BC Coverage: Feedback?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Now that you've introduced us to most the horses, trainers, and jockeys, maybe a look into some of the owners would be good?

I like your approach to the big events and certainly focusing on them only makes for a better educated listener/capper.

I do like when you bring live races and would suggest maybe some races where we really all cap and talk about. For example as a follow up to your talk with Kairan about the 7th tomorrow at AQU. Found the discussion so interesting I downloaded the form. Perhaps some follow up discussion and then the race?? Maybe a weekly contest? Just a suggestion.

Spydee,

Appreciate the thoughtful response (and kind words).. Lots of good suggestions here... Definitely want more owners as guests. The ones we've had (Jim Scatourchio, Barry Irwin, Charlotte Weber) tend be industry leader types and I talk to them more about the state of the game than the performances of their runners.

Being on the scene of the big events probably produces the best the show can offer.. Derby; Saratoga and BC this past week have been the highlights undoubtedly.

A "Race of the Week" is a terrific idea. A Wednesday particularly as everyone can download the PP's as early as Sunday and cap and enter a contest and then hear the race live.. That's a winner... Might be able to incorporate the idea with Seth Merrow's Equidaily.com and DRF.

Thanks for the feedback and good suggestions!

[Riot]

I think the only way you could improve the show would be to give us 6 hours daily "live from Greenwich"

Thinking back, I can't recall where I learned of the show. I clicked on something, on some site .... Looking at the websites I commonly do, I don't see links to it. More advertising? Some webpage tradeoffs for clickable links?

What you do best is the mobility and flexibility - if there is a hot topic of the day, you are on it within 24 hours, usually with the principals involved.

And your ability to discuss sensitive issues with those people, without intimidating or threatening to trap them, so that they open up and discuss rather freely. Trust and honesty. Breeds more openness within the industry. And we get to hear more than is often reported in press

The BC coverage was can't miss. I agree would love to hear more from the owners. Learning personalities, and small details often dropped in casual conversation, is priceless.

I like every time you have a less-well-known trainer on, especially after he/she has a good day with a nice win. More national exposure for these guys is great! I like visiting the "smaller" tracks.

The one thing about the show that makes it step up into the elite class of the reporting of a Steve Haskin, for example, is the ability to make the listener feel a true "insider" in the sport.

Heck, maybe you could just broadcast 24-hours a day?

[smootsirvin]

I, too, vote for 24 hour a day At the Races!

Seriously.....I stumbled on the show quite by accident about three months ago and would now not even think of missing it on my commute home. You have brought this old salt back to the game in earnest, after years and years away.

The Breeder's Cup week was wonderful.

I think the lasting value of your efforts, Steve, is to show the way to Race marketers that they need to focus more on the people. When we have the ability to humanize the trainers, jocks, owners, handicappers, columnists, etc., through your interviews, the race becomes SPORT, not betting on the role of a die. Even the animals take on a persona.

Granted, I need the action, however the ultimate success of the sport in the competitive media environment is going to be on selling it AS a sport, not the numbers game portrayed on TVG and HRTV.

There's kind of a nutty analogy in the success of NASCAR. I never watch it, but I gather that its success comes from the marketing of the personalities, not the vehicles per se.

Longwinded, sorry.

Keep up the fantastic work, please.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by smootsirvin

I, too, vote for 24 hour a day At the Races!

Seriously.....I stumbled on the show quite by accident about three months ago and would now not even think of missing it on my commute home. You have brought this old salt back to the game in earnest, after years and years away.

The Breeder's Cup week was wonderful.

I think the lasting value of your efforts, Steve, is to show the way to Race marketers that they need to focus more on the people. When we have the ability to humanize the trainers, jocks, owners, handicappers, columnists, etc., through your interviews, the race becomes SPORT, not betting on the role of a die. Even the animals take on a persona.

Granted, I need the action, however the ultimate success of the sport in the competitive media environment is going to be on selling it AS a sport, not the numbers game portrayed on TVG and HRTV.

