A "Rumor" I Heard From Two Cats At Churchill
 

Ok, I hate spewing around rumors, but the only reason I am posting this is that the guys that I was talking to today who shared this were.............

not drunk
of retirement age
well dressed

They meet the basic criteria for me to actually listen and consider what they were saying;)

Kentucky Derby post time in 2011 9:30pm, first race post at 2pm.

Your thoughts on this?

The main thing is that the track is in excellent condition .

As long as there is still dirt at CD, I'm for it....I work during the day on Saturdays.

How fat?

They should have the Oaks on friday night as well. Most people work Friday morning and a lot of people will be available after work to attend the oaks.

This is the opposite criteria I would look for.... Green sheet in hand as well?

Give me a guy w/crap on his Ariat boots and a beer in his hand and I'll listen to him/her over a suit anytime.

Three strikes,I'm out.

forget about the derby at night, its the derby , its not going to change much. but, friday would really be better at night. people are at work. breeders cup friday should do the same.

Let's see....

When I was a wee lad single digit baseball fan I asked my father if he thought the World Series would ever be played at night. He replied...."That's one of the lamest ideas I have ever heard son. Why would you take a game born in sunshine and play it under street lights? Nobody will watch...."

How did that one work out?

You may never see a day game played in the world series ever again....TV dictates starting time.

If you want to grow your sport on TV you hold the biggest events at night. Super Bowl starts in the early evening, basketball, hockey or anything that used to be an afternoon event of significance that can be played at night, is played at night. The Derby at night is not that much of a stretch.....

i'm not saying its a terrible thing. i think its not going to change much. you can ask someone that knows nothing about racing, but they know the "derby". its springtime, its a party........its tradition. this web site is called DERBY trail for crying out loud. make the breeders cup friday night and the oaks friday night. we already know about those too, but it shows the rest of the people that there are OTHER big races and it makes it better for people that ARE ALREADY interested but at work. the derby is on saturday, its talked about for weeks and weeks, even granny thats never made a bet in her life knows about it. changing the time won't make a big difference.

LOL, I like how you specify they have to be Ariats.

I would be surprised if they ran a Derby a night so soon after installing the lights. I heard John Asher from Churchill interviewed last spring after the first night of racing, and one of the first questions asked was would we ever see a Derby run at night. He thought it was unlikely, but it might be looked at in future years. Can you imagine what it would be like on the first Saturday in May at Churchill if the Derby were run at night and it rained all day and evening. I guess they would have temporary lights in the infield, but what a mess it would be out there. I think it would make for great TV ratings. Other than golf, every major sports presents its premiere events in primetime. It certainly would be interesting.

I'm speechless.

SH!T!!!!

that means us drunks would get in the infield at 8AM and HAVE to drink until a 930 derby? no chance i stay upright for that

-bt-

Come on man, back in the day I'd crack the first one around 10am on Derby Day and still be standing at 9pm, albeit verry fuzzy on the edges:eek:

That will mean I have to go for two dresses for my girl.. G-d forbid she didnt change for the evening session. I like the 6pm Derby, I am guessing a 9pm derby will be ok as well.

I don't want folks to think I discriminate based solely on attire, state of mind and age:)

I've listened many a time to a guy drinkin booze in dirty jeans and funny named boots;)

9pm rather than 6pm? Why not?

I work in Louisville -- on Oaks day, the schools are off and less than 50% of the people in my office come to work that day. Therefore, I don't think people being able to attend after work is an issue.

Almost all the Oaks reserved seats are already sold -- the only thing they would have to gain in ticket sales would be additional seats sold in the infield. Having been in the infield a number of years, the sunshine during the day is part of the appeal. Also, the weather in Louisville can be unpredictable that time of year -- I can't imagine what a cold rainy evening would be like in the infield (and in the reserved seats).

Of course, if prime-time viewing brings in a boatload of additional TV revenue, Churchill would be all over it (as they have been basing some of their decision-making lately based on the almighty dollar rather than the fans best interests).

Wait, schools are closed beacuse its oaks day? wow!

Well, the rest of the country isnt off on Friday morning and if they do put it at night that would be a boost to TV ratings and simulcast venues at other tracks. The only drawback is that horse racing would be competing with the NBA playoffs so ESPN would be out of the question