Do you play Mountaineer online or other tracks?

[molson721]

If you wager from home or wager online, do you find it irritating that the Mountaineer in house handicappers talk up until there is 1 minute to post? I usually turn them down but I don't know of any track where they keep talking so close to post time. It drives me nuts. I keep the volume on so I know when the horses are close to loading but I can't do that with Mountaineer. Am I wrong to think they should shut up sooner and not keeping talking so close to post?

Also, how do you feel about the tracks that play music over their live feed. I find that irritating as well. Music tastes are so different all over the country and depending on age level, it annoys the hell out of me.

Anything else you want to add that annoys you? ADW players are a large demographic and I think they need to know what they can and shouldn't do to help us and not annoy us. I never hear music when I'm at the track and I don't want to hear it while I try to handicap a race over the internet. I only want to hear when they are close to post so I can make my wager without being shutout. Any thoughts would be welcome

[Maximillion]

If you wager from home or wager online, do you find it irritating that the Mountaineer in house handicappers talk up until there is 1 minute to post? I usually turn them down but I don't know of any track where they keep talking so close to post time. It drives me nuts. I keep the volume on so I know when the horses are close to loading but I can't do that with Mountaineer. Am I wrong to think they should shut up sooner and not keeping talking so close to post?

Also, how do you feel about the tracks that play music over their live feed. I find that irritating as well. Music tastes are so different all over the country and depending on age level, it annoys the hell out of me.

Anything else you want to add that annoys you? ADW players are a large demographic and I think they need to know what they can and shouldn't do to help us and not annoy us. I never hear music when I'm at the track and I don't want to hear it while I try to handicap a race over the internet. I only want to hear when they are close to post so I can make my wager without being shutout. Any thoughts would be welcome

Have you ever actually listened to the Mnr handicapping show?

[Stillriledup]

If you wager from home or wager online, do you find it irritating that the Mountaineer in house handicappers talk up until there is 1 minute to post? I usually turn them down but I don't know of any track where they keep talking so close to post time. It drives me nuts. I keep the volume on so I know when the horses are close to loading but I can't do that with Mountaineer. Am I wrong to think they should shut up sooner and not keeping talking so close to post?

Also, how do you feel about the tracks that play music over their live feed. I find that irritating as well. Music tastes are so different all over the country and depending on age level, it annoys the hell out of me.

Anything else you want to add that annoys you? ADW players are a large demographic and I think they need to know what they can and shouldn't do to help us and not annoy us. I never hear music when I'm at the track and I don't want to hear it while I try to handicap a race over the internet. I only want to hear when they are close to post so I can make my wager without being shutout. Any thoughts would be welcome

The Mountaineer in house guy is a regular poster here, i'm sure he's gonna chime in and tell you why they do what they do.

[thaskalos]

The Mountaineer in house guy is a regular poster here, i'm sure he's gonna chime in and tell you why they do what they do.
He might add a few other things as well... :)

[EvenSteven]

Mute
:)

[Maximillion]

The only problem I have with the Mnr handicapping show is that on my ADW I can often barely hear it.....I wish Mark and Nancy would talk louder. :)

[tanner12oz]

He might add a few other things as well... :)

get your popcorn ready lol

[Lemon Drop Husker]

Love Mark and Nancy. They honestly might be the only reason I ever make a wager on Mountaineer races.

They are interesting, knowledgeable, and entertaining. They also aren't going to just throw you the chalk that any half-assed horseplayer can figure out.

[Stillriledup]

He might add a few other things as well... :)

No doubt, he's never one to be shy.

[bello]

Love Mark and Nancy. They honestly might be the only reason I ever make a wager on Mountaineer races.

They are interesting, knowledgeable, and entertaining. They also aren't going to just throw you the chalk that any half-assed horseplayer can figure out.

Totally agree....a breath of fresh air....When you actually listen. And Mark will give you insight that can really help you handicap there.

The reason I say when you actually listen, when I first heard them and for around 6 months after they reminded me of the two women from the old SNL show.....You know the two in the Svetty Balls skit ( sorry Mark) because it did sound like Mark and Nancy were whispering to each other. But when I actually started listening, I started following MTR more often. Great insight. Totally NOT afraid to discuss trainer/owner intent, which NO other public handicapper that works for the track will dare do.

Keep up the great work guys!

[JustRalph]

Mark won't bust balls. He's classier than that. Everybody has their preferences.

