Take Two - by Steve Haskin

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Julie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:57:53 GMT

I enjoy the show and have been a casual race fan since I was 10 years old watching Secretariat run. I agree with Tim G and Jill. The show is not produced for racing insiders but for average viewers who love animals.

People need to relax and realize that any positive publicity that horse racing gets is a bonus for the sport. I think that getting to see the jockeys behind the scenes is great. It is a side of racing that I not seen before this series.

I have been totally entertained and a little distressed watching the jockeys work to get rides. Seeing how difficult it is to get on the good mounts and how easily you can lose them. I have always loved horses but watching the human drama behind the scenes has me watching more racing than ever before. It also has me logging into bloodhorse.com every day :). If it has that effect on other viewers it should be a great thing for the sport.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Robin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:49:21 GMT

Have enjoyed Jockeys since it's inception. Although it does seem like some of the scenes are "re-edited", maybe to make it more exciting. Finally, a show that lets the rest of the sports world know that these jockeys are some of the best athletes ever!!! I'd like to see Shaq or MJ try to compete with them couldn't do it. The ever constant weight battle over the urge to eat all the while maintaining enough muscle to control a 1000lb+ animal boggles my mind. Kudos to Animal Planet and the Jockey colony for allowing all of us an inside peek.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

yawn — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:58:56 GMT

"And, OK, I understand why Bullybullybully (who I wonder where he is now??) had to go in MCL to make the starter allowance condition, but why did he have to go in starter allowance to then go in stakes races, as the narrative claimed? Is this a condition for some of the Cal Cup races or something?"

Kyri 25 Aug 2009 3:22 PM

Kyri,

For what it's worth, BBB's actual record is 3-1-1-0

1/29/09 SA 1st Maiden Claiming

6/14/09 HOL 2nd Starter Allowance

7/11/09 HOL 4th Starter Allowance

Tyler Baze rode him the last two times.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

LavasLegend — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:57:00 GMT

I don't find Trevor's voice-overs annoying in the least. I think you have to look at him from a non-racing fan viewpoint; it has to be made a little easier for "Joe Public" to follow along. On the TV show, the races are set up for the riders stories--the horses names are usually mentioned in passing (exept for the big races, like last week's DWC coverage). Since the focus is on the men and women out there riding, it makes sense (to me) to have a little "do-over" of the original race call for viewers to follow along. IMO, it's a smart move, making it more "user friendly" for the average viewer. The original race call is going to name the horse(s) on the wire, and the "untrained" viewer may be be asking, "But...was that the horse Joe was on, did he win, or what??"...anyway, just my .02 on the matter, I think it works.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Ofelia — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:33:21 GMT

Why doesn't Chip Wooley hire Chantal to be MTB regular rider??

I don't want to here him whining about MTB not being ridden to his full potential!

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Will W — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:09:19 GMT

Fake voiceover race calls, highly overdramatized nonsense and hype. Would rather see a documentary where the cameras are allowed to roll without the inane background narration, especially in the jocks room or where the trainers are giving the jockeys pre-race instructions. Just cut the chessy narration from Animal planet narrator who clearly doesn't know beans about racing. Portraying laid back, amiable, witty Bob Baffert as "ruthless. " Come on. A show with the potential to be interesting if the staging and hapless narration was highly minimized and the stories allowed to tell themselves. Iggy would be better off filmed with a shirt on. He will come back following injuries or go elsewhere to ride as will Corey given time. Show portrays them as on the edge of riding oblivion in exaggerated melodramatic story lines. Too much like WWE wrestling story-line nonsense thanks to Animal Planet.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Mister K — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:30:55 GMT

I love the show, but they way over exaggerate the drama. For regular fans this falls short because we already know what happens later.

Example - they make it seem as if Aaron Gryder's entire career hung on the results of the Dubai race. He won impressively but the horse couldn't run back to that race and AG is pretty much where he was before. Also if Iggy was ever in the top ten before his injury, I sure as hell don't remember.

