Are we getting close to a primetime Derby?
 

I was talking to a friend of mine about this the other day. Personally, I like night racing. Post time for the Derby this year is 6:24 PM EDT and now with lights you have to think the idea has been discussed.

I think it would be great.

They said it would happen in a few years I thought. So, yes.

Would be cool....hope it happens!

I don't like the idea.

I have always been against it, but the more I think about it, I would be all for it now. The best part for me personally, would actually be getting to watch/bet the rest of the undercard.
Who would be the ones to mandate such a change, the network covering the race?

Also I wonder if that would change the landscape of some prep races. You would think that Hollywood would/could market a 3 year old prep under the lights. Maybe Mountaineer would consider moving the WV Derby as well. You would think that some trainers would want to get their horses a race under the lights.

Who knows maybe networks will even devote air time to races since weekend programming seems to be a different animal all together.

I'm all for more drinking time!:p

It'll exist between pure prime time / evening... but I don't think we ever see it at 9pm or 10pm at night. I could be wrong... prime time US Open does well with ratings, but when gambling plays a role, who knows...

I think it could definitely end up with a 9pm Eastern post. Don't think 10pm. Could even happen as soon as next year, in my opinion.

I think that if more folks would watch the Derby if it had a later start time, I'd be all for it.

if you want to reach a younger demographic i'm not sure saturday night prime time tv is the answer.

you're going up against csi, criminal minds, and america's most wanted so i'm sure you'll kick some ass. but there's a reason the simpson writers thought making grandpa a matlock fan would strike a chord.

it's getting close to summer. it's a nice night out. let's stay home and watch tv. who does that?

I'm thinking they make a test run of it with the Oaks on ESPN and then push it on over to an 8pm Derby a few years later.

For what its worth, May in Louisville is not really dark at 8pm, being on the far western edge of the eastern time zone. If they truly want it under the lights, 9pm is more of a lock for that, but it could go even later, who knows.

They had a test run with the BC last year. It's a bad idea.

Bc wasn't prime time

Eh, I'm against it. Nighttime racing is nice as a change of pace, but the vast majority of top racing in Amerca is conducted during the day and the Derby has been a day race for 140 years, so I don't like the idea of messing with the late afternoon post. Plus, as h_i_g said, I doubt it'll make it more of a viewing event.

I think an evening post would help ratings and wagering similarly to the Saturday of Final Four Weekend. A lot of people would have groups of friends over to watch and I think more people may be introduced to betting. With computer betting it is so easy to set up an account I think it would introduce more people to wagering.

I have had a few afternoon Derby cookouts over the years and everyone wanted some action even if they had never wagered before. Many people had to show up after later or after the race because they or their kids were involved in Saturday baseball, soccer, golf etc....... That is why prime time or early evening would make more sense.

I think a "twilight" Derby is definitely going to happen in the next few years. Now, whether a 7:38 post is "primetime" or not is another discussion.

"If it ain't broke don't fix it."

The Kentucky Derby model is far from broken, in my opinion. It should remain as it is.

Agreed that's it's not broken, but is there a chance of making it better?

That's a fair question. If the goal is to increase tv viewers, I'm not sold that an 8 or 9 o'clock post time would accomplish that. Speaking for myself, a 5 or 6 PM post time best meshes with the popular Derby Day party concept, something with which I am quite enamored. :D