Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Wallyhorse — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:54:29 GMT

Excellent points Shuvani:

One thing I have advocated for years is to have a major day of racing on the Wednesday following Major League Baseball's All-Star game, a made-for-TV night that could be done from a few tracks that could air on ESPN from 7:00-11:00 PM ET/4:00-8:00 PM PT on what is usually the single slowest night for sports of the entire year, and one I think would do very well in exposing new fans to the sport.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

MONARCHOS — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:26:59 GMT

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS. I FOR ONE, LIVE TO WATCH THE HORSES DO, WHAT COMES NATURALLY. RACE!! RUN!!

BRING THE RACES BACK TO US, PLEASE.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Shuvani — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:03:15 GMT

Thank you for your brilliant and insightful piece.

Except for the Triple Crown Classic, there's virtually NO coverage of racing nowadays, the Sport of Kings is being neglected once again.

The public will take an interest in what you show them. If you're not getting coverage for/ promoting your sport, there's reciprocally little interest in your sport.

This trickles down to the tracks, and then they're left to wonder why there's no handle. And then they have to start bringing in slots to survive.

More people would be interested in racing, if you SHOWED IT TO THEM.

Where is marketing in the thoroughbred industry? I've seen a couple of great commercials on TV when the Classics were on the line, but how about the rest of the year?

Knock, knock....*hellooooo*

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Pam — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:30:29 GMT

I completely agree. This racing season has been dismal for me, not because there hasn't been good racing, but because NOTHING is broadcast. For those of us who cannot afford cable and don't get ESPN, there has been so little network coverage of stakes races that it might as well not be there. How does racing expect to stay alive with this type of (non) coverage?

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Dreamer's Mom — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:31:03 GMT

Jordan A-I must have been in a hurry reading everything. Not a Kenny fan and really not a Bailey fan. His comment a few years ago about Jeannine Sahadi (sorry 'bout the spelling) really ticked me off. He was making fun of her for having a happy barn and I have held a grudge since!

I really think racing is missing the boat by not begging women to come to the track or watch on the tube. Most women are paying the bills at home and deciding where the "fun" money is spent. Women/girls love horses! Cater to them! Gear commercials towards them, give them t-shirts and flowers. The "powers that be" need to be kissing up in a big way! These races should be used as a vehicle to get women involved. For those of us in racing we know what this day is about, but make it Christmas for the uninvolved. Make it "must see T.V"! Not everyone can get to the Breeder's Cup, but they can get behind the pageantry of it. It needs to be a spectacle, and I'm not talking about the spectacle it has become. Women want to know the back story. They want to know all about the horses-are they nice? Are they evil? What did their parents do? Things that are silly to the committed race people, but not to the casual observer. Get Garys' blue eyes out there! Bring on Channing Hill! Someone find Tanner Riggs and for the older crowd, Migs! Do whatever it takes to bring the women on board. The money will follow. Breeder's Cup weekend is the perfect vehicle to get them involved. After the Juvenile you will have a built in audience for the Derby, if you keep it in their faces!

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Plenilune — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:13:05 GMT

Oh, no, Anncat - two separate Saturdays? Do you have enough vaction days to take off from work plus the money to afford travel, hotels, and meals (not to mention the tickets) to wait it out the week between the events? The BC needs to be a "user friendly" event. Two separate days is bad enough.

Getting this out to the public could be so easy. How many times do you sign onto Yahoo (or whatever site you use for a home page) and see those pop up ads for cars and yes, credit rating sites? How difficult would it be to plug in those types of ads for horse racing? Well, ok, a strange idea maybe, but it's just a thought.

I've always heard one has to spend money to make money. So, who is going to spend it, how and when will it be accomplished?

Again, I have to wonder how horseracing can build up its reputation. It's not just gambling. And yes, horses need to have longer careers. But that's an entirely separate subject. Heavy sigh.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

ROWNER — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:06:04 GMT

They haven't even marketed it all I remember when we saw advertising well before the breeders cup heck the only way to know there is even horse racing on at all is to get on the internet because the regular tv guide doesn't list it usually. I think ESPN/ABC should fire all their camera men. Roger I agree with you it kind off hard to watch a race when the camera angles change every second. That last broadcast they did was a disaster, we would get only the middle of the field and the rear ends of the leader in the race. they need to turn the zoom off or something, I would rather see a smaller picture and the whole field or at least something other than the butts of the leaders. The BC should have never gone to two days it was fine the way it was and come on Ladies Classic that just for dumb people that can't ask what Distaff means. A real post parade would be nice like the old days. The hosts don't bother me to much but more focus on the races and less fluff.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

