Gold Cup on ESPN

[Duvalier]

Waah

[Dahoss]

Zenyatta!!!! Justin Bieber!!!! Lady Gaga!!!! YAY!!!!!

[Coup Verville]

All I'm saying is that it get's old listening to everyone hate on her. The same people that bitch about horse racing not getting enough coverage are the same people that nit pick and put down all of the "stars" of the game. We get it...no horse today is as good as horses 30, 50, 70 years ago. You know more about racing than the average person, congratulations.
The general public knows Zenyatta...if you were putting on a horse racing segment on ESPN, who would you do a piece on??? Remember, it's all about ratings and appealing to the general sports fan....not hard core racing fans.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Coup Verville

All I'm saying is that it get's old listening to everyone hate on her. The same people that bitch about horse racing not getting enough coverage are the same people that nit pick and put down all of the "stars" of the game. We get it...no horse today is as good as horses 30, 50, 70 years ago. You know more about racing than the average person, congratulations.
The general public knows Zenyatta...if you were putting on a horse racing segment on ESPN, who would you do a piece on??? Remember, it's all about ratings and appealing to the general sports fan....not hard core racing fans.

I know exactly what you are saying, but heck, if I'm one of the "general public" tuning in, the first 15 minutes of the broadcast would make me think she was running today for cripes sake.

[Coup Verville]

And these people that are not currently not betting a dime or at the mall are possibly future fans.

That's what is funny about this sport...everybody wants to bring in new fans, yet nobody is good enough to enter this world.

[Coup Verville]

I get that everyone who knows something about horse racing is tired of hearing about her, but she is the only name (besides the Kentucky Derby winner) that anyone knows, why not use it your advantage?

[Coup Verville]

You guys are funny. You are the same people that love a band until everyone else does....and then they suck and are a bunch of sell outs!!!

[Dahoss]

I love exclamation points!!!!!

[Travis Stone]

Blame.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Coup Verville

I get that everyone who knows something about horse racing is tired of hearing about her, but she is the only name (besides the Kentucky Derby winner) that anyone knows, why not use it your advantage?

I guess I just don't understand what the "advantage" is?

It just seemed really lazy to me. How about maybe showing highlights, race footage, commentary on the current handicap division, instead of just showing Randy and Bailey's top 8 at the very end of the show? Maybe show their top 8 at the beginning of the broadcast and then show some replays to back them up. Wouldn't a newbie watching the telecast want to find out who the best horses around the country are before watching a race involving some of them? Isn't this an opportunity to educate and bring some fans in, instead of just confusing them?

[Dahoss]

I'm eagerly awaiting Pba's opinion on all of this.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by cakes44

I guess I just don't understand what the "advantage" is?

It just seemed really lazy to me. How about maybe showing highlights, race footage, commentary on the current handicap division, instead of just showing Randy and Bailey's top 8 at the very end of the show? Maybe show their top 8 at the beginning of the broadcast and then show some replays to back them up. Wouldn't a newbie watching the telecast want to find out who the best horses around the country are before watching a race involving some of them? Isn't this an opportunity to educate and bring some fans in, instead of just confusing them?

you hater, you.

no, really-all good points.

[Calzone Lord]

I am now pissed I did not DVR this.

It didn't even cross my mind to think that ESPN would show that race.

[Coup Verville]

If you're trying to attract the general sports fan...who, at this point in time, is the one name they know? You bring them in with that and then you educate them with what is current in the sport. It is such a revolving door of "stars" in this sport (with early retirements, injuries,etc.), that you need a familiar name, even if she is retired. Something has to appeal to the person watching the program before, just to get them to NOT turn the channel before it starts
.

[Dahoss]

Yeah, let's keep dumbing down everything. Good idea.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Coup Verville

All I'm saying is that it get's old listening to everyone hate on her. The same people that bitch about horse racing not getting enough coverage are the same people that nit pick and put down all of the "stars" of the game. We get it...no horse today is as good as horses 30, 50, 70 years ago. You know more about racing than the average person, congratulations.
The general public knows Zenyatta...if you were putting on a horse racing segment on ESPN, who would you do a piece on??? Remember, it's all about ratings and appealing to the general sports fan....not hard core racing fans.

Kindly point out one piece of 'hate' you've seen on here about her.

[Dahoss]

The issue as I see it and I'm not talking for Cakes, but I think this was more of his point....Having it be Zenyatta isn't the issue. Sure, it adds a certain laughable factor to it, but to spend anytime talking about her, Blame, Rachel Alexandra, etc was pointless.

As has been mentioned, their time would have been better used introducing each horse, giving us updates on leaders in the division so we can see who these horses might face later on. Through in some handicapping and it would have been better served.

The race, even though kind of an eyesore was a close finish, and something a "newbie" might remember and want to watch something like that again. lol!!!!

Originally Posted by Dahoss

The issue as I see it and I'm not talking for Cakes, but I think this was more of his point....Having it be Zenyatta isn't the issue. Sure, it adds a certain laughable factor to it, but to spend anytime talking about her, Blame, Rachel Alexandra, etc was pointless.

As has been mentioned, their time would have been better used introducing each horse, giving us updates on leaders in the division so we can see who these horses might face later on. Through in some handicapping and it would have been better served.

The race, even though kind of an eyesore was a close finish, and something a "newbie" might remember and want to watch something like that again. lol!!!!

Hoss

What made it kind of an eyesore?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

Hoss

Why was it kind of an eyesore?

Looked like 3 horses who wanted no part of that 10th furlong coming down the lane. Granted, it was a close finish, but these horses aren't much IMO. Twirling Candy, although beaten very little isn;t going to get 10 furlongs rating and I don't think he'll get it on the muscle either. Especially on synth.

Gimme Setsuko with a different rider and I think he beats them all at Del Mar.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Gimme Setsuko with a different rider and I think he beats them all at Del Mar.

I can hardly wait.

Final time 2:07 2/5 I assume?