ESPN Dropping More Horse Races

[sumitas]

I enjoy ESPN . Regardless, I'm looking forward to the NYRA specials on MSG+ from Saratoga .

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by sumitas

I enjoy ESPN . Regardless, I'm looking forward to the NYRA specials on MSG+ from Saratoga .

This is a good point. The show last week was very good. The only problem is that this only has a limited television audience. Not that I'm bothered by this, it's just that ESPN can reach fans across the country. It's too bad ESPN can have on the spot coverage anytime an NFL player scratches his ass, but can't give horse racing it's just due.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

This is a good point. The show last week was very good. The only problem is that this only has a limited television audience. Not that I'm bothered by this, it's just that ESPN can reach fans across the country. It's too bad ESPN can have on the spot coverage anytime an NFL player scratches his ass, but can't give horse racing it's just due.

Listen I love racing as much as everyone else, but any comparisons (of any kind) between racing and the NFL are just utterly insane.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Listen I love racing as much as everyone else, but any comparisons (of any kind) between racing and the NFL are just utterly insane.

In certain instances, yes, but my point was not to say horse racing is/was/could be as popular as football but that racing is well-suited for a 24-hour network. It will never reach football's level in our lifetime, but the point is while NFL/MLB/NBA have their own channel... horse racing has two! The "industry" should be taking advantage.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

In certain instances, yes, but my point was not to say horse racing is/was/could be as popular as football but that racing is well-suited for a 24-hour network. It will never reach football's level in our lifetime, but the point is while NFL/MLB/NBA have their own channel... horse racing has two! The "industry" should be taking advantage.

The bird has flown on racing being a popular spectator sport. There was a time when television contracts were becoming popular where racing had an opportunity to gain significant exposure via the airwaves but opted against it and at that point in time, sports like football capitalized.

You're speaking of "if" and the "industry" but are forgetting about the people who are in charge of the game right now. Oh wait, that's right, no one is in charge of the game. It is a system of state-by-state governing bodies that have differing opinions on safety, wagering, takeout, and many other issues. Expecting, or even dreaming that somehow someone (and we don't even know who because we have quotations around there supposed name) is going to come along, scoop up all the fragments of this game, build something sophisticated like a racing network and a not-for-profit ADW has as much chance of happening as Jorge Chavez starting at Center for the Knicks next year.

NT

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

The bird has flown on racing being a popular spectator sport. There was a time when television contracts were becoming popular where racing had an opportunity to gain significant exposure via the airwaves but opted against it and at this point in time, sports like football capitalized.

You're speaking of "if" and the "industry" but are forgetting about the people who are in charge of the game right now. Oh wait, that's right, no one is in charge of the game. It is a system of state-by-state governing bodies that have differing opinions on safety, wagering, takeout, and many other issues. Expecting, or even dreaming that somehow someone (and we don't even know who because we have quotations around there supposed name) is going to come along, scoop up all the fragments of this game, build something sophisticated like a racing network and a not-for-profit ADW has as much chance of happening as Jorge Chavez starting at Center for the Knicks next year.

NT

Chavez starting for the Knicks would be it for me, I would die a happy man.

But you're right... and I'm speaking optimistically obviously.

[Travis Stone]

I will add this though... as a pure spectator sport in that 15,000 will show up for races consistently definitely not. But, horse racing is far from dead. And there are ways to fix it, it will probably requires lots of outside the box thinking, and some fairly obvious stuff as well.