I don't think it helps create new fans if they are made to think that Trevor Denman calls every race in the planet and that he calls by the jockey's name instead of by the horse.

The drama is just as great if it is played like it is.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

NIcole — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:47:09 GMT

I caught episode 2 last night- first time watching. For a reality show, not half bad. I could tell the race calls were recorded specifically for the show, (and funny hearing a Trevor Denman "call" for the New York Gotham and Wood- I imagine that's cheaper than getting rights to Tom Durkin's voice), and some of the scenes were pretty obviously staged (most jockeys aren't actors, that's for sure), but it really was fun and makes the sport accessible. Yes, as a NY racing fan it'd be fun to see the NY tracks followed, but filming is much more expensive in New York than in California so I'm not holding my breath. But who knows, if the series lasts, maybe we'll see a season of Jockeys: Saratoga. :)

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

TomasinNM — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:18:04 GMT

Season one was pretty cheesey but hey, if it brings in the fans...I watched the episode mentioned in the column only because some "non fan" friends had seen it and had questions for me. I was pleasantly surprised at the improvements over season one. Sure, they take some liberties to make it more entertaining but who the hell cares as long as it's interesting to the non hard-core. Corey was sure being Corey wasn't he?

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Ida Lee — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:45:37 GMT

I watched Jockeys first season and it was pretty good. But wow it was great last week. I was a wreck with Bully thinking they were going to lose him. It's a pleasure watching Chantal. She's beautiful and talented. Can't wait to find out what's new with her and Mike Smith. And Cory...what can you say about a bad boy! You want to smack them across the face one minute and the next you're wondering what makes them act out the way they do and wondering if they just need a hug. I can't wait for the next episodes especially the I Want Revenge situation. If I felt like crying on that KD morning when he was scratched, I can imagine how his jockey felt.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

flyte — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:24:43 GMT

Thanks to season 1, my husband can't stand Joe Talamo and roots for any horse Ms. Sutherland rides.

I enjoy it.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Jill — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:21:09 GMT

Guys, c'mon. You complain when racing isn't on TV, you complain when it is. Hollywood is littered with people who think they can do it better than the people already successful at it.

"Jockeys" is a TV show on a cable network that caters primarily to animal lovers. The producers and directors are not aiming the show at racing insiders, they are aiming it at the same families who like to watch "Dogs 101," "Animal Cops: Houston" (and all the other humane cops shows), "Housecat Housecalls," Shark Week, "Whale Wars," and "Venom ER."

Can you tell Animal Planet gets a lot of action at our house?

The spills you are complaining about are in the opening sequence of the show -- just like every other TV show has an opening sequence/song/whatever; the spills are not "repeated over and over" within the body of the show. Yes, the voiceovers are annoying, but again, it's a device to keep informed the average viewer who wouldn't know a chestnut from a gray, a pair of yellow silks with white checks from one with white squares, or have a clue about which jock was under which helmet on which horse.

Expecting "Jockeys" to be geared for the approval of hard-core racing insiders is like expecting "ER" or "House" to be realistic depictions of a hospital.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Freetex — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:09:31 GMT

Better start this season.

I would like to see more factual details around racing, but I am glad its on again.

Almost any show with horses is fine with me.

This could be a great series if only they wouldn't feel the need to stage so much and kept to historical facts.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Kate — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:38:27 GMT

I, too, am excited for the new season and wish the re-calls were gone. Sadly I was moving this past week and couldn't catch it. Glad to hear it went well and I hope they don't shelve the re-runs of episodes after the week we first see them. I'd love it if they'd re-air the show more than just into the wee hours Saturday. Maybe before some race (on another network so that would maybe be an issue I guess) they could run the show, then an ad could be shown so anybody just getting into it can go 'oh it's coming on in just a bit, I'll go watch the Travers' after which they put it on ESPN, NBC, whatever. I think it'd benefit new fans especially, and we might get more of them if the reviews of the series are any indication. It would also promote good and proper race calls being included if they heard more of them, refusing to settle for what we have now.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Karen2 — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:03:20 GMT

