Are we getting close to a primetime Derby?

[3kings]

I think an evening post would help ratings and wagering similarly to the Saturday of Final Four Weekend. A lot of people would have groups of friends over to watch and I think more people may be introduced to betting. With computer betting it is so easy to set up an account I think it would introduce more people to wagering.

I have had a few afternoon Derby cookouts over the years and everyone wanted some action even if they had never wagered before. Many people had to show up after later or after the race because they or their kids were involved in Saturday baseball, soccer, golf etc....... That is why prime time or early evening would make more sense.

[slotdirt]

I think a "twilight" Derby is definitely going to happen in the next few years. Now, whether a 7:38 post is "primetime" or not is another discussion.

[OldDog]

"If it ain't broke don't fix it."

The Kentucky Derby model is far from broken, in my opinion. It should remain as it is.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by OldDog

"If it ain't broke don't fix it."

The Kentucky Derby model is far from broken, in my opinion. It should remain as it is.

Agreed that's it's not broken, but is there a chance of making it better?

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Agreed that's it's not broken, but is there a chance of making it better?

That's a fair question. If the goal is to increase tv viewers, I'm not sold that an 8 or 9 o'clock post time would accomplish that. Speaking for myself, a 5 or 6 PM post time best meshes with the popular Derby Day party concept, something with which I am quite enamored.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by OldDog

That's a fair question. If the goal is to increase tv viewers, I'm not sold that an 8 or 9 o'clock post time would accomplish that. Speaking for myself, a 5 or 6 PM post time best meshes with the popular Derby Day party concept, something with which I am quite enamored.

Yeah, but wouldn't parties function just as well into Saturday night?
Don't forget about the West Coast, the Derby goes off in the middle of the afternoon. I would think that you would pick up more viewers out there by having a later post time. Personally for me, I would have less of a chance on seeing the race if it was dead set in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.

The concept that intrigues me is that a network could really dedicate a time block and show more than the Derby to the public. The key is, to make it more about handicapping/racing than fluff pieces.
Maybe they can guarentee some sort of super pick 4 pool and then show all of the involving races.

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Yeah, but wouldn't parties function just as well into Saturday night?
Don't forget about the West Coast, the Derby goes off in the middle of the afternoon. I would think that you would pick up more viewers out there by having a later post time. Personally for me, I would have less of a chance on seeing the race if it was dead set in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.

Again, that's a fair statement. Derby parties notwithstanding, I guess what it comes down to for me is that the Kentucky Derby is an event unto itself, a decidedly traditional event, and I'm more concerned about the event itself than how TV covers it. Derby Day is Derby Day, and I don't want it to change to Derby Night just to (perhaps) pick up some viewers.

Originally Posted by MaTH716

The concept that intrigues me is that a network could really dedicate a time block and show more than the Derby to the public. The key is, to make it more about handicapping/racing than fluff pieces.
Maybe they can guarentee some sort of super pick 4 pool and then show all of the involving races.

TV producers seem to believe that viewers tuning into to Derby Day coverage want to see the fluff, as evidenced by them showing anything but the Woodford Reserve. Man, that steams me. Only during the BC coverage was a little more than casual attention paid to handicapping. I suppose that's what we get in the era of "reality tv" (which is anything but reality).

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by OldDog

That's a fair question. If the goal is to increase tv viewers, I'm not sold that an 8 or 9 o'clock post time would accomplish that. Speaking for myself, a 5 or 6 PM post time best meshes with the popular Derby Day party concept, something with which I am quite enamored.

You can't teach an OldDog new tricks, I suppose.

[jms62]

Will we ever get to see the Woodford Reserve?? My ADW doesn't show it for contractual reasons and the network that is the reason for the contractual reasons failed to show it 2 years in a row.