REAL Sports profile on juice in racing

[miraja2]

I have not seen the show yet, so maybe I am way off here, but I do get a little tired of the mainstream media only doing negative stories on horseracing (except of course for someone like NBC who has a vested interest in giving the sport a positive image).
The issue of horses being juiced is valid and worthy of coverage by a show like REAL Sports. So was their story about jocks struggling with weight/eating disorders. So was the Chicago Tribune's continuing coverage last year of horses breaking down at Arlington.
I guess it just bothers me that these are the only stories of the sport these people tell. The Chicago Tribune's coverage of horseracing is horrible compared to some of the big papers in the rest of the country. They flat-out just don't care about it. Fine. But then don't get all high-and-mighty when there is some negative story to report.
Does REAL Sports ever do any positive stories about the sport? With other sports they run positive and negative stories both about individuals and the sport itself. When it comes to horseracing, they don't seem at all interested in individual stories at all, and are only interested in stories that in some way condemn the entire sport.
Rant over.

[MisterB]

Miraja2

When does a good news story sell. Most all media stories are about crooks, killers, rapist, child predators. That's what sells. Mother Teresa stories don't sell to good.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by MisterB

Miraja2

When does a good news story sell. Most all media stories are about crooks, killers, rapist, child predators. That's what sells. Mother Teresa stories don't sell to good.

Yes, but in sports, there are usually quite a few "good news stories" for most sports. A lot of what a show like REAL Sports does is reveal some of the darker side of a lot of sports.....which I like quite a bit. But they also include some good "heartwarming" type stories for most of the other sports.
"Hines Ward returns to Korea and is a great guy" type stuff.
I have no problem with them emphasizing all the problems that currently exist in the sport, but what about also including some profiles of all the truly good people that are involved in the sport? That only seems fair.
How about in their next installment a story like....."Will Steve Byk single-handily return horseracing to the prominence it enjoyed in the 1940s?"

[XIIPointStables]

You should watch it and then comment on it.

Caught it today during lunch. It was nice that Arthur Hancock brought up how the bettors are getting screwed. The piece in general did little for me in terms of a true solution. I think it will be impossible to get the 38 racing states to agree on a unilateral set of rules and regulations.

And as for commissioner...I vote for Kenny Mayne.

Sooner or later we'll all just be betting on the vets and not the trainers/horses.

Originally Posted by miraja2

I have not seen the show yet, so maybe I am way off here, but I do get a little tired of the mainstream media only doing negative stories on horseracing (except of course for someone like NBC who has a vested interest in giving the sport a positive image). The issue of horses being juiced is valid and worthy of coverage by a show like REAL Sports. So was their story about jocks struggling with weight/eating disorders. So was the Chicago Tribune's continuing coverage last year of horses breaking down at Arlington.I guess it just bothers me that these are the only stories of the sport these people tell. .

DIdnt we just have an entire month devoted to a Barbaro special?

ANd the year or two before that we had Seabiscuit the book and movie. Now we have Ruffian coming to a theatre near you.

Speaking in generalities is surely not an accurate way of presenting anything.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by easy goer

DIdnt we just have an entire month devoted to a Barbaro special?

ANd the year or two before that we had Seabiscuit the book and movie. Now we have Ruffian coming to a theatre near you.

Speaking in generalities is surely not an accurate way of presenting anything.

The story of Ruffian hardly puts racing in a positive light..

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

The story of Ruffian hardly puts racing in a positive light..

Frank Whitely and LeRoy are not your idea of a good time?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I'm surprised none of the trainers told HBO that drugs have nothing at all to do with horses racing less often.....it's all because these natural dirt surfaces keep getting more and more punishing on a horse with each passing year.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I'm surprised none of the trainers told HBO that drugs have nothing at all to do with horses racing less often....

Well actually they dont

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Why do they race so infrequently now--and so many need a lot of time between starts?

You're saying medication, be it illegal or legal, has nothing to do with this trend?