Do you enjoy a race more hearing the call? would mute be the same?

[Zippy Chippy]

I was recently at the track and the grumpy Guy next to me kept muting my TV when I went up to bet. When I confronted him he said "you don't need volume to watch a horse race". For the next 20 minutes I watched races on mute and I was miserable! I changed my seat. You don't realize how much you need to hear the call.

[Peter Berry]

I was recently at the track and the grumpy Guy next to me kept muting my TV when I went up to bet. When I confronted him he said "you don't need volume to watch a horse race". For the next 20 minutes I watched races on mute and I was miserable! I changed my seat. You don't realize how much you need to hear the call.

Wish I'd been sitting next to him and he tried to mute my TV.

[tzipi]

Wish I'd been sitting next to him and he tried to mute my TV.

I agree. If he tried to mute my tv,he surely would've been the one moving.

[Zippy Chippy]

Wish I'd been sitting next to him and he tried to mute my TV.


He was old and mad at the world. Seriously though if I had to watch races on mute I'd probably quit going to the track. Its impossible and not fun watching without the racecall

[Zippy Chippy]

I agree. If he tried to mute my tv,he surely would've been the one moving.

Ah if I only had a nickel for every time I've been told I'm "too nice"

[BMustang]

I totally disagree.

At racebooks with patrons sitting side by side, it is not only unnecessary to have your volume up, but quite inconsiderate.

With this being said, there are varying degrees of volume abuse. Many turn up the volume to hear the talking heads, leave it up through the post parade, the acutal running of the race, AND the race replay. To me that is the height of inconsideration.

To turn the volume up to listen to the race call and then muting it until the next race is more considerate. At River Downs where I play the speakers on the TVs come out on the left side of the units, blasting the entire section seated in that section. Add to that the fact that some of these old fogies are stone deaf and we have issues. There are several of us who are known as the volume police, and if you won't turn down your volume, an usher with a remote will do it for you. In most cases the house sound system carrys the call of the most prominent live race call.

Las Vegas sportsbook TVs do not have volume. If you want to hear the sound they issue you a headset. Headsets cost under $5. My suggestion is if you want to listen to the baseball game, the football game, the talking heads and all of the aforementioned audio offerings - bring a headset. All of these TVs have input jacks.

[Peter Berry]

I totally disagree.

At racebooks with patrons sitting side by side, it is not only unnecessary to have your volume up, but quite inconsiderate.

With this being said, there are varying degrees of volume abuse. Many turn up the volume to hear the talking heads, leave it up through the post parade, the acutal running of the race, AND the race replay. To me that is the height of inconsideration.

To turn the volume up to listen to the race call and then muting it until the next race is more considerate. At River Downs where I play the speakers on the TVs come out on the left side of the units, blasting the entire section seated in that section. Add to that the fact that some of these old fogies are stone deaf and we have issues. There are several of us who are known as the volume police, and if you won't turn down your volume, an usher with a remote will do it for you. In most cases the house sound system carrys the call of the most prominent live race call.

Las Vegas sportsbook TVs do not have volume. If you want to hear the sound they issue you a headset. Headsets cost under $5. My suggestion is if you want to listen to the baseball game, the football game, the talking heads and all of the aforementioned audio offerings - bring a headset. All of these TVs have input jacks.

I agree with everything you wrote but this wanker allegedly said "you don't need the volume to watch a horse race." He apparently was speaking specifically about the race.

[castaway01]

First, I do agree you don't need to have a personal TV THAT loud when someone is next to you, but I enjoy hearing most track announcers and think they add to the viewing of the race. Based on what I've read on here in the past, I'm probably in the minority, but unless the guy is awful, I like hearing them. Then again, I play from home now, so I can turn the volume up or down as I wish.

[tzipi]

First, I do agree you don't need to have a personal TV THAT loud when someone is next to you, but I enjoy hearing most track announcers and think they add to the viewing of the race. Based on what I've read on here in the past, I'm probably in the minority, but unless the guy is awful, I like hearing them. Then again, I play from home now, so I can turn the volume up or down as I wish.

If my tv was up all the way blaring,then I agree BUT this person said the man said he doesn't need to hear the caller. So obviously any volumn is going to bother this guy. That's crazy. If I had the tv at a normal level and he said turn it off,you don't need volumn. He'd surely be the one moving.

