Boring Derby??

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by largo1

but the overall experience for me this year was just "meh".

Not sure if you mean the race itself, the experience leading up to the Derby, the God-awful and unwatchable coverage or what BUT it is unfathomable to me to use the words Derby and boring in the same sentence, period.

[jms62]

The scratch of Stanford was the key to the race. He was definitely going to gun and it was a question of which of the Baffert's would engage. As it was all other horses decided to change tactics that got them to the derby and not get involved in what should have been a strong pace. As it was the race ran like a Euro Turf race with the top 3 not really testing each other until the Sprint for home. The duel down the stretch was anything but boring.

[largo1]

For some reason, this year I didn't have a clear cut favorite horse. Several of my early faves were taken off the trail early on. I just wasn't as excited about the Derby this year and the lame coverage did nothing to increase my enthusiasm. I was happy to see BB back in the winner's circle though, just like old times!! I had Frosted but I wasn't even very excited about him. I was truly appalled by the coverage though.

[jms62]

I have an idea next year for all those that hated the coverage. I do it all the time. I watch the non Churchill races I want to bet on my ADW and go downstairs to watch the Derby Day races at 1 minute to post on the big screen. All I watch of the coverage is the load and the race. If no races I am interested are running I'll watch a ball game until scheduled post time and change the channel. Life is way too short to torture yourself with something that you can't stand doing.

[largo1]

I have greatly enjoyed the coverage in the past, just not this year. I enjoy watching the vignettes about each horse and owner/trainer/jockey. I know some people don't like that 'fluff" but I want to hear about, and see the horses.I don't know why 2 ice skaters have to play such a big role on Derby Day. In the past the "hoopla" as we call it has been really entertaining to watch. I don't want to turn on the race i minute before post. I want to be entertained.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by largo1

I have greatly enjoyed the coverage in the past, just not this year. I enjoy watching the vignettes about each horse and owner/trainer/jockey. I know some people don't like that 'fluff" but I want to hear about, and see the horses.I don't know why 2 ice skaters have to play such a big role on Derby Day. In the past the "hoopla" as we call it has been really entertaining to watch. I don't want to turn on the race i minute before post. I want to be entertained.

I watched a complete broadcast of the Derby from the 80's on Youtube a few weeks ago and it was so much more enjoyable.

Originally Posted by jms62

I have an idea next year for all those that hated the coverage. I do it all the time. I watch the non Churchill races I want to bet on my ADW and go downstairs to watch the Derby Day races at 1 minute to post on the big screen. All I watch of the coverage is the load and the race. If no races I am interested are running I'll watch a ball game until scheduled post time and change the channel. Life is way too short to torture yourself with something that you can't stand doing.

Thats a good way to do it. I enjoy Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss but the rest is filler garbage. Especially having those two ice skaters hosting the event (knowing nothing about the sport) is quite nauseating. Its almost as if NBC is mocking the sport have those two on camera.

[Danzig]

I have only one complaint regarding the race.
I don't know who that dipshit couple was (he had a rose hat) but they need never appear again.

Thought the finish was good, I like having horses together with the finish coming up.

[ElPrado]

Originally Posted by Danzig

I have only one complaint regarding the race.
I don't know who that dipshit couple was (he had a rose hat) but they need never appear again.

Thought the finish was good, I like having horses together with the finish coming up.

That was Johnny Weir again. NBC needed to find something to pay them for.

[somerfrost]

Come on folks, it's the Derby...I hear the same old tired complaints every year. Look, TV networks are successful by playing to their audience, how much of their audience is made up of hard core horse players? I suspect that the majority of those who were at CD yesterday attend once a year and the TV audience...many don't know which end of the horse goes into the gate first. They tune in for entertainment...the same folks who enjoy shows like Fashion Police and Entertainment Tonight, do you think they are interested in handicapping insights? Sure inane puff pieces by figure skaters and focus on hats and drinks drives us crazy but it's what the TV audience at large wants...grin and bare it!

[jms62]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Come on folks, it's the Derby...I hear the same old tired complaints every year. Look, TV networks are successful by playing to their audience, how much of their audience is made up of hard core horse players? I suspect that the majority of those who were at CD yesterday attend once a year and the TV audience...many don't know which end of the horse goes into the gate first. They tune in for entertainment...the same folks who enjoy shows like Fashion Police and Entertainment Tonight, do you think they are interested in handicapping insights? Sure inane puff pieces by figure skaters and focus on hats and drinks drives us crazy but it's what the TV audience at large wants...grin and bare it!

EGG-ZACH-LEE

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

...grin and bare it!

I was unaware there was any baring going on at the Derby. Are you sure you're not thinking of the Preakness?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Come on folks, it's the Derby...I hear the same old tired complaints every year. Look, TV networks are successful by playing to their audience, how much of their audience is made up of hard core horse players? I suspect that the majority of those who were at CD yesterday attend once a year and the TV audience...many don't know which end of the horse goes into the gate first. They tune in for entertainment...the same folks who enjoy shows like Fashion Police and Entertainment Tonight, do you think they are interested in handicapping insights? Sure inane puff pieces by figure skaters and focus on hats and drinks drives us crazy but it's what the TV audience at large wants...grin and bare it!

I refuse to accept that I cannot complain about them trying to cater to the survivor/honeybooboo/dancing with the stars/fashion police crowd.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Come on folks, it's the Derby...I hear the same old tired complaints every year. Look, TV networks are successful by playing to their audience, how much of their audience is made up of hard core horse players? I suspect that the majority of those who were at CD yesterday attend once a year and the TV audience...many don't know which end of the horse goes into the gate first. They tune in for entertainment...the same folks who enjoy shows like Fashion Police and Entertainment Tonight, do you think they are interested in handicapping insights? Sure inane puff pieces by figure skaters and focus on hats and drinks drives us crazy but it's what the TV audience at large wants...grin and bare it!

No, I cannot agree with you at all.

If you want change you have to be vocal and if something that could be vastly improved never is one can at least bitch about it.

There is no excuse.

I cringed when I read however far back it was that NBC had secured the rights to the broadcast for X number of years, how ever many it was.

My friends who are not in to horse racing at all thought it was the most inane waste of time...

A beautiful thrilling and historic sport deserves better. I'll bet you one day, when NBC is done with it, some other network invests the time and resources and does it right.

This is just silly, pointless fluff and it is maddening to try to defend such a unique and riveting sport.

Sorry, makes me sick. I will not keep my mouth shut.

Originally Posted by Danzig

I refuse to accept that I cannot complain about them trying to cater to the survivor/honeybooboo/dancing with the stars/fashion police crowd.

Right!

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Come on folks, it's the Derby...I hear the same old tired complaints every year. Look, TV networks are successful by playing to their audience, how much of their audience is made up of hard core horse players? I suspect that the majority of those who were at CD yesterday attend once a year and the TV audience...many don't know which end of the horse goes into the gate first. They tune in for entertainment...the same folks who enjoy shows like Fashion Police and Entertainment Tonight, do you think they are interested in handicapping insights? Sure inane puff pieces by figure skaters and focus on hats and drinks drives us crazy but it's what the TV audience at large wants...grin and bare it!

Just about sums it up perfectly.

[TheSpyder]

and why not some coverage and interviews of the infield. Come on people, I've been five times and if that's not entertainment, I don't know what is..
......from what I could remember.

I mean is it too politically incorrect to show a bunch of smashed people having a great spring time experience?

Are you people not born from the Beulah thread?

If they're so scared to go in, send a drone over the crowd. Capital FUN.

I mean really...