There's kind of a nutty analogy in the success of NASCAR. I never watch it, but I gather that its success comes from the marketing of the personalities, not the vehicles per se. Longwinded, sorry. Keep up the fantastic work, please.

S/I,

Appreciate the kind words and really am pleased to hear your interest in the game has been rekindled. That means a great deal to me... I think you hit on something that I've been trying to do without thinking about it, and that is to feed the needs of the wagering-concerned while balancing that straightforward info with a presentation of the personalities and issues that comprise the sport.

While the game will always be gambling-driven, I cannot do what Andy does on 'Playing to Win' as I lack his complete and total comprehension of the gambling side of the game. As a journalist first and horseplayer second, I try to strike a balance with the show that can hold everyone's attention 15 hours a week, and I don't believe concentrating too much on any one aspect of the game can do that.

The NASCAR analogy is a good one, as I spent 18 months in Charlotte with Procter & Gamble when we sponsored the Folgers, Tide and Crisco cars. Tim Richmond, Darrell Waltrip and Buddy Baker were indeed the stars of those vehicles, and were marketed as such. But NASCAR is also a good analogy as attendance at an event is a social 'happening' much as a day at the races should be. The 'experience' is a huge part of the potential success of the marketing of the game, and its' why I think Derby Trailer gatherings at tracks, and the formation of Dee Tee, has worked. Not everyone who's getting together at the track or that has bought into our partnerships is a horseplayer.. Many are in it for the social network aspect and sheer pleasure of the atmosphere/experience. The game can be successfully introduced and grown understanding the wide interest levels of the potential and existing 'race fan' and catering to their respective needs.

Thanks for taking the time to provide the feedback...

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Riot

What you do best is the mobility and flexibility - if there is a hot topic of the day, you are on it within 24 hours, usually with the principals involved. And your ability to discuss sensitive issues with those people, without intimidating or threatening to trap them, so that they open up and discuss rather freely. Trust and honesty. Breeds more openness within the industry. And we get to hear more than is often reported in press

The BC coverage was can't miss. I agree would love to hear more from the owners. Learning personalities, and small details often dropped in casual conversation, is priceless. I like every time you have a less-well-known trainer on, especially after he/she has a good day with a nice win. More national exposure for these guys is great! I like visiting the "smaller" tracks.

The one thing about the show that makes it step up into the elite class of the reporting of a Steve Haskin, for example, is the ability to make the listener feel a true "insider" in the sport.

Dr. C,

Thanks very much.. We do have a number of link/banner exchanges going with other racing-related sites, but there's no doubt more advertising is needed. There's still a rather limited awareness out there.

I agree that one of the shows real benefits is having the time and flexability to react to topics of the day and 'breaking' industry news. I try very hard to be on top of those stories and get them on the air. And one of my favorite things to do is offer retrospectives on passing greats (having John Hertler/Angel Cordero for Slew o' Gold; Ross Fenstermaker for Precisionist, etc..).

It's clear that listeners want to hear more from owners, so we'll push for more. And I appreciate the compliment on my interviewing. I'm trying to always get the answer to the question(s) that I think the listeners would ask provided the opportunity. And I love getting the lesser-known, regional star trainer, or consumate horseman on the show... Pat Mouton; Donnie Von Hemel; Bob Gorham; Chris Paasch; Pat Reynolds; Del Carroll; Chuck; Pat Kelly; Paula Capestro; Christine Jenks; Steve Margolis; Alan Goldberg; George Mikalades; David Fawkes.. all have been on in recent months..

Steve Haskin is of course the most invaluable resource I have for the show, with a breadth of knowledge about the game that is without equal. His generosity towards me and my career goes back to the start of Derby Trail on Yahoo, and being able to count on his contributions in nearly every area of the sport has been key to any improvement in the presentation of 'ATR'. The roster of writers/handicappers/commentators/track management that the show counts on is instrumental to the continuity, and no one is more reliable than Steve. And I think you're 100% right that making listeners and members here privy to the inner workings of the sport is key...

Thanks so much for the feedback..