Andrew Beyer's comments about TVG
 

Here is an article Andrew Beyer wrote regarding the telivision channel TVG:

http://drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=78584&subs=0&arc=0

TVG is a godsend to horse race lovers like me and the rest of this board but I don't like them ramming thier picks down our throats. What are the ROI on the so-called analysts they have on their. I am very sure its in the RED
What the hell is Stevens and Puigsli doing making picks on air? Thier job is to provide insight on the race not what they have on the pick 4.

I agree with you 100% thats why i now have choosen to watch TVG on mute! HRTV is way better and is what TVG should model their network after. I see more stuff about what goes on behind in the backside, on TVG they just want your $ they could care less if you know what actually goes on with the horses after the last race. All they show is how to bet, ok they did that when they 1st came on the air and now they are still talking to everyone like they are stupid.

they have a betting service and they're pushing their product. it's to be expected. if people follow their picks blindly, then mullins was indeed right.

any discerning person will know to take thier picks with a grain of salt. it doesn't bother me that they make losing pick after losing pick. at least they're showing races. and lots of 'em.

How can you say TVG is showing lots of races. There are plenty of times where a race was going off at a 'lower' track only for them to show a friggin post parade, they are improving but there is 10 minutes in between post parade and post, and the parade is only like 1 minute, plenty of time to show the race, put the parade on delay and then make our decisions

well, nobody's perfect. what i mean by lots of races is they are showing races from 11:00 in the morning until midnight (central time). that's a whole bunch of races. you're rgiht about them catering to the bigger tracks. but they usually will show the smaller track races on tape delay.... if not the whole race, the stretch.

What they need to do is set up another channel, one for commentary and another with 4 track feeds on it, like some OTB's do. I doubt cable companies would pick it up, but I guarantee that TVG users would load that up on their computer screen. It would be a great idea.

On another note, any person that actually used TVG as their betting service needs to get their head examined. 25 cents per wager. I already lose $500 a day and they want me to pay like $20 to lose that money, I consider it gross misconduct.

In California, you can use Youbet and not have to pay to lose your money, you could also go offshore and get 7% of your wagers back, if you were offshore, it is like a $55 swing (Instead of being out $20 in wagers, you are +$35 in rebates on $500 wagered)

Clarification: Reason I used California as an example is because like 60% of there account base is from there, according to Allevato

In my opinion there is a basic misconception, or disconnect, in racing between what people want and what they are given. If you ask me, the way to get people interested in racing ( if this is possible ) is to present an intelligent analysis that also allows the for the possibility of teaching people something. The more people learn the more likely they are to come closer to making money and thus very probably get more involved in playing.

Look at Poker....they have guys like Phil Helmuth and Howard Lederer doing television. These guys are two of the greatest players in the world. OK, we have Randy Moss and then a smattering of knowledgable people sprinkled around the country and then a lot of people offering absolutely nothing and more likely to lead people in the wrong direction than help them. What racing needs, and I'm not saying this will solve all woes but at least it will be a step in the right direction, is more knowledge and less supposed style.

Why should we care what Beyer thinks about TVG? His picks suck, he shouldnt throw stones at glass houses. When was the last time he picked a winner? Cajun Beat in the BC, which we hear about over and over. Big whoop.

Because he is the greatest racing writer of all time.

He picks a lot of winners, if you would like we can discuss the Pick-6 he hit at Del Mar this past meet, and when was the last time he brought up Cajun Beat?

If you think his house is made of glass then you are mistaken.

Because he writes damn good HORSERACING editorials, perhaps?
I don't really get the whole "when's the last time he picked a winner" argument anyway. Why who he picked today, yesterday, or in the 2003 BC makes any difference to you or to anyone who follows his writing is nonsensical- is he a public handicapper?

He is someone who revolutionized handicapping- whether or not you use his speed figures, and someone who has the guts to speak out on subjects other racing "journalists" cower from.

He must be real bored if he is complaining about guys on TVG giving out picks. Must be jealous of Brad free for nailing Fairplex the other day. His ego is so big I'm surprised it fits in his head. I guess I would equate it to the star cheerleader who gets jealous when a new cheerleader moves into town and starts getting attention. LOL!

Gander, this article was a while ago, not recent, maybe two weeks ago

Well that shows you what a complete idiot I am. Go ahead and shoot me Scavs. I am a worthless slug anyways. Get it over with, just dont make me suffer. You know that song "Loser" by Beck? It was written about me.

trust me, i have you beat in that department, at least you don't lose money playing Retama

At least you didnt bet half a week's pay on Gerbil Quest.

Are you kidding me?????? This is some of the most outrageous garbage I have read in quite a while. What the hell do you know about Beyer? And, considering the feedback I have seen from the article I would say MANY more people are happy with what he has written than otherwise.

Just to clue you in, since unlike you I happen to know Andy Beyer EXTREMELY well, he is the least jealous person I have probably ever met in my life. Unlike most people around the racetrack he roots for all his friends ( and I would guess he and Brad are at LEAST friendly....though that comment of yours was so lame I shouldn't even dignify it with a response ). When I hit a big Pick-6 a year and a half ago he was almost as excited as I was ( and, no, he did not have a piece ).