BIGHORSEFAN — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:56:59 GMT

anncat that has been suggested several times on several blogs. Most think that would diminish the event. Not sure how closely you follow racing but Saratoga has Whitney weekend, Travers weekend and Keeneland has Kentucky Cup weekend all with tons of Graded and ungraded stakes races. Those kinds of days are what led to forming the Breeders Cup in 1984.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Vicki — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:55:58 GMT

One morning not long ago I woke up early and turned on the TV at 5am. The TV was on NBC and coverage of the Ryder Cup was just beginning. I thought my god what is that doing on so early in the morning? Then I noticed the ending time for the coverage at 3pm. Ten straight hours of coverage for golf, now how boring could that have been! Perhaps if NBC had devoted that much air time to the Breeders' Cup when they had the chance they would still be covering the event.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

anncat — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:30:44 GMT

Why has no one suggested that the Breeders Cup be split into 2 separate Saturdays? They can be on back-to-back weekends or separated by X number of weekends. The two days of racing could be on opposite sides of the US, so more people could attend the races.

Since it doesn't appear that a lot of dollars are going out in promoting the single-venue Breeders Cup, I don't think that diluting the advertising is an issue. First, you have to have advertising before you can dilute it. People who really want to see all 9 races (or however many there might be in the future) could go to both events. All races would be on Saturdays. Jockeys could ride in both races.

The filly-mare races don't have to be limited to one day. Two separate programs could be designed, with a mixture of races to provide a complete experience for the race goer. You could have mostly turf (or turf and polytrack) races at one event and dirt races for the other event.

Why not?

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Cash — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:57:12 GMT

Chris,

The major networks have already given up on the sport. ESPN's rating are spiraling downward. The "real fans" are and have been leaving in droves. If you don't figure a way to cultivate new fans the sport will eventually get no coverage and will die in this country.

To promote by human interest stories doesn't mean showing fillies in the meadow. You have to build interest and the way you do that is by connecting to people not just on race day coverage, but, throughout the year.

You need tv, newpaper, radio, bill boards and you need to promote the rivalries from early in January right through the spring and into the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown races. Then promote the summer campaign. Get creative as Sam said. Use humor, bravado, and show the stars ( highlights ). Mass Marketing! For crying out loud they don't even try.

Sure it costs money and plenty of it. But there is GOLD in them there hills if they would just spend the time and money to cultivate it. You think everyone hasn't heard of Pepsi and Budweiser and Free Credit Report.com. My God man, whoever heard of Free Credit Report.com two years ago, and now everyone has. This just in, Advertising works! These companies are known throughout the world and yet they continue to spend millions in advertising. Why?

The Breeders' Cup needs/can do the same thing. So that when Breeders' Cup comes around the name of the trainers, owners and ( most of all ) horses are already heard of. The rivalries are already built. The blue bloods have been seperated from the working class and the up and comers are ready to take on the old guard. The stories have been told and retold. Fire up the masses with rivalries and back stories throughout the entire year so that they are frothing at the mouth in anticipation of the Championships!

This sport could be great once again if it was aggressively campaigned. It was great once because people knew who the players were. They followed it throughout the year ( not just on a big race day ). It was like baseball, in the trenches day in and day out. There's an audience and the youth of this country would love the sport if only they knew about it.

People love baseball and basketball and football because they are great sports that are fun, but, also ( and it is a big part ), because they know the players. They see them and hear about them from other mediums besides game day. Horse racing has the same ability, but, lacks the leadership and understanding it takes to connect to people. Gambling is a huge part of racing, but, there is more to offer than that. The NFL, NBA, MLB all are wagered on as well and still marketed to the masses. Thoroughbred racing needs leadership and a direction. The sport is fluttering in the wind.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

A Breeders' Cup Fan in Canada — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:46:51 GMT

At least, when the Breeders was on NBC, I could get the coverage. Now, I am relegated to "after the fact" through RaceReplays or Bloodhorse and the few hours of coverage by ABC.

C'mon ABC, show ALL of the Cup for your Canadian viewers and BC fans.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Plenilune — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:22:31 GMT

There are five channels on which ESPN can schedule races: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News, and ESPN History (?, something like that). While the last two are usually not available on basic cable packages, one would think that between the other three, that broadcasting company could surely schedule plenty of racing Spring, Summer, and Fall.

I understand that baseball, basketball, and football are better for their bottom line. But what's up with poker games and hot dog eating contests? Are these events actually considered "sports"?

