enjoyed it and look forward to next week. it could do without the horses hitting the ground but they all walked away.

I'll try to give it a chance but with all the commercials... You know most new shows don't have many commericals. They want you to watch - then slowly increase the ads but it seemed like the show segments were as long as a race and the commercials ridiculous. Without commercials I imagine the show is only 15 minutes long, if that. Animal Planet is on cable. You sorta have to pay to watch it.

How many races did they record before they got Corey getting hurt? or was that re-created like the horse calls?

I'm thinking people that are fans of the sport will get very little insight.

I think reality TV shows suck.

we've watched them a few times-amusing how bad some of the cheats are-and how brazen! guys just reaching into little old ladies cups when their backs are turned. it's unbelievable.

i talk up horse racing all the time-i'm determined to increase the # of visitors as much as possible.
as for betting-i enjoy the mental exercise of trying to find a winner, and i hope to get better at it.

It's much much easier to get a longterm edge at blackjack or video poker than at horseracing. No comparison. Granted, if you can beat horseracing it's way more interesting and way more pleasant. Casinos are not fond of good blackjack players, and they're not crazy about people who capitalize on weaknesses in their machine games, either. Expert cappers don't have to deal with casino hostility.

--Dunbar

i didn't care for the atmosphere at the casino either. lights, bells and whistles...just seemed mindless. you just sit there and hit buttons. not my thing at all.

They showed the actual race with the real call. I believe that it was the 1st race in the 2nd show.
I'm really not sure what kind of insight you are talking about. If it's about handicapping and betting, then they will probably get nothing out of it. What they will get out of it is the amount of training, preperation and most importantly care that the horses go through/get. Also the amount of dedication that the jocks have and it's just not about showing up at post time and riding a horse. They SHOULD understand the type of horse they are on and understand how the race will/should unfold. Also following the instructions from the trainers.
It was interesting and hopefully some people that watched will be intrigued enough to get themselves out to the track sometime soon.

Oh yeah, and I am hoping their is an episode where Chantal breaks out those hooker boots she was unpacking. ;)

In the long run, I'm ahead at the blackjack table compared to horse racing. The major difference is I don't find myself having fun at the blackjack table.
So, Drugs I agree with you 100%. I'd go to the racetrack before the Casino every single time.

I love DVR. It was commercial city. About 15 minutes of real content. I absolutely hate how these reality shows replay what happened before the break.

All in all the show wasn't bad...I do have to say the re-created race calls were very annoying. I would have much rather enjoyed the actual race call.

Not a terrible offering, but the recycled and replayed video was awful. It was just filler, filler, filler.

Either they thought the people watching would be morons and need to see this stuff over and over or it was poorly produced. I would say a little of both.

And oh yeah, the re-cut race calls from Trevor...ick. Hope he got paid for that.

talking aobut gamling made me wonder when was the last time i went to a casino. just feel that at a casino its all such a chance but at the track i can make my picks and bet now i know its chance when the horses strat running but at least i have made a decision and am able to bet that decision. the casino its just to random.But........there are usually much more attractive ladies at the casinos vs most race tracks.

You've obviously never been to Del Mar.Best looking,Best dressed women in the world!!

Here is the link for the forums for the show.Quite interesting how it attracted some real whacko's.
http://community.discovery.com/eve/f.../f/96119111001

I watched 50+ races yesterday and none. not one made a point about a horse finishing last like they did on the show. I believe the calls weren't realistic or he was making a point for the show. Doesn't matter

too many commercials too much rehash

Jockeys replays tonight on Animal Planet at 10 EST for those who missed it Friday. You can also catch it this coming Friday at 8 EST prior to the new episode.

There were obviously "just made for TV calls". But the call I was refering to was the race where Nakatani went down right after the start. I'm not 100% sure, but that seemed like the actual call.

Or Keeneland, Saratoga and even Arlington on a Friday afternoon. Of course Ho Chunk Casino is always full of chunky Ho's

None of the others come close to Del Mar......NONE!!
I am inviting DT'ers (2 at a time) to join me in the Turf Club on any Fri. during the meet (must own a respectable blazer and pair of slacks) It's a scene out of a movie.....

I'm out.

me too. i sure don't own a blazer!

maybe one day if i hit a big score then will see about going.:$:

but very happy with my beautiful cajun ladies.:tro:

She said winning a race is better than sex....If that's the case, she's hangin' with the wrong "brajole!"

If she was used to winning, then Im sure it would be different. Or your right, if she had a decent sized cannoli to go home to.

I had a friend that went to Delmar and he didn't like it at all. Said he didn't know what all the hype as about. He loved Santa Anita.

I haven't been out west at all. I have a friend in San Diego so maybe one day I'll make the trip

just watched it on dvr.

good: *showing what a difficult, dangerous job being a jockey is
*the personalities of each of the jockeys came out as they really are known to be, no fake stuff for the camera
*the shots of Santa Anita and the decimating performance by Zenyatta
*Kayla Stra and Chantal Sutherland.

bad: *production values, what did they shoot this on, film from 1952?
*the breakdowns
*the voice over calls by Trevor Denman, did they think the audience was too stupid to know there were other horses in the field?


all in all, i give it a 6 out of 10. i'd watch it if i have nothing else to watch but it isn't a must-see.