'Horseplayers' on ESQ TV -- Debuts 1/21, 10p ET

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I mean "that ones got some kidney sweat, she is out", in the paddock 20 minutes before the actual race, with your handicapping tourney in the balance.

I liked the guy that had to bet Groupie Doll because she had won five in a row.

[Scav]

So far, the NY guys are awesome but this Hellmers guy, no mas, "give me kiss" this guy says

[art vanderlay]

We would have been alive other than losing by a whisker.

[joeydb]

I liked the show. Not perfect, but not that bad either.

[Calzone Lord]

It was amusing, if nothing else.

Pretty darn entertaining...but, kind of silly.

[Scav]

I liked the NY guys alot, my only thing about it is be accurate. They had Groupie Doll at 20/1 in the 2012 Cigar Mile (also didn't know that is 'when' the show was starting) AND then Zagora was actually in the FM Sprint.

Hellmers is obviously very talented with his previous record, but I do feel that he will turn people off because he is just downright weird.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Scav

Hellmers is obviously very talented with his previous record, but I do feel that he will turn people off because he is just downright weird.

It's hard to read much into him.

Is his oddball behavior an act for the camera?

I've never seen a horseplayer win with such dignity. Pittsburgh Phil (quite inaccurately) was portrayed to win like that. But the best racing mind of that time who put stuff to print, Walter Vosbugh, wrote that Pittsburgh Phil would have horrible temper tantrums after races, and he was a fierce complainer when he didn't agree with a weight assignment his horse was handicapped with.

Headband Weirdo's two contest showings for the Breeders' Cup were extremely impressive, but contests are about stabbing at longshots, and the sample size of races are small.

If you're to believe the Rotunda table, that hot Mail-Order Bride selected five straight winners in a row, solely on the basis of name.

A contest is basically a race to the highest score, so you generally have to stab with longshots and bypass logical horses if you want to win them.

My gut feeling is "I'd sure love to book that guys action over the long-term" -- but who knows. It will be interesting to see more episodes.

[ateamstupid]

Finally got around to watching the first episode today and I liked it. There were some issues, but overall it was well-produced and a fun hour. The NY guys are good on camera. I hope going forward, there's more about the nuts and bolts of handicapping, but we'll see. If nothing else, it's some positive press for an industry that is constantly getting raked over the coals for this or that. Hellmers is a kook.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Finally got around to watching the first episode today and I liked it. There were some issues, but overall it was well-produced and a fun hour. The NY guys are good on camera. I hope going forward, there's more about the nuts and bolts of handicapping, but we'll see. If nothing else, it's some positive press for an industry that is constantly getting raked over the coals for this or that. Hellmers is a kook.

Also watched and was expecting not to like it due to some of the "mistakes" pointed out here. I was pleasantly surprised, I also loved the New York crews. Question I have was the breeders cup footage of Helmers shot after the fact. I have never seen someone so devoid of emotion after a major possibly life altering score.

[Alabama Stakes]

teller tells the guy good luck......I thought you only got the kiss of death from local telllers at Saratoga.

[santana]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

teller tells the guy good luck......I thought you only got the kiss of death from local telllers at Saratoga.

That teller is actually a teller at NYRA for 40 years.....

Originally Posted by santana

That teller is actually a teller at NYRA for 40 years.....

I worked at NYRA from 1978-1991; I thought he looked familiar, but don't remember his name.

[Merlinsky]

Someone told Haskin on FB that another production company did the original pilot and when the new production company came on to do the next 9 eps they didn't have all the necessary footage to make edits with, whatever that means. I guess there wasn't an option of putting the real Zagora and Marketing Mix in the shot. Whether it ever existed or just didn't make it to the new company, who knows.

My pet peeve with both this and Jockeys is the fake race calls. They lack the intensity if nothing else. Usually just sound off if not downright silly.

[robfla]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

My pet peeve with both this and Jockeys is the fake race calls. They lack the intensity if nothing else. Usually just sound off if not downright silly.

I read that it was a "glitch" in the premier and all race calls will be real in upcoming episodes.

We'll see.