Put the races where your mouth is, ABC/ESPN. If you put the teaser out there that you will showcase premier races leading up to the BC, than DO IT, and not just for July and August. Perhaps it's just horrific time management...but maybe it's srictly business, nothing personal. And business means getting buyers for commercial time. For some reason, it appears that not many companies want to buy ad time during horse racing events. Hmmm...I wonder why? Obviously there is a bigger viewer crowd hankering for baseball, basketball, and football. Is horseracing is just too hoity-toity? <wink>

Maybe it's not so much about attracting new fans, it's about attracting new advertisers such as Budwieser, Ford, and Ball Park hot dogs. LOL It's kind of like what came first, the chicken (advertisers) or the egg (fans)?

One other thing to ponder...does the average person think horseracing is just all about gambling? Sure, there is gambling on all sports fronts, but I tend to hear a lot more folks talking about the athletic abilites of (human)players in various types of ball games more then they are talking about the money they won on the last ball game.

We "play the ponies" but have you ever heard folks saying they "played such-and-such ball team"? Just wondering about horseracing's reputation amongst the general population. I wonder if it's thought of as the true, athletic challenge that it is (for both horse and jockey). Just food for thought.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

JordanA — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:18:38 GMT

Dreamers Mom,

I plead guilty to the Kenny Mayne props. Bailey is too much of a know it all. Like I said Jeanine is okay but you have to admit that Charlsie knew her stuff and could get people to talk to her unlike some of these others (she retired).

Speaking of rabbit ears, you better get your LCD or box, but I agree, not everybody is lucky enough to be able to afford satellite or cable. Someone mentioned only having dial up. Suffered thru that myself when my High Speed was down. Terrible.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Bradgm — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:12:23 GMT

ED Zeppelin, Wow you got a deal bro. The on the finish line box seats with lunch AND drinks sold for 1200-1250. The lunch only was 1g, must be because they like your band.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Dreamer's Mom — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:45:12 GMT

So glad I am not the only person without cable! The switch to ESPN has been a nightmare for me! Instead of sitting in my living room I am sitting at Simulcast with my little reserved table.

I hate the two-day format. I will be unable to watch the girls strut their stuff. And "Ladies Classic" sounds a little like deodorant to me. Casual viewers may not get Distaff, but all it takes is a quick aside from an announcer explaining the meaning of the word.

Can't remember who mentioned Kenny Mayne and Bailey, but I agree completely. Love Gary, can do without Charlsie, but enjoy the rest of the gang on NBC. These races, no matter what you think of them, should be available to all. Even those with "rabbit ears". It seems to me that the people I see at the track are very much blue-collar kinds of folks. The kind of folks that are watching NBC, not ESPN. Market to them. Give them something fun to look forward to on a Saturday afternoon. Not all women are football fans, but there are very few women in the world that didn't live and breathe for horses as a little girl! Some of the just need to be reminded.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Chris — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:26:32 GMT

Here in Canada where I have watched the Breeders' Cup for years on NBC, the Cup for the last two years has been banished to the wilderness of an alternate high-def sports channel that very few people have on their tvs. As a result, I have had to scramble to find a tv at my local track or OTB in order to watch the culmination of a season of racing. Utterly ridiculous and disrepectful treatment of a great sport by TSN in Canada. This year, the network promises the races will be on regular cable, but I'll believe it when I see it.

As for ESPN's coverage, the idea that more fan support can only be cultivated by showing sentimental human interest stories is wrong-headed. The priority should be to keep the serious fans the sport is starting to lose, and they can only do this by treating the audience as a knowledgeable one that wants to see clips of prep races and hear analysis of each race. The idea of wasting time showing colts playing in sunlit meadows and hearing about the time somebody's horse almost died is catering to an audience that is just not in front of the tv to begin with. Treat the viewer as a serious racing fan and the sport may survive as a serious sport. Treat us as anything else and the sport will lose its real fans and any hope of attracting new ones.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Long time fan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:02:54 GMT

Sam, you are so right. I live in BC, Canada and attend races at Hastings. Our 2 newspapers here in Vancouver manage to provide about 1 page of racing information in total each week, these are 2 large newspapers but yet every other sport known to man is covered in page after page after page every day. Here we have local riders, owners, trainers and grooms as well as BC bred horses who get squat for coverage in the papers. I keep asking the editors to focus on the people and horses, let the readers know who we are and how hard we work, get them out to the races! But no and now it's the same for TV coverage. We don't get ESPN here in Canada unless you can afford satelite or digital TV, not me! ESPN needs to be fired and we need to get ABC or NBC back, they used to have GREAT coverage. Back in the 80's, Spectacular Bid, Genuine Risk, the start of Breeder's Cup, they were AWESOME!!