[Tom]

Ever hear of earphones?
TV is one of the big reason I seldom go to the track.
When you have 20 TVs on and tuned to 10 different channels, all you can hear is the roar.

[CincyHorseplayer]

I totally disagree.

At racebooks with patrons sitting side by side, it is not only unnecessary to have your volume up, but quite inconsiderate.

With this being said, there are varying degrees of volume abuse. Many turn up the volume to hear the talking heads, leave it up through the post parade, the acutal running of the race, AND the race replay. To me that is the height of inconsideration.

To turn the volume up to listen to the race call and then muting it until the next race is more considerate. At River Downs where I play the speakers on the TVs come out on the left side of the units, blasting the entire section seated in that section. Add to that the fact that some of these old fogies are stone deaf and we have issues. There are several of us who are known as the volume police, and if you won't turn down your volume, an usher with a remote will do it for you. In most cases the house sound system carrys the call of the most prominent live race call.

Las Vegas sportsbook TVs do not have volume. If you want to hear the sound they issue you a headset. Headsets cost under $5. My suggestion is if you want to listen to the baseball game, the football game, the talking heads and all of the aforementioned audio offerings - bring a headset. All of these TVs have input jacks.

I'm at the River with you.I couldn't stand being packed in like sardines like that so I always get a table for the big buck price of $3!!

The only thing that annoys me at RD is that every bluehair on the draft beer takes 3 craps a day and you need a gas mask to go take a leak!!:lol:

[CincyHorseplayer]

No way would I want to sit there in silence watching races.I like to watch every post parade and if you're looking at the form etc you have to hear when they are coming on track.

Plus I like the sounds of the track.I go even when it's not live unless it's cold or the weather is bad or it's on a football day.

[therussmeister]

Ever hear of earphones?
TV is one of the big reason I seldom go to the track.
When you have 20 TVs on and tuned to 10 different channels, all you can hear is the roar.
I wish the TVs at my track had the ability to use earphones. Alas, no jacks.

[thaskalos]

Wish I'd been sitting next to him and he tried to mute my TV. I think it's safe to assume that the "grumpy" guy wasn't watching Mountaineer, when he "muted' the volume.

The race caller there is first class, IMO. :ThmbUp:

[v j stauffer]

I agree with everything you wrote but this wanker allegedly said "you don't need the volume to watch a horse race." He apparently was speaking specifically about the race.

Any post that includes the word "wanker" is a Sharp Post. Made even better by a colleague. Mute, schmute:mad:

[DeanT]

I only mute the TV for Hollywood Park or Mountaineer.

Everything else is a-ok

:)

[v j stauffer]

I only mute the TV for Hollywood Park or Mountaineer.

Everything else is a-ok

:)

Imagine the odds? That's amazing. Those are the only two I mute as well:eek:

[macdiarmida]

I definitely want to hear the call. I'm not able to view anything in Hi-Def (which would probably make all the difference) so the call certainly helps me track horses buried in the pack, chiclets notwithstanding.

And a civilized place is where they pipe in the call of the currently running race into the bathrooms.

[billyball]

Hate to have to admit this but the guy who does the inhouse Los Alamitos Handicapping---I guess his name is Chris Wade---makes me go for the mute. He has never done anything to me so why I go for the mute just means that certain people just do not like certain people. To me he is a real "Eddie Mush". Luckly last night I did not get "Mushed" as he picked the 4 in the last leg of my Ice Cold $1 P4.
August 21, 2010 11:31 PM Los Alamitos 7 1.00 P4 (PWHL) 1 / 5 / 1 / 4 $1.00 $77.80

[W2G]

I have very fond memories of Keeneland without a PA system. That was always such a unique experience.

That said, the race caller usually enhances the race watching experience for me.

[joanied]

Gotta hear the call. I admit, some race callers are so bad it hurts my ears (Mike Battaglia comes to mind) and I've heard some that can make a good race sound awful...
but, watching the races on mute...no way:ThmbDown: ...on HRTV they show an ad that concludes with Zenyatta's Classic...everytime I hear Denman's call I get goosebumps...and can you imagine Secretariat's Belmont without "he's moving like a tremendous machine" :eek: :bang:

I'm still waiting for my copy of 'They Call the Races' to get here:jump:

[Lasix67]

At some tracks I truly believe in the beauty of the race call. It can be like art in describing the race. I could not see enjoying horse racing without the call, but I don't play at the simulcast or OTB due to the clutter that some have posted about on this thread. I either play at home or when I go to the track I'll either be in the clubhouse or more than not on the apron.

