Of course, when I talk about momentum halting, I'm talking about the eyes of the casual fan, or the potential "real fan" -- and gambler -- who WOULD add to track attendance and handle eventually. Obviously, all of us are loving it year 'round.

Exactly.

I had NBC on for about two minutes and couldn't take it.

Pure torture.

Kentucky Derby draws highest TV ratings in 18 years
 

The Kentucky Derby's television ratings are the highest in 18 years.

NBC says Saturday's coverage of Calvin Borel riding Super Saver to victory for the third time in four years drew a 10.3 overnight rating and a 23 share. That's up 1 percent from last year's 10.2/22, when 16.3 million viewers made 50-1 shot Mine That Bird's win the most-watched Derby in 20 years.

Well said. The sport has taken terrible public hits in the recent past (Eight Belles), and had been forced out off into cable oblivion. Glad to see it back on the national networks. NBC obviously loves the sport, respects the sport, and they do a great job treating racing as a major, important sport deserving of more than an hour of coverage, even when it isn't nowadays.

What benefit does that type of sugary presentation give us? It helps with our continued existence. It helps the average somebody who doesn't care about racing to view the sport in a positive manner when confronted by some PETA person wanting to ban the sport due to an Eight Belles, or when having to vote on legislation to restrict gambling. It does help bring people out to a day at Arlington, a day at Keeneland.

Geesh - if people want nothing but the gambling aspect, read the DRF, watch at the OTB or your ADW site, go to the horse racing TV channels. Displays of futures and exotic payoff boxes would bore the general public to tears. I think NBC does a great job, and I'm thrilled to have horse racing back on that particular network. Calling that show "garbage" is unfair.

Just watched and actually thought it was pretty good. I don't even mind the celebs and hat stuff. Think I'd lose the Top Chef segment, though.

Very well said.

The problem is that horseracing does not derive its revenue in the same manner as other televised sports. Casual baseball fans may be motivated to attend a few games, buy some merchandise, follow a hometown team on the local tv/radio network, etc. None of that is a signifigant source of income for horseracing. We depend on gambling, for better or worse. The network is simply catering to the viewers it believes will create the highest ratings while using the telecast to promote other network shows. The exposure that racing gets is for televised events is nice but I dont know that the human interest stories or different camera angles contribute an iota to creating the new "fans that we need, the ones that gamble. The dude that won the 100k probably turned more lights on in potential fans that racing needs by promoting the best aspect of horseracing, the ability to make money.

We know that. That doesn't mean the NBC telecast for casual fans shouldn't exist, or isn't of benefit, in my book.

The ability to make money gambling in horseracing is vastly overrated.

That contest was a great addition, with the PR miracle being he won (although SS was the horse most likely to run his race in the eyes of many - good choice on his part).

But that was about 10 minutes of the entire broadcast. Glad it wasn't the only part. I don't need a two hour commercial for buying lottery tickets or going to the casino. That's not the reason why I love horse racing, never was, never will be.

I love the show Top Chef. Do I want to see it while watching the Kentucky Derby? NO.

I also didn't give a flying flip about how the lady's dress was picked out for her to wear on air.

I would rather hear about the horses. Not necessarily the gambling aspect of it. But maybe the human interest part of the horses. Tell me more about the female trainer trying to become the first woman trainer to win a derby. Tell me about the horses, trainers or owners. I don't give a FLIP what anyone is wearing. Put that on a show like "10 ten dresses at the Derby" on Bravo. But I will say it gave me a break to go get a drink or a bite to eat.

Oh boy.

Point 1- I didnt say that the telecast should be focused on gambling. I made the point that the focus on the human interest stories and other crap wont translate into "making" the type of fan that racing needs to succeed. Like it or not fans that don't gamble are just not important to the sport on a day to day basis because those types only focus on the few big events a year and dont really bring much revenue to the table.

Point 2- The allure of horseracing is the gambling, be it by wagering or owning horses. That fact is that the industry failed to capitalize on for years prior to gambling becoming more socially acceptable. For years the "leaders" of the industry tried to not focus on the gambling aspect of the game. Obviously this misfired as other forms of gambling become more popular. think poker exploded because of Phil Hellmuth's personality?

The truth is that the telecast or its focus is really meaningless in the big picture, just as the NFL's pregame shows are hardly what is remembered after the games are over.

i still say the best way to make new fans is squarely on our shoulders, not some bimbet from nbc. take your friends, your co-workers, your kids to the track. there's only one of me, but i created three more fans just with my kids.

I agree with a lot of what you said but not with this part in a roundabout way.

I mean you are right here but the thing is these "fans", the once a year types, if they're not the main group who should be targeted who is?

The Nielsens are a joke. A dinosaur. I don't believe X million watched because they're as outdated as vhs tapes but whatever the true number is? The real X million? They need to be brought in.

Food and clothes... what is that, an effort to cater to women? That's insulting.

I refuse to be grateful that there's any coverage when it's this much of a joke.

Portray racing as what it was or what we want it to be. Show it as a mental puzzle, a physical thing of beauty, the sport of kings for God sake... a little bit of grandure left over from a century ago. There'e history, excitement... profit. That part is hard to show but the thing is if it's not shoved down peoples throats... if you get them hooked they WILL (I feel like tfm when I do that :D) bet. Most of them anyway.

... and they'll bet more and more...

Every once in a while I'll post that I'm from the Smarty era. This sounds stupid but it's true, it's my truth, and I know quite a few people who, like me, had zero interest in horse racing until the one two punch... Seabiscuit and Smarty.

With racing-themed tv shows and films coming out this is the perfect time to attract new fans and what happens? It's treated like some secondary reason for a talk show. It's outrageous and almost degrading. LIke I said I didn't watch this year but I've watched enough in the past to know that the race is one of the last things that's focused on.

If we can't get new people, new bettors, from this audience interested, where do they come from? The occassional couple of people who are brought to the track to experience it?

It's a nice thought but it's not going to bring in the numbers racing needs.

TV is still good for a few things which is why it's so f****** aggravating when it's done in such a manner as the NBC broadcasts always seem to be.

I don't know... maybe some savvy industry professionals could step up and demand that NBC (at least) take note. It doesn't mean they will but at least make them aware of the problem with their ridiculous broadcast. It's a first step...

Frank Stronach was on the right path when he had those Frank's drink bimbos at Gulfstream. Bring more hot women to the track and that will bring guys who get drunk. Drunk = higher probability of gambling.

Pi.ss on the fashion shows. Put hot women in bikinis and they will cu...err come.

Forget what I said. This will work. :D

You may be on to something.

I love this, that TV ratings go up year after year and we get less and less national TV coverage.

As for NBC, it wasn't ideal but it was a hell of a lot better than Bravo's abomination on Friday.

Why don't we just get cheerleaders for each race? Gulfstream Gals; Churchill chicks; Santa Anita Sluts, etc...

THEN you will cu... errr come. :eek:

I totally agree. Friday's coverage was unbelievable.

I just want them to do away with the disorientating blimp view during the race. I cannot tell which horse is which from that angle, nor do I see how a casual fan can tell where their horse is.

How about the Suffolk Downs Suckfuk go Downers?