A Sport without a “Voice”

[Cratos]

Looking back at the TC races through the tapes which I made while away at the races and following the various sports channels on TV prior to and after the TC races it became very clear to me that this sport, thoroughbred horserace racing is in dire need of a “voice.”

When I speak of a “voice,” I am referring to the fact that horseracing does not have major voices in today’s sports media arena. Also I am only targeting the lack of media coverage that racing is not getting. I fully realize that there many other things about this that is in trouble and need fixing.

To continue, gone are the voices of Joe Hirsch, Bill Nack, Jim Murray, and Red Smith to name a few of the turf writers who were prominent voices in promoting this sport through their newspaper columns when racing truly was the “Sport of Kings.” As an appendage and before the outcry from the cynics becomes deafening I know that some of the aforementioned turf writers are deceased and my question was therefore rhetorical.

Also to his credit, Andy Beyer remains as the echo in the sports media arena for horseracing, but his voice is minute when compared to the voices coming from MLB, NFL, NBA, etc.

ESPN the 800-pound voice of all sports media gives only a minor “voice” to the sport and gave a less than stellar recognition to the recent TC races on its network. I watched ESPN’s “Sports Reporters” the Sunday morning after the Ky Derby and the amount of discussion given to the race was like it never happened.

The NBC TC telecasts weren’t much better although Bob Costas and others did their best on the NBC TC telecasts, but they were not horseracing knowledgeable enough to make the telecast both interesting and informative to the less informed sports fan who knows little or nothing about horseracing.

Another issue that was glaringly missing from the TC telecasts or at least I must have missed them were the lack of commercial support by the current “big dogs” of horseracing today. I didn’t see any commercials by the TOBA, NTRA, Equibase, Blood-Horse, or the Daily Racing Form.

When you watch the NFL, the NBA, MLB, NASCAR, Pro Golf and Tennis on ESPN or one of the other major networks they typically have former players or coaches on to give the viewer a better insight into the nuisances of the sport they are viewing. Yes, NBC did have Laffit Pincay, Jr, Jerry Bailey, and Randy Moss on during the TC telecasts, but they were sparingly used.

Therefore I believe that there are horseplayers (including some from PaceAdvantage) if given the opportunity and with the proper media training have the horseracing knowledge to become excellent color analysts on TV for horseracing. Additionally, they would bring a perspective that is lacking big time in the horserace telecasts and that is a view of the fan. The horseracing fan unlike the other major sport fans is both a spectator and a participant and that perspective need to be shown more clearly during horseracing telecasts.

Help might be on the way because one of the major networks will be telecasting some races from Saratoga this summer. If that happens, it will be good, but not nearly enough.

Telecasting just the major stake races will not do the trick in informing the novice or uninformed sports fan about racing. It would be good if during the telecast there would claiming and allowance races run with explanations of their differences.

I will agree that it is not just up to the sports networks to become the “voice” alone for horseracing. The racetracks need to do their share at the local level by having horseracing talk shows on the local radio airwaves and presenting on-track tours with presentations to better inform the fan.

Lastly, I have been to virtually every major sporting event in America and for one day; not one of them can match the Ky Derby experience. The one venue that I will say might have any recognition for fun to the Derby would be boxing and there must be the right boxers to pull that off. The Super Bowl with all of its hoopla is okay and I have been privilege to be invited to some private parties held at some of the most exclusive stadium boxes and they didn’t come close to my Derby experiences.

[Stillriledup]

If this wasn't such a serious topic and post, i'd make a lame joke and suggest that Danielle Bradbery might be available, but that's neither here nor there.

I think that the lack of coverage has to do with money. ESPN would find a way to promote horse racing if 'horse racing' paid them to do so. Unfortunately, horse racing is 'broke' and doesnt really have a dime to spend on purchasing media coverage.

Its the same thing with the NHL, ESPN barely mentions that the sport even exists, so, ESPN just picks and chooses which sports they have decided to cover.

As far as the Pace Advantage crew getting on TV, i do like what TVG has been doing with having an 'amateur' analyst to discuss one race, they've been doing that recently, but we need more of that. We need actual experts of horse racing on tv, there are plenty of people out there who would go on tv and talk about the game, give selections and real analysis too. I think many of us would rather hear a professional/expert gambler discuss a race rather than a professional journalist.

[iceknight]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

I think that the lack of coverage has to do with money. ESPN would find a way to promote horse racing if 'horse racing' paid them to do so.
I think many of us would rather hear a professional/expert gambler discuss a race rather than a professional journalist.

Spot on about the money. the other thing to ask also is... how can espn derive money even if horse racing does not pay them directly? There it becomes the chicken-egg discussion.

Regarding professional/successful gambler discussing races on TV, I am not sure many of them truly want to share?

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by iceknight

Spot on about the money. the other thing to ask also is... how can espn derive money even if horse racing does not pay them directly? There it becomes the chicken-egg discussion.

Regarding professional/successful gambler discussing races on TV, I am not sure many of them truly want to share?

Some of the good ones, you would think, have large ego's and want to get on tv and say how good they are, how much they bet, brag about big scores, etc.

A tv network would have to put an ad in the DRF saying that if you can prove you're a big bettor with documented "signers" and tax returns that show you earn a living from gambling, you can possibly get on tv and be a tv star! Maybe someone would answer the ad!

[Cratos]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

If this wasn't such a serious topic and post, i'd make a lame joke and suggest that Danielle Bradbery might be available, but that's neither here nor there.

I think that the lack of coverage has to do with money. ESPN would find a way to promote horse racing if 'horse racing' paid them to do so. Unfortunately, horse racing is 'broke' and doesnt really have a dime to spend on purchasing media coverage.

