Horse Racing Live or on TV?

I hate to say this but I now prefer watching horse racing on TV. Live racing has little appeal to me although I love to go to the track in the mornings. Anyone else like it better on tv?

Originally Posted by boldruler

I hate to say this but I now prefer watching horse racing on TV. Live racing has little appeal to me although I love to go to the track in the mornings. Anyone else like it better on tv?

It is funny. About one month ago I posted on ESPN that I did not care for live racing on tv. However, due to having to be at home more, the new TVG format I have to say that it is about equal for me. However, there is still something about going to the track. Maybe it is the smell, the countless losing tickets on the floor. Everyone saying they should of had the winner. People screaming and kissing and snapping their fingers for their horse to win. The awful and overpriced food. The dirty man asking me for $2 so he can bet so he can get back to even. Man I love the track.

After watching races via simulcast and TVG so much, I have to admit I like it better. I can watch the race better, see better replays, and keep track of odds much easier.

However, EURO is right. There is just something about being at the races. I can go to a local harness track with bottom-level horses and I still get the same excitement when I walk in.

[sumitas]

and the track has maintenance empty the can barrels for you...some of 'em even polish the cans off if they notice the beer's not all gone... they are into their job and it is inspiring.

[disappearingdan_akaplaya]

ill take it live anyday of the week over TV. call me a true fan if you will for saying that and notta gambler. my love for the sport has evolved to the point to where i can be at the track all day long not make a single bet and still have a great time! dont get me wrong i love to handicap and i love to bet races but betting isnt what appeals to me most about this sport. yesterday my trainer ran 1 in iowa@prarie(6th) and the horse won and i was watching on tvg and cashed a real nice ticket on BWOOD but it woulda felt even better to be there live without a dime on the horse like i was a couple of weeks ago at churchill when luga won. i live 15 min from hawthorne and 40from arlington so i imagine its much easier for me to actually get out to a racetrack than some here but still nothing beats being there live. being live for cigars record tying win@arlington is a big reason why i got hooked and fell in love with this game@age 18. go out to a day of live racing at keeneland and come back and tell me you still rather watch it on tv than be at the track, if you do then youre a gambler notta fan

[Gander]

I dont agree Playa. Some of us have more to do than spend 6 hours at a racetrack. We have lives outside the sport (at least some of us do), spouses, houses/apts to take care of, hobbies that promote good health, etc etc. To call someone not a fan because they watch primarily on TV isnt accurate.

While I enjoy and look forward to mornings at Saratoga racetrack, the afternoons can drag on and on, combine the long time between races and the normal August heat here and most of the time I'd much rather be sitting in air conditioning getting stuff done between races than sweating through the 28 min between races in terrible heat and humidity.

The mornings are great because the weather is always better in the mornings versus the afternoons and you dont get the creepy Coors Light county fair types roaming around with their pot bellies hanging out of their shirts.

[PeteMugg]

I think having races on TV or the computer is a great luxery, but it's still takes a backseat to live racing. There's nothing like getting off work and going out for a beer and a hotdog and watching a few. It's just a great atmosphere and you never know who you might run into when you go.

[disappearingdan_akaplaya]

Originally Posted by Gander

I dont agree Playa. Some of us have more to do than spend 6 hours at a racetrack. We have lives outside the sport (at least some of us do), spouses, houses/apts to take care of, hobbies that promote good health, etc etc. To call someone not a fan because they watch primarily on TV isnt accurate.

While I enjoy and look forward to mornings at Saratoga racetrack, the afternoons can drag on and on, combine the long time between races and the normal August heat here and most of the time I'd much rather be sitting in air conditioning getting stuff done between races than sweating through the 28 min between races in terrible heat and humidity.

The mornings are great because the weather is always better in the mornings versus the afternoons and you dont get the creepy Coors Light county fair types roaming around with their pot bellies hanging out of their shirts.

to each his or her own gander, but would you still watch all the races in a day without having a dime on a single 1 if you werent out there live? i wish i could be at the track 5 days a week every live racing day but unfortunately i can only be out there on weekends. lol maybe someday hopefully sooner than later ill be rich wont have to work and will have a stable of 30 head and can be out there every single day=)

[Gander]

5 days aweek, man I would go insane, whether I was betting or not. I guess we just differ in that I have a very demanding job Mon-Fri, various hobbies outside of horse racing and a wife. Sounds like you are willing to dedicate most of you to the sport. I think thats great, I always say if it makes you happy go for it, you only go around once.

