TVG in Saratoga Springs area?

[Gander]

Great post Linny. Well said.
I understand the sacrifice you have to make regarding secondary tracks during 12:30 to 4:30 (NYRA time) and dont expect much more than a replay. To me thats good enough.

But when NYRA is done their race day shouldnt we expect more from say Santa Anita?

Your agreement with NYRA demands that you show paddock and post parades, yet there have been multiple times in the last few weeks where Jan's commentary has been skipped and sometimes when it is shown it gets cut off for a replay from Laurel or Tampa Bay.

If you want my opinion, focusing more on NYRA would be a better thing since thats what most capital fans care about and bet on.

[Linny]

I agree, I'd like to see SA treated as we do NYRA during the day. The problem is that we also have an agreement w/the harness industry that was signed as part of the ability to take nighttime TB racing. We have certain requirements re: what we must show. Taking NYRA + 3 others is hectic. Taking 2 TB + 3 harness tracks is almost beyond belief. The harness tracks run about every 15-20 minutes. The races take longer so each hour is eaten up by far more "actual racing." At some times there are 15 harness races per hour! That 30+ minutes of racing before you get to post parades and TB racing.

There are times (day and night) when there will be 3 races on tape, lined up ready to replay and we just can't find a seam. Suddenly we realize it 4 MTP at a track where we haven't shown the prior race.

As for NYRA post parades and paddock, our contract doesn't require airing it but we make every attempt as a courtesy to viewers and NYRA. When I say post parade I refer not to the entire time from paddock to gate but the portion of the program when they show the horses 1 by 1 with the graphics showing names/#'s etc. Often we break away after the parade to air a replay. If we didn't, the replays would be lined up around the production center.

On the whole, we try. It's worth noting that TVG uses about 15 people operating some pretty nifty controls to put on one show. Most of our equipment is quite dated and our show involves 1 host, 1 director and one sound man. The director and sound guy also have to tape all the races from non NYRA tracks and line them up for airing.

Originally Posted by Linny

I agree, I'd like to see SA treated as we do NYRA during the day. The problem is that we also have an agreement w/the harness industry that was signed as part of the ability to take nighttime TB racing. We have certain requirements re: what we must show. Taking NYRA + 3 others is hectic. Taking 2 TB + 3 harness tracks is almost beyond belief. The harness tracks run about every 15-20 minutes. The races take longer so each hour is eaten up by far more "actual racing." At some times there are 15 harness races per hour! That 30+ minutes of racing before you get to post parades and TB racing.

There are times (day and night) when there will be 3 races on tape, lined up ready to replay and we just can't find a seam. Suddenly we realize it 4 MTP at a track where we haven't shown the prior race.

As for NYRA post parades and paddock, our contract doesn't require airing it but we make every attempt as a courtesy to viewers and NYRA. When I say post parade I refer not to the entire time from paddock to gate but the portion of the program when they show the horses 1 by 1 with the graphics showing names/#'s etc. Often we break away after the parade to air a replay. If we didn't, the replays would be lined up around the production center.

On the whole, we try. It's worth noting that TVG uses about 15 people operating some pretty nifty controls to put on one show. Most of our equipment is quite dated and our show involves 1 host, 1 director and one sound man. The director and sound guy also have to tape all the races from non NYRA tracks and line them up for airing.

Sounds very convaluted to say the least. But keep up the good work.