Its the same thing with the NHL, ESPN barely mentions that the sport even exists, so, ESPN just picks and chooses which sports they have decided to cover.

As far as the Pace Advantage crew getting on TV, i do like what TVG has been doing with having an 'amateur' analyst to discuss one race, they've been doing that recently, but we need more of that. We need actual experts of horse racing on tv, there are plenty of people out there who would go on tv and talk about the game, give selections and real analysis too. I think many of us would rather hear a professional/expert gambler discuss a race rather than a professional journalist.

Racing is not broke; it is mismanaged with too much government involvement. ESPN although do not carry the regular season NHL games they do a very good job reporting on the NHL playoffs and showing the playoff highlights. Additionally, they use Barry Meadows as the color analyst for their NHL telecasts and he is very good.

[Cratos]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Some of the good ones, you would think, have large ego's and want to get on tv and say how good they are, how much they bet, brag about big scores, etc.

A tv network would have to put an ad in the DRF saying that if you can prove you're a big bettor with documented "signers" and tax returns that show you earn a living from gambling, you can possibly get on tv and be a tv star! Maybe someone would answer the ad!

I believe that you are missing the point, I am not advocating someone to come on the TV and talk about betting. I am saying that thoroughbred racing needs more coverage period, not just the betting aspect of it. Far as betting, there is much more money wagered on Pro Football and College basketball than horseracing.

[Robert Goren]

It is all about companies willing to sponsor the broadcasts. The demographics for people who would watch the telecasts are not people most companies trying to reach.

[Cratos]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

It is all about companies willing to sponsor the broadcasts. The demographics for people who would watch the telecasts are not people most companies trying to reach.

I agree, but that is racing problem; they must sell their product. This is America and if you package it right and promote it well, it will sell.

[098poi]

Originally Posted by Cratos

I agree, but that is racing problem; they must sell their product. This is America and if you package it right and promote it well, it will sell.

The problem is there is no "they". From a distance it looks like there is but the closer you get there are just many fragments. Maybe someday there will be a bit more unity and effective action will be taken for the larger whole.

[Striker]

Originally Posted by Cratos

Help might be on the way because one of the major networks will be telecasting some races from Saratoga this summer. If that happens, it will be good, but not nearly enough.

NBC and NBCSN televised some of the Saratoga stakes last year. This year's schedule--

http://advertise.nbcsports.com/media...orseracing.pdf

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

It is all about companies willing to sponsor the broadcasts. The demographics for people who would watch the telecasts are not people most companies trying to reach.

Really? Hmmmm...I don't know about that.

What are the demographics of golf? Older males, no? Same as racing.

Do people on golf boards lament the lack of sponsorship?

[Cannon shell]

Originally Posted by Cratos

. Additionally, they use Barry Meadows as the color analyst for their NHL telecasts and he is very good.

The 'Money Secrets at the racetrack' guy?

You might be thinking of Barry Melrose.

[cordep17]

Originally Posted by Cratos

they use Barry Meadows as the color analyst for their NHL telecasts

It is Barry Melrose

In regards to the post, I think a few things would have to happen in order for ESPN to give a hoot about horseracing.
1. Get a guy
....No one on that network has made a serious comment about horse racing, so if they were to get involved in covering, I would want them to do it right.
2. Have a demographic.
...we have our sources for getting our horse racing news. ESPN has already built the demographic that they have by putting what they do on the air. That same demographic would probably not take too well to what they would see as way to much horseracing coverage. Where would they get such a demographic from. I don't know that there are enough of us to warrant them to cater to the sport. We have to build the abrand before we get recognition from the big guys.

So again, what would ESPN gain from showing the sport. I wish they would, but I don't know why they would.

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

If this wasn't such a serious topic and post, i'd make a lame joke and suggest that Danielle Bradbery might be available, but that's neither here nor there.

I think that the lack of coverage has to do with money. ESPN would find a way to promote horse racing if 'horse racing' paid them to do so. Unfortunately, horse racing is 'broke' and doesnt really have a dime to spend on purchasing media coverage.

Its the same thing with the NHL, ESPN barely mentions that the sport even exists, so, ESPN just picks and chooses which sports they have decided to cover.

As far as the Pace Advantage crew getting on TV, i do like what TVG has been doing with having an 'amateur' analyst to discuss one race, they've been doing that recently, but we need more of that. We need actual experts of horse racing on tv, there are plenty of people out there who would go on tv and talk about the game, give selections and real analysis too. I think many of us would rather hear a professional/expert gambler discuss a race rather than a professional journalist.

It is not the dollars horse racing( term used in general) has to buy tv time.
The process begins with negotiations for tv time slots. Then for example, NBC Sports Net execs agree to a package of Grade 1 events for the Summer. The next step is to seek out advertisers. That is really where it begins..Or ends.
If a program producer cannot sell his program to advertisers, the deal is off.
Ad executives look at ratings as a guideline on the value of advertising on a certain program or event.
The only way horse racing, or anything else for that matter gets on television is the ability to draw viewers(ratings) which in turn increases the value of the programming to advertisers. The more people watch, the more the program producer can charge the advertiser for commercial time.
ESPN has pushed all of its chips in on NFL, NBA and MLB on the pro sports side. And of course NCAA Football and Hoops.
The rest of the time ESPN spends beating scandlas such as juicing in baseball, to death 258 times over.
I am interested to see what this new Fox Sports1 network is all about. Will they go outside the box and promote horse racing? Who knows.

[thaskalos]

I submitted my resume to the NTRA, and asked to be put in charge of "player development"...a job which I told them I would gladly do for free.

I told them that the game was in dire need of knowledgeable horseplayers in key positions...who could lend a voice to the many concerns that the betting public has in today's game.

Never got a response...