ESPN Dropping More Horse Races
 

I guess the NTRA is too busy certifying tracks as "safe" to worry about minor issues like national television coverage.

I use TWINSPIRES and can watch (and BET on) just about any race I want. I got it good.

Whether there's a large (national or otherwise) audience watching along with me is neither here nor there. It's about betting and winning money. And, it's not like anything ESPN has to offer enhances my ability to win.

All the other **** is irrelevant. Especially given those funky ass camera angles and the retarded commentators.

EDITED:

If ESPN drops races it is a possible indicator of
popularity of an event. Part of this
audience could certainly take up wagering and
contribute to your production of Fat Charts.


You could take more money from the ignorant.
Kinda like you are about pool size. For a guy that
analyzes races as much as you do... man you are
short term. You are sucking on a sick resource.

If there were a large number of people that really
cared about racing you would have 20 cameras at every position
possible like other popular sports. You could have all the
data you wanted if more people cared... its called demand.

Unless things change with TVG contracts, you won't be watching the undercards of the KD or Preakness on TVG, they do not have agreements with those tracks at this time.

I didn't even know ESPN still televised the Preakness undercard...and after finding out I can't believe it took them this long to drop it.

NT

They are waiting for the Preakness at Timonium before the pick it up again.

Horse racing has the unbelievable advantage of having its own network... times two! While HRTV is not quite as widespread as TVG, horse racing should be taking advantage of it. The prudent thing to do would be for the industry to buy TVG and then we'd have our own NFL or MLB network type setup...

Who exactly is " the industry? "

Tvg- Hrtv etc..
 

many people cannot afford to purchase these telecast, so cancellation of any racing either cable or regular tv will keep some racing from public view. let me add i would love to see live full-day radio broadcasts from race tracks like in the hey day of racing

In order for the NFL Network or the MLB Network to happen you have to have the NFL or the MLB. The NTRA surely isn't going to buy a network like TVG, especially considering they're busy with the Safety Alliance and other essential elements of the game.

NT

You are sucking on a sick resource........I'm glad you didn't have a typo

ESPN could care less about horse racing, they are passé like MTV

I enjoy ESPN . Regardless, I'm looking forward to the NYRA specials on MSG+ from Saratoga .

Comparing the MLB and NFL to racing is so incredibly far-fetched, I don't know where to begin.

Even if some national racing entity bought TVG, how will that dramatically change anything?

I just don't believe that some stakes races without much context on ESPN does much of anything. I don't think it increases handle or a fan base that is going to wager. In previous years, they showed the Murmur Farms Maryland Starter Handicap. A $35,000 restricted overnight race. For what?

Hours and hours of live TV is dramatically expensive and while I cannot quantify it, my personal opinion is that it does relatively little to impact the national awareness of racing.

After several years of showing plenty of coverage on ESPN and its family of networks, if they've said - "the heck with it" - so be it.

Just reading about the problem with racing on TV.
Help me out.
First, is TVG owned by Fox?
Second, Like the NFL and MLB they all have one Commissioner. The horse racing industry has too many different "Commissioners".
Help me out.

How is ESPN passé?

And a huge racing company did just buy TVG. Betfair is no joke, and I expect they'll be making noise here in the States before too long.

Considering the quality of the coverage ESPN had, this might be a good thing.

I think that eventually after all the contracts run out ESPN will end up with
the whole triple crown. Then they will jump at all the major preps leading up to the Derby and Breeders cup.
With ABC/ESPN they can promote much better than all the others.
Don't get me wrong, on a daily bases TVG does a great job. The works is one of the best inside tracks you can get. They can still play a major roll.

I agree that the Betfair purchase of TVG is big. Of course, the arcane laws, both federal and state, will make Betfair's traditional approach a bit more difficult. But for them to be directly involved, I think we will see the impact soon enough.