Andy/Jason: New BEL Paddock wrinkle...

Kasept · #1 09-12-2008, 11:50 AM

Different approach to pre-race exchange just now to open Belmont card coverage... Andy and Jason talking about prices and wagering approach to the race rather than the usual "Horse A did this... Horse B did that..." routine.

Curious to see if it's a new approach..

pointman · #2 09-12-2008, 11:57 AM

is Andy now regularly working for NYRA on race days? If so, it is a great addition.

jballscalls · #3 09-12-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Different approach to pre-race exchange just now to open Belmont card coverage... Andy and Jason talking about prices and wagering approach to the race rather than the usual "Horse A did this... Horse B did that..." routine.

Curious to see if it's a new approach..

I really think that our industry doesnt spend enough time promoting the actual betting or strategy of betting. Most public handicappers just give out picks, and when most tracks do publicity reports they dont talk about betting.

I think its important that we do talk wagering strategy, as it is just as important as picking who is going to win.

philcski · #4 09-12-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointman

is Andy now regularly working for NYRA on race days? If so, it is a great addition.

yes

Riot · #5 09-12-2008, 02:55 PM

And he appears to be a kinder and gentler Andy. Jason doesn't look so askeered of him anymore

Seriously, good job BTW, SAR was enjoyable.

blackthroatedwind · #6 09-12-2008, 06:08 PM

The TV show is always a work in progress but what we started today feels like a good idea. Obviously I'm in favor of gearing all information towards wagering and sharing strategies seems like the right direction.

I'm really happy with the changes we have made in the show since Belmont opened in May and everyone both on the air and on the TV crew has worked really hard to make things work. We are also planning to add some handicapping features to the website. Starting next week there will be a video segment on the NYRA Youtube site highlighting some interesting races from the previous week that might offer some horses to watch. I will be filming the first one with Eric Donovan on Thursday. Look for other additions in the near future.

hoovesupsideyourhead · #7 09-12-2008, 06:13 PM

the show is much improved just by your bieng involved ..and that you bring some great changes says alot about you..you do care about the player..kudos. the replays are a hit

blackthroatedwind · #8 09-12-2008, 06:15 PM

Thanks Matt.

The replays, and Formulator stats, work in two ways. Most importantly they provide helpful information. Its always better to show something than say it. Not that much less importantly, it allows the viewers a break from staring at our ugly mugs.

the_fat_man · #9 09-12-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Thanks Matt.

The replays, and Formulator stats, work in two ways. Most importantly they provide helpful information. Its always better to show something than say it. Not that much less importantly, it allows the viewers a break from staring at our ugly mugs.

No doubt the show is EONS better than before.

I only caught a very small part of the day's comments, however, and I wonder if you race watchers were all over American Cruiser. The comments in the PP's are 'ROUGH TRIP' and this one won like a real good thing.

Another case where trips pay off.

docicu3 · #10 09-12-2008, 08:04 PM

The TV show is always a work in progress but what we started today feels like a good idea. Obviously I'm in favor of gearing all information towards wagering and sharing strategies seems like the right direction.

I would love to see you illustrate a betting strategy that captures how you would structure a ticket for a race like today's 8th where RolltheDi was a reasonable long shot along with the logicals of 2,4 and 10. The exacta paid decently even with the key finishing second but how you get the most of hunches that a long horse is going to finish at least in the money would be very interesting.

The potential for weather to complicate a race is another potential opportunity to adjust selections on the fly where the change in the turf course may make a speed selection more desirable than earlier in the day. If you believe in that kind of edge I for one would like to hear about it as the best people to interpret the severity of changes are the people there.

I also couldn't agree more that you do a nice job on air and that you have certainly pointed out things that have benefitted my own play. We have crossed swords on occasion but it doesn't take away from the fact that you know your stuff and bring a very deep historical knowledge base to the table when your on.

pointman · #11 09-12-2008, 08:14 PM

Andy, just one comment regarding the Siros seminars. I preface this by saying that I wish they had these seminars all year for NY racing and I learned a ton from watching them this summer. However, what year did they get the equipment to film that show? There were a few days that I could not hear you or some of the other speakers. Thank god for DVR as I found myself constantly rewinding in order to try to hear what you were saying about a particular race. It wasn't limited just to Siro's, but to the entire Capitol OTB feed that I see in NYC during the meet seems to be 1970's quality.

