Discovery Channel, are you listening?

[joeydb]

Let's see if anybody agrees with me:

I normally watch "Deadliest Catch" on Discovery and "Ice Road Truckers" on History Channel. As a result I have a greater appreciation for the people in those kinds of dangerous jobs, and the ups and downs they have.

I would think that a reality TV show about life at a racetrack would be engaging and facinating. The guys who race the horses, train them, run the track, the colorful personalities who are often there to bet on them. It could be really good, something like the atmosphere that comes across in "The First Saturday in May" movie.

The only thing to avoid would be any excessive showing of breakdowns, as that has been a negative press issue for us, and the last thing we need to is exacerbate that. But the rest of it would be great. Just as many have said, "Take a friend to the track -- they may become a new fan", such a TV show would spur interest in our sport, the greatest game held outdoors.

Incidentally, "Deadliest Catch" has caused a situation where the crab fisherman are getting so many people wanting to work in the Bering Sea for a shot at the money after seeing it on TV, that they have to turn people away, and have made announcements saying "Call ahead...please don't just show up". Hopefully a show about racing would do equally well...we don't have 34 degree water in our sport!

[cowgirlintexas]

Originally Posted by joeydb

Let's see if anybody agrees with me:

I normally watch "Deadliest Catch" on Discovery and "Ice Road Truckers" on History Channel. As a result I have a greater appreciation for the people in those kinds of dangerous jobs, and the ups and downs they have.

I would think that a reality TV show about life at a racetrack would be engaging and facinating. The guys who race the horses, train them, run the track, the colorful personalities who are often there to bet on them. It could be really good, something like the atmosphere that comes across in "The First Saturday in May" movie.

The only thing to avoid would be any excessive showing of breakdowns, as that has been a negative press issue for us, and the last thing we need to is exacerbate that. But the rest of it would be great. Just as many have said, "Take a friend to the track -- they may become a new fan", such a TV show would spur interest in our sport, the greatest game held outdoors.

Incidentally, "Deadliest Catch" has caused a situation where the crab fisherman are getting so many people wanting to work in the Bering Sea for a shot at the money after seeing it on TV, that they have to turn people away, and have made announcements saying "Call ahead...please don't just show up". Hopefully a show about racing would do equally well...we don't have 34 degree water in our sport!

I'm sure the ratings would be about a 2 ..The public doesn't care about horse racing anymore.. Too many other exciting venues to watch or spend their $$ on.. Horse racing hit it's peak back in the 30', 40's, 50's before T.V.. Back when they would climb trees and roof tops to see a race..Could you imagine that happening now? There was another "rush" during the 70's with Secretariat and Alydar/Affirmed but I.M.O. we will never see the interest like that again.. Tracks are closing down and people are investing their $$ elsewhere.
Oh! and by the way, "we" do have 34 degree weather..Most any track north of the Mason Dixon is freezing during the winter.
Don't mis-understand, if they had a show like that..Would I watch it? Most definately..Would my neighbor or co-worker? most likey not..

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by cowgirlintexas

I'm sure the ratings would be about a 2

A 2 would be amazing, that is 2.5 times the rating the BC got in 2006.

[joeydb]

OK, so there's our "2"...you and I would be watching...LOL

I thought it was a good idea, and would love to see something like that, even for one TV season.

[estreetposse]

Originally Posted by cowgirlintexas

I'm sure the ratings would be about a 2 ..The public doesn't care about horse racing anymore.. Too many other exciting venues to watch or spend their $$ on.. Horse racing hit it's peak back in the 30', 40's, 50's before T.V.. Back when they would climb trees and roof tops to see a race..Could you imagine that happening now? There was another "rush" during the 70's with Secretariat and Alydar/Affirmed but I.M.O. we will never see the interest like that again.. Tracks are closing down and people are investing their $$ elsewhere.
Oh! and by the way, "we" do have 34 degree weather..Most any track north of the Mason Dixon is freezing during the winter.
Don't mis-understand, if they had a show like that..Would I watch it? Most definately..Would my neighbor or co-worker? most likey not..

I think you're missing JDB's point...Did the public care about crab fishing, ice road trucking or Stump Branch Logging before they were brought into our homes? I don't think so...but all of these occupations and shows have gained such a mass following that the public knows these guys by name...people are flocking to Alaska to get a piece of the action(not to mention a nice paycheck)...After the Teutuls on American Chopper, "Bike Works" and "Chopper Shops" have sprung up all over the country. I'm not sure if the American public would welcome a horseracing show into their homes...there is plenty of action, danger and storylines to follow...if marketed the same as these other shows it could possibly work.

Sidenote: I believe falling into 34 degree water is much worse than running in 34 degree weather.

[paisjpq]

FWIW I think it's a pretty good idea, I've watched both of those shows when they have the "marathons" where they show the whole season...definitely addictive television. And I care nothing about crab fishing or trucking.

That would be the worst show ever.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

That would be the worst show ever.

I'd probably lose all interest in the sport.

[MISTERGEE]

Originally Posted by estreetposse

I think you're missing JDB's point...Did the public care about crab fishing, ice road trucking or Stump Branch Logging before they were brought into our homes? I don't think so...but all of these occupations and shows have gained such a mass following that the public knows these guys by name...people are flocking to Alaska to get a piece of the action(not to mention a nice paycheck)...After the Teutuls on American Chopper, "Bike Works" and "Chopper Shops" have sprung up all over the country. I'm not sure if the American public would welcome a horseracing show into their homes...there is plenty of action, danger and storylines to follow...if marketed the same as these other shows it could possibly work.

Sidenote: I believe falling into 34 degree water is much worse than running in 34 degree weather.

super answer, on a side note there was a show on pbs years ago about life on the horse farms and at the track. it followed the everyday goings on of the Boniface family who race and breed horses out of Maryland

[TheSpyder]

It's been discussed on this board before, but, growing up we would get a ticket with numbers for five horse races at the grocery store when you bought a certain amount of food and then on Thursday evening there was a 30 minute horse racing show and if your horse won you would get discounts or prizes.

It was great and I believe sucked me into the sport. I think I was 8 years old

If this was done and refined it would bring horse racing into the mainstream and people love to win things so I think you'd get an audience.

[notyep59]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

It's been discussed on this board before, but, growing up we would get a ticket with numbers for five horse races at the grocery store when you bought a certain amount of food and then on Thursday evening there was a 30 minute horse racing show and if your horse won you would get discounts or prizes.

It was great and I believe sucked me into the sport. I think I was 8 years old

If this was done and refined it would bring horse racing into the mainstream and people love to win things so I think you'd get an audience.

The colonial store here in va. used to give out those cards with every purchase, then show races from like a month earlier. your horse would always be leading at the top of the stretch, just to get caught at the wire. I think watching that show is when i last got my mouth washed out with soap. my parents didn't know they taught me that word!