Why No TV Coverage Of Derby Preps?

[Patuxet]

I don't believe it! Two significant $1-million Derby preps today and no TV coverage for the fan with a passing interest in the classics, but who's not into racing/wagering enough to subscribe to a special channel.

Heretofore this spring in southern FL the Fox Sports Net channel has aired an HRTV or TVG feed on Saturdays in the 5-6 PM time slot. God awful camera work but at least the races were broadcast. FSN has apparently rearranged its priorities and today it's airing a college baseball game: Georgia at Mississippi. No wonder ratings are down for the broadcasts of the classics.

Who gelded the NTRA? Self-mutilation actually.

This sport desperately needs a centralized authority with the power to kick ass and get things done.

[bdw0617]

not enoug ratings.

last year didn't usa or someone like that air all the preps?


it really is sad.. while I don't care for todd pletcher, to a newbie, what uncle mo isf about to do to the wood field, that is the type of thing that makes someone say "humm...this kentucky derby thing huh.. i want to see him run again"

[Bast]

Back in Ye Olde Days, when most cities had 3 network affiliates, a classroom channel, and maybe an independent station that ran movies and old tv series, there was still horse racing on tv.

Yep, there was an audience for a 1/2 hour every week at the same time for races on Saturday. That's why I'm a fan today. That's how I saw many of Kelso's races.

The lack of such a program is why new fans are so scarce. New fans aren't going to go online and LOOK for racing.

[bdw0617]

Back in Ye Olde Days, when most cities had 3 network affiliates, a classroom channel, and maybe an independent station that ran movies and old tv series, there was still horse racing on tv.

Yep, there was an audience for a 1/2 hour every week at the same time for races on Saturday. That's why I'm a fan today. That's how I saw many of Kelso's races.

The lack of such a program is why new fans are so scarce. New fans aren't going to go online and LOOK for racing.

coming from someone who is a fan of most major sports, horse racing and college football to me are the funniest thigns to watch. I HATE the nba, i don't care for the NFL I will watch it if the cowyboys are playhing but other than that meh. come on baseball? I played baseball, quite well actually and I hate it.

[I don';t think it's too much to ask to have an hour every 2 weeks or so to showcase big races on like espn2 or something

or heck, even put the races on espn3. they should not even have to pay for that.

[Bast]

Back in Ye Olde Days, when most cities had 3 network affiliates, a classroom channel, and maybe an independent station that ran movies and old tv series, there was still horse racing on tv.

Yep, there was an audience for a 1/2 hour every week at the same time for races on Saturday. That's why I'm a fan today. That's how I saw many of Kelso's races.

The lack of such a program is why new fans are so scarce. New fans aren't going to go online and LOOK for racing.

coming from someone who is a fan of most major sports, horse racing and college football to me are the funniest thigns to watch. I HATE the nba, i don't care for the NFL I will watch it if the cowyboys are playhing but other than that meh. come on baseball? I played baseball, quite well actually and I hate it.

[I don';t think it's too much to ask to have an hour every 2 weeks or so to showcase big races on like espn2 or something

or heck, even put the races on espn3. they should not even have to pay for that.

One of the local low power channels here--the channel I call Sports Nobody Watches--had WOMEN'S CURLING on a few nights back, complete with multiple camera views.

A lot of marginal sports are on tv, but no one has done a good job of covering racing for decades.

[Shammy Davis]

It's the Master's Golf Tournament weekend. Golf has a better following than horseracing. We could start naming racehorses beginning with "Tiger . . ." That might get the attention of some golf fans.

[bdw0617]

Back in Ye Olde Days, when most cities had 3 network affiliates, a classroom channel, and maybe an independent station that ran movies and old tv series, there was still horse racing on tv.

Yep, there was an audience for a 1/2 hour every week at the same time for races on Saturday. That's why I'm a fan today. That's how I saw many of Kelso's races.

The lack of such a program is why new fans are so scarce. New fans aren't going to go online and LOOK for racing.

the more I think about it. the more I have to ask..


seriously, why are we not taking advantage of espn3?

I don' tknow how familar yuguys are with it, espn3.com but, it's where they put all the games that don't go on TV but espn still has the rights to. For instance, the lsu spring football game you could have watched live on espn3.com's website. they also save the show and let you watch it later, comes in handy in the fall when horse racing season is full swing.

what is the harm in putting some races every week there, you don't even have to take a team down there to do the broadcast, just take hrtv or tvg's stream and show it live. seriously. it can't hurt.

[Bast]

Back in Ye Olde Days, when most cities had 3 network affiliates, a classroom channel, and maybe an independent station that ran movies and old tv series, there was still horse racing on tv.

Yep, there was an audience for a 1/2 hour every week at the same time for races on Saturday. That's why I'm a fan today. That's how I saw many of Kelso's races.

The lack of such a program is why new fans are so scarce. New fans aren't going to go online and LOOK for racing.

the more I think about it. the more I have to ask..


seriously, why are we not taking advantage of espn3?