The formulater stats are a welcome addition. Congrats on landing this gig, I enjoy hearing your analysis and look forward to it in the future!

blackthroatedwind · #12 09-12-2008, 08:19 PM

I'm hardly involved in the technical aspects of the Siro's shows but the group in charge also does the video for SPAC and other major venues. I would be surprised if the trouble was on their end but I don't really know.

Fearless Leader · #13 09-12-2008, 08:53 PM

Blackthroatedwind.....the best thing to happen to NYRA since Kelso was a maiden.

TheSpyder · #14 09-13-2008, 03:49 AM

Andy, you really have found your element with these shows and it's nice to see you share all the stuff in your head. There's no doubt we can learn alot from your views.

I'm not sure if you watch any English racing live but you have emulated them well where they are very opinionated and not just window dressing, true punters.

Keep it up and nice meeting you at Saratoga.

Spyder

Linny · #15 09-13-2008, 08:29 AM

Andy, I have enjoyed seeing you and Jason together. Your personality seems to draw Jason out and make him more dynamic.

As for the saratoga shows, allow me. The Siro's show is broadcast by Cap OTB, but Cap OTB has nothing to do with it's production. They send us the feed and we air it.

As for the live shows, yes we had microphone issues all summer. Capital bought some new mics and honestly, they were terrible. They were far too sensitive for outdoor use, though they were supposedly "outdoor mics." The shows are produced just inside the GridleySt./Nelson Ave gates and traffic there is heavy. Every car or truck sound went out on the air. The wind was worse. All on air people were told to actually tuck the mic inside of their clothes, but the on air folks from the AM Saratoga show didn't seem to want to do so. If you still have some of the shows on TIVO go back and look. If you can see a mic, the audio will be horrible. If you see no mic (meaning it was under the wearer's clothing) the sound will be better.
The audio issues were much discussed and documented in a post Saratoga report and I can only hope that better mics will be available next summer.

blackthroatedwind · #16 09-13-2008, 08:42 AM

I didn't mean to imply that it was Capital OTB's fault. I really have no idea where the fault lies to be honest ( I have enough to think about up there ). Maybe it's some nebulous " transmission " problem.

saratoga guy · #17 09-13-2008, 12:40 PM

There was something funky with the DRF seminar audio -- it would unexplainably lower itself during some shows. It didn't make the shows unwatchable -- it just meant I had to get up from the computer and go into the other room and turn it up. Invariably, each time it happened, it would correct itself about five minutes later -- making for another mad dash into the TV room to turn it down!

It didn't happen every day -- and when it did happen it would only last five minutes or so.

Having done TV production work myself (although not a lot of "live" production work) I couldn't hazard an explanation. Although I know Ralph, in passing, so if I happen to run into him sometime I'll mention it. Could be one of those things that on-set with headphones on it's not even noticeable.

10 pnt move up · #18 09-13-2008, 01:09 PM

Andy just gave out a 50 dollar longshot......hope he used it a little.

Linny · #19 09-13-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I didn't mean to imply that it was Capital OTB's fault. I really have no idea where the fault lies to be honest ( I have enough to think about up there ). Maybe it's some nebulous " transmission " problem.

I was replying more to the original complaint. I heard plenty of them over the summer and it was brought up here more than once.
The sound issue on our broadcasts were our fault, in that we own the mics in question. We did what we could to mitigate the problem. Since I almost never got to see the Siro's seminar, I can't comment on the audio quality.
In fact, because of the multiple steps (Siro's to NYRA to Cap OTB trailer to OTB headquarters in Schenectady to customer) there can be plenty of nebulous transmission issues.

hoovesupsideyourhead · #20 09-13-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Andy just gave out a 50 dollar longshot......hope he used it a little.

KUDOS!!!!