Mark and Nancy should be working a better track. They would be great a larger venue.

[Zydeco]

Mark won't bust balls. He's classier than that. Everybody has their preferences.

Mark and Nancy should be working a better track. They would be great a larger venue.

Agree

[thaskalos]

Mark won't bust balls. He's classier than that. Everybody has their preferences.

Mark and Nancy should be working a better track. They would be great a larger venue.
Truer words were never spoken.

The handicappers and the announcer are top-class...and they deserve a better track and a wider audience.

[Knowclew]

Mark won't bust balls. He's classier than that. Everybody has their preferences.

Mark and Nancy should be working a better track. They would be great a larger venue.

Totally agree.

I do agree with Molson that the loud music can be a pain, even if
you like what they are playing.

[jballscalls]

I got the really great pleasure to sit in the studio with Mark and Nancy one Monday night back in 2006 and it was really fun. They have a great chemistry on and off the camera and you could tell they were having a blast.

I even got to go up and watch a race with Peter. It was about 102 degrees and 150% humidity and his binoculars were fogging up.

Interesting note about announcing at Mountaineer, there is a massive pole (I think it's a light pole) directly in the way of Peter's view as the field turns for home. It made me that much more impressed with his already great calls. Other than his love for soccer, he's the man!

[Milkshaker]

Mark and Nancy should be working a better track. They would be great a larger venue.

I respectfully disagree. They are outstanding for their local knowledge and their understated but casual tone is a great fit for that particular venue.

But put them in the paddock at Saratoga or Del Mar and ask them to banter back and forth like that? It wouldn't fly.

[JustRalph]

I respectfully disagree. They are outstanding for their local knowledge and their understated but casual tone is a great fit for that particular venue.

But put them in the paddock at Saratoga or Del Mar and ask them to banter back and forth like that? It wouldn't fly.

I think they would adapt

[molson721]

Mark won't bust balls. He's classier than that. Everybody has their preferences.

Mark and Nancy should be working a better track. They would be great a larger venue.

I'm not criticizing Mark and Nancy, I just wonder why they keep talking so close to post time. Give the people a few minutes to digest what they say instead of talking so close to post time. I don't want to have to mute the volume because I listen for the announcer to let me know how close they are to post.

I never listen to on track handicappers because I find they can screw up your own handicapping but of all tracks, I don't know of any where they keep throwing stuff at you so close to post time like they do at mountaineer.

[cutchemist42]

Love the Mtn handicapping show, part of the reason why its really the only nighttime track I handicap beside Canterbury nights.

[brdman12]

I always have the sound down when I play online. I barely want to hear so I know when the horses take off. I like mountaineer but the odds have big drops late, way too many scratches so you cant handicap ahead of time, but usually have more than 6 or 7 horses running...not one of my favourite tracks, but we of few good choices....

[davew]

Mark and Nancy have been doing the show for a long time (20-30 years?)

They have some funny tote action there and they are pretty good at picking out show jumpers weak picks.

[netbet]

I love playing Mountaineer and I love listening to Mark and Nancy. If you want to learn handicapping and gather some information about the local product, you won't find a better team.

I also wish they would speak a little louder or maybe raise the mic volume.

Mountainman, any chance of you and/or Nancy joining Twitter?

Thanks.

[HUSKER55]

I like Mark and Nancy, good commentary.

[mountainman]

Thanks for all the kind words, guys. I've been referred to so many times as underrated, that I'm pretty sure I'm now overrated.

In response to a few pertinent comments: 1) YES, we do talk too close to post, and the problem has been exacerbated by a shortened time-period between races. But we are working hard to get out sooner.

2) OF COURSE I could adapt and do a less conversational show. In fact, I'm a hardcore handicapper and sometimes fear I bombard viewers with info that's a bit too arcane(or subtle), so I do try to lighten it up from time to time. Also, my boss endorses my edgy outspokenness and unpredictable nature on the air. And she wants the show to entertain just a bit, as well as inform.

3) The sound guy adjusted my mike last night. It was set too low. So please let me know if I continue to come across muffled. BELIEVE ME, as those who have visited the studio will attest, I talk plenty loud.

4) I'm close to taking the twitter plunge. Please, god, don't let me be TOO blunt.

5) While I like to think I'd be more than just another analyst if I worked elsewhere, I freely admit my foremost asset is deep local knowledge of a longstanding nature.

[letswastemoney]

The sound mic was too low. It was like listening to a golf tournament most days.