I really wish I could see prep races on TV...

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I don't disagree either. But, maybe (and I'm probably dreaming) if horses ran more and if the same stake race wasn't being run at 3 different tracks on the same day we might see some actual competitive racing. Competitive racing will help attract gamblers and fans.

I know when I first starting following, there were more races on TV and I looked forward to watching the ones that I couldn't see at OTB. Even now when a network carries the Derby, they don't show the Woodford Reserve beforehand. That would have been unheard of 15 years ago.

Obviously us as serious players and fans want competitive races. But I really think what the sport needs to draw from that once/twice a year player or total new fan base is a real star.

I'll use Zenyatta as an example, whether you liked her or not at least there was a public awareness about her. I'm not sure how many of these new fans actually pumped some money through the windows, but at least they were exposed to how great of a sport it can be. Hopefully it piqed their intrest to watch other races, maybe make it out to a local track as well. Hopefully a few of them became hooked and continue to watch and play now that she is retired.

You're right, horses need to run to become stars. I just think people want to see something special and become attached to that. I think Uncle Mo had a chance this weekend to possibly captivate the country if he would have demolished the field in the Wood (even though it didn't seem that the field was that good). Unfortunately I really believe that people want to see dominance, they want to be part of that next Secretariatesq like moment when the hero wins in a rout. Unfortunately those moments are so hard to come by. The moments that our sport captivates the country are just too far and too few between.

Everyone watches the Derby with the hopes of making money and seeing a potential TC winner(next possible star). I want to believe that the majority of people at least tune into the Preakness. I'm not saying they are betting it like the Derby, but at least they are aware that it's going on, still holding on to that dream of seeing something special. Then the Belmont, unfortunately the majority of people only care if there is a TC at stake, if not it's just another Saturday afternoon for the majority of them. If they are home maybe they will watch it, if not maybe they will read about it in the paper the next day. The perception is that nothing memorable will happen, so there's no reason to watch . It's just another competitive race. But when you think about it, there are lots of competitive races everyday, but they just lack the star power giving the public that next special moment people crave to see.