In a business full of irresponsible journalism Andy Beyer stands out as a beacon of integrity. What have you done to make such outrageous accusations?

I put 100 WP on a Retama rat, you are not going to beat me on this one Timmy

I dont even know what Retama is?

Exactly, it is a track in Texas, like Fairmount in Chicago or Finger Lakes in New York, but alot worse

It's home of Pgardn, I drove past the place when I was in San Antonio also...

I can't say it enough - required reading page #64 in the Sept / October HorsePlayer Magazine, Randy Moss's column

I agree 100% with what you said. As a 3 year working on 4 year player in this game, I want educated. Now, when I am at the Track / Simulcast Hall I understand that the majority their are not wanting educated, they want a hit, they want to borrow, steal, play a race off the tote boad with 1 minute to post based on odds etc, hang around the machine and wait on Kev to leave a voucher (sorry brother. just a dig at ya lol)

Racetrack G

Doing television for a racing audience is a losing battle. I guarantee that you'll always be to wrong to someone.

The first question that must be asked in producing a TV program is "Who will be watching this show?" A racing network has different audience groups with VASTLY different interests. The serious player, they guy who buys the DRF and/or the Sheets and studies and does his homework wants INFORMATION. He wants shoe changes, good video of paddock and post parade. He wants to be able to see front bandages or extended blinkers. He doesn't care who the talking heads like.
The average bettor who goes to the races armed with newspaper selections and tip sheets might like some extra advice. The talking heads are his "tip sheets" as he goes through the day. He wants to be spoon fed a bit. He needs to be reminded that this is a superfecta race or when the P3 starts. This guy might like a bit more educational features like lessons in money management or strategy. He might learn from the hosts expanding on significant points like why a horse was laid up or the strategy in jockey selection.
The third person is the racing fan. They really don't bet but they want news and stories and to see the best races. While the other two guys want to see the best betting races, the "fan" wants stakes races, which bettors know are often poor betting races.
What's the network to do to satisfy them all? Supposedly TVG makes money from betting handle but I'm not convinced that handle is it's real cash cow. My guess is that advertising is it's moneymaker. If it's income is derived from ads, then then simply need to be able to show that folks are watching to get paid.
As for personalities, if you don't like them, don't listen. Everyone's got different taste.
I read the piece and though I don't always agree with Andy Beyer, I respect the work that he's done and his knowledge of the game. As usal he makes some good points and gets a good conversation going.

Cheap horses..yes, but a pretty nice facility.

Ez

TVG and HRTV are both driven by the gambling aspect, which is huge. Untill the NTRA or some other national orgination starts providing an outlet similar to NBATV or NFLTV, gambling will be the focus. Untill the industry takes the lead gambling will rull the roost and the industry will just provide the vehicle. To help promote the industry a national channel could draw in new fans. Part of the poker craze can be atributed to the TV saturation. NBA and NFL keep expanding there product. The horseracing industry needs to put the game in front of the public. You cant make them go to the track but you can put the races in front of them at home. Thus luring them to the track.

Love hearing Beyer actually knock someone's ability to pick winners. Classic.

I think TVG does a fantastic job, the only thing I would have an open complaint about the West Coast bias they show. Im speaking of watching a 6k claimer at Golden Gate, while there are meaningful races going on somewhere else.

I dont think much of Andy Beyer, or his numbers. Andy Beyer has made a nice living selling his figures to the general public, people who cannot make a speed figure. Hes also inticed the public into thinking they are the end of of handicapping, when infact they are just as objective as you or I picking a horse we like more than another. When the variant changes, they choose to change it, maybe another handicapper wouldnt see fit to make a change in variant? Who knows, all Im saying is they arent as important as he would like to think, and to me hes not as important as he would like to think.

Now Todd Schrupp on TVG, hes too opinionated for having no clue what hes talking about. Matt Carothers is a good handicapper, B doesnt show you everything on the air, Simon is actually pretty good, and Frank, well Frank should stick to just telling you which ones are pretty. However, I would much rather here the guys talking over at TVG, than Jeff Siegal, or Milie Ball, or any of those jerkoffs on HRTV. Not to mention HRTV shows tracks Im for the most part not interested in.

Katlyn was the best they had at TVG, and let her get away. If her husband is anywhere as good as her, TVG should hire him after Churchill fired him.

Do you mean Caton?

There is no arguing with the choice of on air talent. If someone's handicapping style doesn't suit you TVG is not going to fire him for you.
I think that where TVG does best is in specials like the pre-Derby workouts etc. Even if you don't care for the commentary, the FOOTAGE is stuff you don't see elsewhere. I could do without pre/post race interviews unless some REAL NEWS is broken. How many times can we haer a claiming trainer refer to a $5k horses as "a nice horse" or a jock say "he broke good and moved when I asked."