Small new feature at The Dispatch

[Travis Stone]

I wanted to get some thoughts on a brief post I made this morning for today's Rebel. It's called "5 Minutes to Post" and it's a quick topical look at The Rebel in a unique, although somewhat tapped, style. I'd appreciate some thoughts/ideas on this as I think it's unique reading and different from the standard race preview.

Link: http://www.racingdispatch.com/editor.html

[Grits]

Travis, this is fine, but the immediate thing you need, first, is to get the typos out of this piece. Rebel/Southwest?

[paisjpq]

I like it...straightforward, to the point tidbits about the entrants and the race...good idea

FYI your numbers are off...14 and 17 instead of 4/7

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I like it...straightforward, to the point tidbits about the entrants and the race...good idea

FYI your numbers are off...14 and 17 instead of 4/7

I think he's referencing their standings in the Dispatch poll.

Like pitting #2 Wisconsin against #7 UNLV.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

I think he's referencing their standings in the Dispatch poll.

Like pitting #2 Wisconsin against #7 UNLV.

OOOOHHH oops! thanks Brian...too much time shoveling, my brain is frozen

[Travis Stone]

Well the typos were fixed... I referenced the race wrong. Sometimes the system takes a while to update the archive page. It's very frustrating when I pick something up and ten minutes later it hasn't registered!

Thanks for the feedback though. I was trying to come up with more "categories" to discuss, any ideas?

[Travis Stone]

Yes, whenever we say "No. 1 Circular Quay" it's referencing the horses current spot in the poll.

[ArlJim78]

It not a bad format/idea, the five minutes to post concept.
Concise and getting right to the point. In my opinion it will be a challenge to the writer because it takes some talent to break a race down like that and be accurate.

The picture of the dude in the corner has to go though.
(Hope you can take a joke!)

[Travis Stone]

Ohhh!!!

The dude in the corner is 37 pounds lighter... I have to get a new one taken.

[Dunbar]

I liked the organization of it, Travis. Good work!

One criticism about your final "Perspectives":

Perspectives
Flying First Class and Curlin would have to be exceptional race horses to not only stretch-out successfully today but then parlay those efforts to roses in May. Teuflesberg stole the Rebel taking advantage of an ideal pace scenario and figures to have company today. The others, although with solid stakes ability, figure over matched on a national scale.

You seem to have ruled out ALL the horses in this paragraph. In the previous paragraph you identified Officer Rocket as a probably overlay. I don't think you meant to include him when you wrote "The others", but it came off that way.

--Dunbar

[pointman]

Like the analysis, would like to see more. However, do agree that it is not clear who you like to win the race.

Gosh darn it I miss Smarty Jones. I watched the 2004 replay. What a gutsy animal. What a great horse.

[Travis Stone]

Would it be better with a pick? I don't want to necessarily come off as a tipster, but rather just providing some thought and perspective... this feedback is awesome though, I really appreciate it!

[mclem10011]

I don't think it would be bad to include a selection or 2, totally up to what your comfortable with. I found it to be well written, nice information in there as well. Great piece Travis.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

Would it be better with a pick? I don't want to necessarily come off as a tipster, but rather just providing some thought and perspective... this feedback is awesome though, I really appreciate it!

I don't think you need to give a pick. My comment above was only to point out the apparent contradiction between your last 2 paragraphs. If you do give a pick, consider doing it with minimum acceptable odds. Something like "Officer Rocket, if 7-2 or better".

--Dunbar