Been away for awhile living it up in the world of barrel racing with my 10 year old daughter. I sure have missed you guys..... My 2 cents on this show...I have watched it a handful of times and hated it and thought it was not good for this industry. Maybe I need to give it another chance but like most reality shows, I could do without the staged, fake drama. I think its a cheesy attempt to draw people into the sport.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Karen in Texas — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:55:26 GMT

Karen D---I remember Corey Nakatani being suspended and sent to anger management classes in the past. I, too, am wondering why there are not further consequences.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Karen in Indiana — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:11:23 GMT

I am so definitely NOT a fan of reality shows, but have watched this show from the beginning and enjoy it. It's great advertising for horse racing - it shows what the jockeys have to go through to do what they do and you can tell which ones do it because they love the horses and which ones do it as a job only. The shot I loved the most in this whole series was Kristin leaning her head on Bully's rump while she's talking to Chantal - the trainer trusting the horse & the horse trusting the trainer. The people involved have been outspoken that they want this series to reach people who don't know anything about the sport so maybe they'll get interested and I think it's doing a very good job of that.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Karen D — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:02:10 GMT

I really enjoyed the drama playing around Bully too.

But what I'd like to know is how Corey Nakatani could push another rider off a horse and still be riding. The show makes a constant point of the danger to jockeys and how many are killed or injured every year. With all the other negative aspects of the sport being played out in the public eye, do we really want to add this to the list?

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

HardSpun'sBigFan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:03:23 GMT

Hi Steve. I watched "Jockeys" from it's inception. Although a great vehicle for the sport, season one's material needs work. I noticed it was all California based; they need to get the NY area jockeys involved. A little repetitious and too much interpersonal material but a great effort. I have said for years that jockeys names have to become familiar with mainstream audiences so this is good for the sport. Some of it looked contrived but with some work I am sure Season Two

will be even better. Kudos to Animal Planet for airing it.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

shuttleworth — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:58:56 GMT

oh, and MAJOR love for Chantel...

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

shuttleworth — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:57:21 GMT

This is the best show on TV in spite of the quirks...

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Tim G — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:07:43 GMT

p.s. although I must admit once or twice I have said 'how cheesey'.

Trevor? Give me Tom Durkin any day. Bad enough in real time, voice overs, all of us KNOW he doesn't call em like that in reality but that's used to help the rank amateur that watches it. APL is very popular with young kids as well as animal lovers.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

Tim G — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:04:11 GMT

I think more than anything they're trying to present jockeys et al as human beings and what they go through, their personal lives etc. Humanize the whole racing community a bit. My perspective from what I watched last year and knowing at least a couple of these guys for years, the personal side was pretty accurate. Of course they don't show ALL of the stuff that goes on in the jocks room and they do dramatize some parts of it. My relative who has been best friends of a jocks wife for years has talked about some of the things which go on. Fights between best friends (fist fights) and all the injuries, weight loss tactics, love affairs. Face it, human beings with a dangerous job, being human beings.

I think with the spills they're trying to show that jocks ARE athletes and that yes it's dangerous.

Haven't you guys seen the inside the PBR? The more wrecks they show the higher the ratings.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

winngcolrz — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:54:23 GMT

I, too, am tired of the repeated and epeated and repeated same spills and the really BAD Trevor Denman voiceovers....and I love Trevor! However, that being said, I also know that they're trying to appeal to a new audience and with that, it can't possibly fully be accepted by the REAL horsemen (like me), but to the general public who usually can't tell the difference. So if it makes a few new fans, I'm for it.

re: Take Two - by Steve Haskin

sal — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:12:07 GMT

I am an avowed fan of the series and it'd depiction of a jockeys life has to engender respect among sports fans.

However, the "Bully" segment was not authentic. You don't risk a potential star to a claim just to access the starter allowance ranks. If Kristin thought that much of the horse, she simply would go in a maiden special. That whole proposition was suspensful but unrealistic.