"You're Better Off Watching It On TV."

[Teach]

“You’re better off watching it on TV,” he said.

It was the mid-1980s. That year, I had taken a leave-of-absence from teaching. I recall that many an afternoon I was at Suffolk Downs (Boston/Revere line). Per usual: I was sitting in the clubhouse press box (I was a member of the New England Turf Writers).

As an aside, we had "a club” up there in the SD press box. There was the late Bob Kinsley and also Ron Indrisano, both wrote for the “Boston Globe.” Kinsley would call Indrisano “Ro-land.” Indrisano would call Kinsley, “Knees-lee.” Then there was a fellow who worked for Singapore Airlines. All I can say was that I was "in my element,” i.e., thoroughbred racing.

The race-caller in those days was “Big Jim” Hannon. When they reached the far turn and were heading for the top o’ the stretch, Hannon would say, “They’re in Beachmont.” (Beachmont was the next public transportation stop - the “T” - after Suffolk Downs). Hannon was be succeeded in the announcer’s both by Larry Collmus.

As I think back, it was about this time of year, a few days before the running of the Kentucky Derby, when one of the trainers, Ron Dandy, came up to the press box (I can still picture Dandy with his binoculars). Dandy, by the way, hailed from Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada (about one hour’s travel south of Quebec City.). Thetford Mines is the "asbestos capital of Canada".

As I remember, I was talking to Dandy about who he liked in the upcoming Derby. I then remember saying, “Oh, how I wish I could be in attendance.” I remember Dandy saying, “You’re probably better off watching it on TV.” Dandy went on to say that it’s so jam-packed, you can hardly enjoy watching the race.”

As I think about it, 40-years later, I certainly would enjoy being part of the throng at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. I can see myself sippin’ on a Mint Julep and just taking in all the ambience.

That’s not going to happen, at least not this year. I’ll be ensconced in my not-too-overly-ostentatious TV room, a cold beer at the ready, as I watch the most exciting two-minutes in sports.

In closing, yes I believe Ron Dandy was right when he said, “You’re better off watching it on TV,” but just once I’d like to experience those two minutes, in person.

[The Arbiter]

Anybody who would rather watch the Derby on TV, rather than at Churchill, I don't know, I think that's rather sad. Unless they are literally phobic to crowds or something

[king kong]

Did he have hi def in those binocs...

[king kong]

At least if you were at Churchill you could go to the windows and cash and play upcoming races.Not so much with TVG

[dilanesp]

As someone who has been to some big events over the years-- Olympics, Breeders' Cups, January 1 Rose Bowl Games, etc.-- you are very often better off watching TV in the sense of viewing the event. When venues are crowded, often there are a lot of very bad seats. That's certainly going to be true of the Kentucky Derby, where if you can't afford to be upstairs in the rooftop boxes, you can't see most of the race.

OTOH, part of why people want to attend big events is just the sense of being there. E.g., standing for an Olympic medal ceremony, or seeing the Stanley Cup being presented, or seeing a top racehorse like Easy Goer up close or in the flesh, is different in kind from seeing something on TV.