Valponi & NBC

[socalsportsbook]

My hat is off to Richard Bauer who had this quote in regard to the Classic. Posted Aug. 24 "Oh! My price play: Look at what Volponi did last time he added blinkers. What! Does that say 50-1?". Now that is handicapping. Great selection and I hope Richard had a couple on the horse.

My second point is another congratulations to NBC for a great job on the TV coverage. I only hope they did not pay Bob Costas for his hosting duties. Don't get me wrong, I love the kid but he knows nothing about horse racing and said next to nothing--to his credit. Charlsey Canti was really the host and did a great job. They all did a great job. Bob Neumeir picked Starrine on top and that was great.

Morgan

[PaceAdvantage]

Since Tom Hammond had his bypass surgery, they had originally planned to go without a replacement, and just expand the roles of Cantey and friends. However, they got Costas to come on board at the last minute, and even stated that his role would be quite limited. Makes you wonder why they even bothered.

Costas was actually involved in horseracing telecasts very early on in his career. I have a tape of him doing one of John Henry's Arlington Million wins with Pete Axthelm (might have been the first one in 1981)....


==PA

[Handle]

Don't take my comment to mean that Bob Costas "knew his stuff".

First, he said that he was a fill in and would never consider himself a "rail bird" (his words). He wasn't trying to fool anyone.

More importantly, in my opinion....
Think about the situation -- having Costas there was very, very good for the sport. Hats off to NBC and for Costas for doing it -- I certainly hope he got his money for the job.

Nobody but us chickens ( a BB King tune) knows who Hammond is. Everyone and their asparagus knows who Costas is. He sounds good, looks good, and lends credential to a sport that in this day and age is sorely lacking it.

This doesn't mean much to folks who are into horse racing. But think of how much the presenter means to those who are not. Think of how deep the search for the right Monday Night football personality is. In an age where the legitimacy of racing is constantly called into question -- an age of political correctness -- I have to (perhaps unfortunately) hope for more of these "legitamizing" personalities to come the way of horse racing even at the expense of people with more legit credentials not showing up (but, hell, Battaglia only touted chalk the entire day through anyway, or is that his job?).

-N

[PaceAdvantage]

Handle, I agree. I take back my "why did they bother" comment. I was way off base there. Having Costas was very good for the sport.

Is this the first time Costas has done a racing show in quite some time?? I seem to remember him doing something else within the last couple of years. Was he not part of Triple Crown telecast?? Or maybe some other BC a few years ago???


==PA

[JustRalph]

Bob Costas was smart enough not to try and immerse himself with data and then come out swinging with his mouth. That makes him different (i.e better) than 99% of the sportscasters on the planet...........He did a nice job of sprucing up the program and adding credibility to a group of announcers who get about 3 shots a year at being on TV. Lead with Bob and set the rest up for home runs. It worked just fine.


Did anybody hear what Tom Durkin said about Keiran Fallon the rider of "hold that tiger" in the Juvenile? He was loading in the gate later in the card and Durkin made a comment something like " there goes Keiran Fallon, who didn't exactly bathe himself in Glory with his ride of Hold That Tiger in the Juvenile"

It was a major slam on the rider. Sounds like old Tom might of had some tickets on "Hold that tiger";) ;)

[GameTheory]

Bob was also on the Triple Crown broadcasts on NBC. I think I remember him interviewing Pat Day, and his pointing out that his knowledge of horseracing was not great.

Costas' integrity is bullet-proof. He lends class to anything he is associated with...

[PaceAdvantage]

I thought so Game Theory....wonder why Bob is so self-deprecating when it comes to his racing prowess, when in fact he's covered more than a few racing telecasts in his day....starting way back in the early '80s.


==PA

[PurplePower]

Originally posted by Handle

Nobody but us chickens ( a BB King tune) knows who Hammond is. Everyone and their asparagus knows who Costas is. He sounds good, looks good, and lends credential to a sport that in this day and age is sorely lacking it. -N

I agree with the credibility angle of Bob C being on telecast - and appreciated his willingness to defer to those more in the know. There are a few more "vegetables" that know Tom Hammond, however, as he is one of the more popular NFL play by play commentators. His move to play-by-play was a "credibility" move for horse racing as it came about as a result of his work on the early B Cup telecasts and his Hammond Productions horse stuff.

I don't particularly like the visual presentation of the horse racing itself on NBC. The post parade angle (with a cameraman walking backwards along the rail) and all the information put on the screen regarding the horse, detracts from the captivating beauty of the animals themselves.

The race presentation itself leaves much to be desired IMHO. Just as runners in back of pack begin to make their moves, NBC cuts to a shot of the front runners - then just as the front runners begin to jostle for leadership turning for home, they switch to another angle. All-in-all NBC does a good job - but I prefer to watch the track feed for the actual running of the races.

[Tom]

Maybe next year, they will get rid of some of the deadwood and actually show some replays, or (gasp!) even disccuss betting strategies???? Perhaps acknowledge that horse racing is gambling?? Take away the betting and I would have gone bowling. This is not dressage.

[PurplePower]

Gadzooks!! Gambling!!!

Wonder what irreverent FOX would do if they had a chance? Did any of you get to see the Delta commercials that were running during the Cup? Probably just a regional commercial type of thing - but I thought it was a Super Bowl worthy commercial.

[railbird]

Could someone please explain "IMHO"??????

[Larry Hamilton]

nickname for Pharoe Imhotep,

contraction for I'm a ho,

in my humble opinion

pick one

[railbird]

very cute ,thanks lol