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Wallyhorse — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:19:55 GMT

I have been pushing for the Friday races to be 6:30-9:30 PM ET as suggested above myself, which could easily have been done this year because the Friday night football game on ESPN2 that week is Boise State at San Jose State, currently scheduled for a 9:00 PM ET start. The problem is, NASCAR scheduled qualifying for Sunday's Sprint Cup race that week in Atlanta for the 7:00-9:00 PM ET slot, and NASCAR has become king aside from the NFL and college football to the point where I believe it was NASCAR in fact that forced ESPN to give up the MLB Playoffs so time slots could remain open in case they would be needed for races to be moved from ABC to ESPN.

I have also pushed for the entire BC to be at night, mainly because doing so would allow for a much greater amount of wagering for the BC to come from Asia and Australia, which are two potential gold mines for handle for the BC to where the BC could be a $100 million weekend if it happened, along with massive supplements for other major races for older horses that could make it much more worthwhile to keep stars in training longer.

As for going Friday-Saturday instead of Saturday-Sunday, there is one big reason for NOT doing that: The NFL, although if Churchill does not install lights for the 2010 Cup, that might be the year to try a Saturday-Sunday BC.

As for NBC, had the BC remained on NBC, the rating would be barely higher than on ESPN, plus ESPN has many more platforms to bring people into the BC than NBC ever had.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

MRO — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:18:40 GMT

I got cable for one reason - horse racing! I've been so looking forward to the races this year I hadn't even noticed there hadn't been any ESPN or mainstream marketing. Just used to it, I guess. It's sad that the rest of the world is missing a wonderful, and very enjoyable sport. I'll be glued to the TV Friday & Saturday. Here's to good racing & safe returns for all of the horses & humans.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

PEACE — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:16:42 GMT

Couple of items

- DO you remember how NBC promoted the BC? No, you don't because they didn't.

- DO you have any idea how much it costs to put racing on TV? No, you don't

- DO you know that on Oct.4 there were 6 LIVE races in 2 hours. Unheard of and unprecented. No time for features. Pick your poison.

- ESPN promotes the sport across it's multiple channels and platforms. Just because you dont see it - it doesnt mean it isnt happening.

- The BC was 5 hours on NBC and now it's 9 hours

- The Distaff was run at 10am last time in CA. Now, it's by itself as the only sporting event going on on Friday afternoon.

- Tell your ractracks to move all their big races to Sunday and you can be national TV all summer and Fall.

Stop complaining and be thankful because one day it'll be gone and you'll wish you supported it.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

da3hoss — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:47:56 GMT

Tyrone, I so agree with you, I could have tolerated the name change from Distaff to Mare & Filly Classic, but I will not type the word "Ladies" in conjunction with "Classic" unless they refer to the Classic as the "Gentlemens Classic".

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

DONNA — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:55:44 GMT

I totally agree with JORDAN on how ESPN bumps horse racing for other sports events. Many a Saturday or Sunday I've hurried home from doing errands to turn on ESPN to watch a race and it's not on when it was supposed to be. Very agrivating to say the least. I subscribed to HRTV in September so I could at least see some of the races that should have been on ESPN or ESPN2. Seems like pulling teeth for us racing fans to get to see the Stakes races on t.v.

Also I'm not happy at all with the fillies and mares races being held on Friday since I have to work and will not get to see a single one of them. I agree that maybe ESPN should throw in a race or two during football on Sunday or Saturday to possibly gets others interested in the sport we all so much love and care about.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

epark76 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:52:58 GMT

True, there has been virtually no promotion of the Breeders' Cup in the U.S., and losing Big Brown makes it logarithmically more difficult. Too many races. Overseas audiences better served running Breeders' Cup on Friday night? How? Europe would be asleep. Australia is zeroed in on the Cox Plate. And I don't see Asia being a factor, although the exposure I suppose could change that. Best to go back to one day of racing, paring back the races to pretty much the old schedule - maybe keeping the marathon.

re: Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

Ed Zepplin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:31:00 GMT

I think you should all stop complaining about TV coverage and Buy my 4 Box seat tickets for Friday and Saturday that the Breeders Cup charged me $4000.00 for. It does come with a" Gourmet picnic Lunch" and 4 Beer or Wine Drink Tickets per seat!