I don' tknow how familar yuguys are with it, espn3.com but, it's where they put all the games that don't go on TV but espn still has the rights to. For instance, the lsu spring football game you could have watched live on espn3.com's website. they also save the show and let you watch it later, comes in handy in the fall when horse racing season is full swing.

what is the harm in putting some races every week there, you don't even have to take a team down there to do the broadcast, just take hrtv or tvg's stream and show it live. seriously. it can't hurt.

ESPN3 isn't on my cable line up, which has also dropped ESPN Classic.

With the arrival of digital tv, most stations have the capability of multiple subchannels. Those subchannels need programming, which could be an opportunity.

[bdw0617]

Back in Ye Olde Days, when most cities had 3 network affiliates, a classroom channel, and maybe an independent station that ran movies and old tv series, there was still horse racing on tv.

Yep, there was an audience for a 1/2 hour every week at the same time for races on Saturday. That's why I'm a fan today. That's how I saw many of Kelso's races.

The lack of such a program is why new fans are so scarce. New fans aren't going to go online and LOOK for racing.

the more I think about it. the more I have to ask..


seriously, why are we not taking advantage of espn3?

I don' tknow how familar yuguys are with it, espn3.com but, it's where they put all the games that don't go on TV but espn still has the rights to. For instance, the lsu spring football game you could have watched live on espn3.com's website. they also save the show and let you watch it later, comes in handy in the fall when horse racing season is full swing.

what is the harm in putting some races every week there, you don't even have to take a team down there to do the broadcast, just take hrtv or tvg's stream and show it live. seriously. it can't hurt.

ESPN3 isn't on my cable line up, which has also dropped ESPN Classic.

With the arrival of digital tv, most stations have the capability of multiple subchannels. Those subchannels need programming, which could be an opportunity.

lol that's becuase it's not a tv channel.

go to espn3.com and click view live. you watch online. it streams it live.


this is how i pretty much watch everything on espn now. i haven' t actually watched espn in a good year.

[Whirlaway]

I don't believe it! Two significant $1-million Derby preps today and no TV coverage for the fan with a passing interest in the classics, but who's not into racing/wagering enough to subscribe to a special channel.

Heretofore this spring in southern FL the Fox Sports Net channel has aired an HRTV or TVG feed on Saturdays in the 5-6 PM time slot. God awful camera work but at least the races were broadcast. FSN has apparently rearranged its priorities and today it's airing a college baseball game: Georgia at Mississippi. No wonder ratings are down for the broadcasts of the classics.

Who gelded the NTRA? Self-mutilation actually.

This sport desperately needs a centralized authority with the power to kick ass and get things done.

Last I read "over 99% of Thoroughbred racehorses and 70% of Standardbred racehorses have a needle stuck in them four hours before a race.” Who wants to watch a bunch of drugged up fragile breakdown horses? Who wants to bet on a bunch of drugged up fragile breakdown horses? What network wants to broadcast the inevitable drugged up breakdown pileup in one of these high profile races? The Game is dead, the fact they don't even bother to broadcast the major Derby preps is yet another indicator . . .

[TJ]

I don't believe it! Two significant $1-million Derby preps today and no TV coverage for the fan with a passing interest in the classics, but who's not into racing/wagering enough to subscribe to a special channel.

Heretofore this spring in southern FL the Fox Sports Net channel has aired an HRTV or TVG feed on Saturdays in the 5-6 PM time slot. God awful camera work but at least the races were broadcast. FSN has apparently rearranged its priorities and today it's airing a college baseball game: Georgia at Mississippi. No wonder ratings are down for the broadcasts of the classics.

Who gelded the NTRA? Self-mutilation actually.

This sport desperately needs a centralized authority with the power to kick ass and get things done.

Last I read "over 99% of Thoroughbred racehorses and 70% of Standardbred racehorses have a needle stuck in them four hours before a race.” Who wants to watch a bunch of drugged up fragile breakdown horses? Who wants to bet on a bunch of drugged up fragile breakdown horses? What network wants to broadcast the inevitable drugged up breakdown pileup in one of these high profile races? The Game is dead, the fact they don't even bother to broadcast the major Derby preps is yet another indicator . . .

Hi Whirl,
You are correct.....that's because 99% of TB race horses are on Lasix and must recieve the lasix shot the morning of the race no later than 4 hours before the race. If they fail to administer the lasix in the proper time parameter's, or if the horse fails to recieve his lasix shot for some reason or other he will be scratched. TJ

[zinn21]

Whirlaway wrote:

Who wants to watch a bunch of drugged up fragile breakdown horses?

IMO, this statement is way way way over the top. The general public are clueless about racehorse medication protocol. The networks could care less about medication protocol. They only care about ratings. The main reason we are not seeing the Preps on ESPN and other networks is because the preps can be seen on TVG or HRTV. TVG sells numerous racing packages to Fox Sports Network so there is a lot of coverage of racing in general. And with this coverage ESPN does not think they can garner enough ratings to justify a market for their advertisers with all the diluted/duplicate coverage.