Gold Cup on ESPN

[cakes44]

Memo to ESPN:

Zenyatta's connections were too chicken sh!t to ever run in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Why is she the subject here?

In addition, in case they forgot, the horse DOESN'T FREAKING RACE ANYMORE!

[Coup Verville]

Easy toughguy, they're also doing a thing about Swaps....he doesn't race anymore either...get over it!!! She puts asses in the seats!!!

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Coup Verville

Easy toughguy, they're also doing a thing about Swaps....he doesn't race anymore either...get over it!!! She puts asses in the seats!!!

Yeah, ummm, Swaps set a course record in winning the Hollywood Gold Cup.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Coup Verville

Easy toughguy, they're also doing a thing about Swaps....he doesn't race anymore either...get over it!!! She puts asses in the seats!!!

Asses that couldn't wager a dime and that are spending this summer at the beach. Or the mall. Or wherever 14yo girls go in the summer.

[Duvalier]

Waah

[Dahoss]

Zenyatta!!!! Justin Bieber!!!! Lady Gaga!!!! YAY!!!!!

[Coup Verville]

All I'm saying is that it get's old listening to everyone hate on her. The same people that bitch about horse racing not getting enough coverage are the same people that nit pick and put down all of the "stars" of the game. We get it...no horse today is as good as horses 30, 50, 70 years ago. You know more about racing than the average person, congratulations.
The general public knows Zenyatta...if you were putting on a horse racing segment on ESPN, who would you do a piece on??? Remember, it's all about ratings and appealing to the general sports fan....not hard core racing fans.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Coup Verville

All I'm saying is that it get's old listening to everyone hate on her. The same people that bitch about horse racing not getting enough coverage are the same people that nit pick and put down all of the "stars" of the game. We get it...no horse today is as good as horses 30, 50, 70 years ago. You know more about racing than the average person, congratulations.
The general public knows Zenyatta...if you were putting on a horse racing segment on ESPN, who would you do a piece on??? Remember, it's all about ratings and appealing to the general sports fan....not hard core racing fans.

I know exactly what you are saying, but heck, if I'm one of the "general public" tuning in, the first 15 minutes of the broadcast would make me think she was running today for cripes sake.

[Coup Verville]

And these people that are not currently not betting a dime or at the mall are possibly future fans.

That's what is funny about this sport...everybody wants to bring in new fans, yet nobody is good enough to enter this world.

[Dahoss]

Yeah, let's keep dumbing down everything. Good idea.

[Coup Verville]

I get that everyone who knows something about horse racing is tired of hearing about her, but she is the only name (besides the Kentucky Derby winner) that anyone knows, why not use it your advantage?

[Coup Verville]

You guys are funny. You are the same people that love a band until everyone else does....and then they suck and are a bunch of sell outs!!!

[Dahoss]

I love exclamation points!!!!!

[Travis Stone]

Blame.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Coup Verville

I get that everyone who knows something about horse racing is tired of hearing about her, but she is the only name (besides the Kentucky Derby winner) that anyone knows, why not use it your advantage?

I guess I just don't understand what the "advantage" is?

It just seemed really lazy to me. How about maybe showing highlights, race footage, commentary on the current handicap division, instead of just showing Randy and Bailey's top 8 at the very end of the show? Maybe show their top 8 at the beginning of the broadcast and then show some replays to back them up. Wouldn't a newbie watching the telecast want to find out who the best horses around the country are before watching a race involving some of them? Isn't this an opportunity to educate and bring some fans in, instead of just confusing them?

[Dahoss]

I'm eagerly awaiting Pba's opinion on all of this.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Coup Verville

Easy toughguy, they're also doing a thing about Swaps....he doesn't race anymore either...get over it!!! She puts asses in the seats!!!

no, she doesn't put asses in the seats. now, some asses followed her once. but as you said, she's gone now. referrring to her won't do anything to get asses back in the seats. providing good racing now, and having less takeout would help far more than talking about a retired racemare. who becomes a fan because they heard someone talking about a horse that doesn't race?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by cakes44

I guess I just don't understand what the "advantage" is?

It just seemed really lazy to me. How about maybe showing highlights, race footage, commentary on the current handicap division, instead of just showing Randy and Bailey's top 8 at the very end of the show? Maybe show their top 8 at the beginning of the broadcast and then show some replays to back them up. Wouldn't a newbie watching the telecast want to find out who the best horses around the country are before watching a race involving some of them? Isn't this an opportunity to educate and bring some fans in, instead of just confusing them?

you hater, you.

no, really-all good points.

[Calzone Lord]

I am now pissed I did not DVR this.

It didn't even cross my mind to think that ESPN would show that race.

[Coup Verville]

If you're trying to attract the general sports fan...who, at this point in time, is the one name they know? You bring them in with that and then you educate them with what is current in the sport. It is such a revolving door of "stars" in this sport (with early retirements, injuries,etc.), that you need a familiar name, even if she is retired. Something has to appeal to the person watching the program before, just to get them to NOT turn the channel before it starts
.