[Dave Schwartz]

I can tell you that when I play I have a good time. I sweat the races - that's half the fun. LOL - My playing partner worries about me. Says I should be less passionate about each race.

Hey, when my $40 horse is making his move at the top of the stretch - make that $38, uh, $34... Anyway, when my $28 horse is driving to take the lead in the final furlong, I will be encouraging him onward towards that $22 payoff.


Without hearing the call you simply cannot always tell where your horses are.


Dave

[HuggingTheRail]

For me, it depends on the announcer. I like watching a lot of races, even if I don't have a bet going. I find that 10% of announcers I really enjoy, 80% are fine, and 10% are "Mute elation".

I know its not an easy gig, so I try not to bash the ones I don't like - just mute them and move on....

[johnhenry81]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRJF7QULUbE

[Cardus]

Anyone watching races at a personal terminal either in a race book or at a track -- putting aside that if you are at a track, why would watch races on a monitor? -- who leaves the volume on when he leaves his desk is, at a minimum, inconsiderate.

Harsher words are appropriate to describe this behavior.

Though I disagree with the old guy's theory that you do not need volume to watch a race, good for him for muting your TV when you left to wager.

[Cardus]

I can tell you that when I play I have a good time. I sweat the races - that's half the fun. LOL - My playing partner worries about me. Says I should be less passionate about each race.

Hey, when my $40 horse is making his move at the top of the stretch - make that $38, uh, $34... Anyway, when my $28 horse is driving to take the lead in the final furlong, I will be encouraging him onward towards that $22 payoff.


Without hearing the call you simply cannot always tell where your horses are.


Dave

It is clear that you are a longtime handicapper.

Therefore, I do not understand why you think what I highlighted above.

Jockey silks work for me.

[Dave Schwartz]

Jockey silks work for me.

You're certainly entitled to put your effort wherever it will do you the most good.

I can tell you that I would probably never know what color a jockey was wearing, not even when the race was over.

[Charlie D]

Just my 2 cents


NYRA is my circuit and i can honestly say that Tom's calls are a plus. Guy seems to have knack of making every race as exciting as KD or a Classic.

[bane]

This reminds me of Keeneland's old unoffical slogan before they added a race caller in 1997... "If you don't know who won you shouldn't be here".

[DeanT]

Hey, when my $40 horse is making his move at the top of the stretch - make that $38, uh, $34... Anyway, when my $28 horse is driving to take the lead in the final furlong, I will be encouraging him onward towards that $22 payoff.


:lol:

Classic stuff Dave.

[46zilzal]

Other than Durkin, the MUTE stays on all day long.

[alhattab]

Depends on the races. I don't really care if I'm essentially gambling on races around the country. But if there's a big race I want to hear the call. I carry around a universal remote so I can turn up the volume on the common-area TVs (and change the channels if necessary). For example on Sat there were no TVs showing Arlington nearby, so we changed the channel to Arlington on one TV and turned up the volume for the G1 stakes. We do the same thing for the Saratoga feed.

The only time I turn up the volume in the racebook is to hear a ceremonious call to the post when expected, and when the Clydesdales are at Santa Anita and they play "Here Comes the King" on continuous loop for 5 minutes- usually the Saturday of opening weekend.

[BlueShoe]

Good thing the old grump in the OP does not patronize the otb site that I usually attend, he would go bonkers. For unknown reasons, the commercial channels are available on the individual sets. Actually have guys that sit watching I Love Lucy reruns, soap operas, and game shows, usually on high volume. Others will watch whatever sporting event is on. But yes, the live call of a race is very much part of the racing experience. At otb when using a terminal the volume is only turned up during the actual running of a race, and then only at a moderate level. All other times the volume is off with only a picture. Never, ever leave the sound up when betting or not at my seat, or between races. Am from the old school, the one that teaches to be always considerate of others. Many sites do not have individual sets, and the sound is controlled through the wall TV's. Would prefer to see all sites adopt the practice of most of the Nevada racebooks, and only have sound available to headphone users. A good book will always have the sound on the house sets turned on when the race is going, so no real need for sound on the individual sets.