You would fall in love with going to the morning workouts at Saratoga. No crowds, comfortable weather, no stress, ability to bring in your own food & drinks and not have to pay any outrageous prices. And best of all, be able to see the best horses in the country working out. The afternoons pale in comparison to the mornings.

[Exceller]

I love the big race live but prefer anything else on tv. Being at the track is just not fun with so much time between races. Half the time I go I just sit in front of the TV's anyway.

[disappearingdan_akaplaya]

well i play softball tim as you know but those games are during the week and i play poker as well but those games are at night and not during live racing. i love being at training in the morning and id love to be at toga, i know some from here are gonna make it this year but i dont think im gonna be able to do it this year since ive already committed to going to visit my fav jock and watch her ride@remington in august

[whorstman]

Originally Posted by boldruler

I hate to say this but I now prefer watching horse racing on TV. Live racing has little appeal to me although I love to go to the track in the mornings. Anyone else like it better on tv?

hey Bold, go check out a Friday at CD in the paddock area for happy hour and check out all the fine ladies, $1.50 drafts and dogs and then tell me if you still like TV. I admit you definately see better on tv and can follow it, but nothin like the atmosphere at the Downs!

[GenuineRisk]

I'm happy to watch races on TV, but I like the track better. I find it can be quite a lot of exercise at Belmont- walk to the paddock, watch the horses, walk to the betting window, make bet, walk to track, watch race. Rinse, repeat. I'm usually exhausted at the end of a day. And my feet hurt. Thank goodness I take a train there and don't drive, as I usually fall asleep on the way home!

Funny anecdote from this year's Belmont (Kev and BuffyM have heard it already)-- I was on my way to the restroom when I saw a guy leaning over with his head pressed up against the wall in a pose of the most abject despair you ever saw. My heart sank and I thought, "Oh God, how much did he lose? His mortgage payment? Food budget? Oh, God, this sport will break your heart." I had such a visceral reaction-- my stomach was in knots, looking at him.

And then the guy straightened up and I saw there was a drinking fountain recessed into the wall and in fact he'd just been getting a drink of water.

Thank goodness I didn't go up and offer him a crisis hotline number.

Originally Posted by whorstman

hey Bold, go check out a Friday at CD in the paddock area for happy hour and check out all the fine ladies, $1.50 drafts and dogs and then tell me if you still like TV. I admit you definately see better on tv and can follow it, but nothin like the atmosphere at the Downs!

I still say the best looking women you will find at the track are the exerciser riders in the morning especially up at Saratoga. Most aren't exactly making a fortune either so if you buy them dinner you might get lucky. I speak from experience. Ok, I had to fork out a few dollars in the Irish gift shop store in the middle of downtown, but it worked.

TV no doubt!! Ther is no place to watch a race and take notes like your own living room. I just can't take the track rats anymore. I mean I have a blast at lansdon's suite at CD or at Steve's BBQ stand at Saratoga. But the rest of the year I want to be in my house, near a computer, in comfort without imbeciles around me. I have this DVR setup through my cable company that allows me to digitally record the races off the tv. Im able to go back and check trip and bias notes etc. Im also able to tape races shown through brisbet.com on my computer on my hard druve thanks to my techno genius bro in law who set that up for me. Its a huge aid. And if I want water its free, not 4 bucks a bottle. If I wanna eat I can make something in my kitchen and its not 12 bucks for a burger.
When i was younger I was more social and liked the otb/track atmosphere, not anymore. Steves stand is great because its an idiot free zone and you can dress and act casually and not be bothered by guys telling you they "heard" that so and so was gonna win the next race. Technology has made suffering through rtaces next to idiots in close quarters obsolete.

[Crown@club]

TV. Unless you're watching the Derby on NBC. Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! If you are in a house with 20+ people watching the Derby, obviously you can't hear the call on TV too well. No times posted whatsoever. Wait forever for final talleys.

TV. If you haven't seen horse racing in High Def it is amazing. If 5yrs from now high def will be everywhere and racetracks will have even less people attending live, if that is possible. With TV you can watch the race 100x and that is what makes horse racing great. You need to watch the race multiple times to really get what happened.

[randallscott35]

Other than Saratoga and the occasional big day where you have to be there, TV is a better option. I do like to see the horses on the track, which is a negative if you are watching online where the picture isn't as tight. But Saratoga is different. I can spend all day there and not mind it. Plus, we just talk horses all day.

[Thunder Gulch]

Doesn't sound as many of you TV folks have been to Keenland in the fall. Absolutely stunning...other than that and Derby day, I'll take tv myself.

[2Hot4TV]

Love being at the track and the more people the better. I like watching all the characters.