Zenyatta Has Earned Horse of the Year

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Danzig

since this year was in line with other churchill years attendance-wise, i doubt next year will be any different.

and the TV ratings?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

and the TV ratings?

I need an honest answer here. If another horse is given the same kind of media push that Zenyatta got this year, do you think the ratings will be similar if not the same?

[RockHardTen1985]

What other horses deserves the push? She earned it, BRO.

[Dahoss]

That wasn't the question.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I need an honest answer here. If another horse is given the same kind of media push that Zenyatta got this year, do you think the ratings will be similar if not the same?

If another horse does enough to generate them, yes. It would need to be a triple crown winner, but yea it could happen.

I just am dumbfounded by the discussion that she did not transcend the normal viewer ship of the sport, that somehow she has done little to advance the sport. I can find countless posts from around the net that would make it sound like there are just as many crazy people on both sides of the fence.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

If another horse does enough to generate them, yes. It would need to be a triple crown winner, but yea it could happen.

I just am dumbfounded by the discussion that she did not transcend the normal viewer ship of the sport, that somehow she has done little to advance the sport. I can find countless posts from around the net that would make it sound like there are just as many crazy people on both sides of the fence.

One could argue Goldikova has certainly done enough to generate the kind of buzz Zenyatta got this year. If she makes it back next year for the Mile I would hope she gets the kind of media attention she deserves.

You'll get no arguement from me that viewership was up this year because people were drawn in by Zenyatta. What I am saying is, if you give another horse the same kind of push, you will see similar results. Obviously it would have to be a special horse and there aren't many. But horse racing has dropped the ball a lot in terms of marketing.

Isn't it a bit premature to talk about how much she has advanced the sport? Advanced in what way? Because viewership was up for one race? How many of those people are going to watch again? Were any of those people educated about the sport? Were they taught about betting? That is what is going to advance the sport IMO. Not puff pieces full of hyperbole.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Isn't it a bit premature to talk about how much she has advanced the sport? Advanced in what way? Because viewership was up for one race? How many of those people are going to watch again? Were any of those people educated about the sport? Were they taught about betting? That is what is going to advance the sport IMO. Not puff pieces full of hyperbole.

A European horse who competes once a year here, at a specialized distance no less. Thats never going to draw viewers, even if it was like her 6th in a row.

I guess it could be premature, but the fact is that usually the only press racing gets is because of doping, cheating, breakdowns, etc. From that standpoint alone she has helped racings image.

Viewership was not only up for one race, it was the only race she was in this year that could be monitored because most were not on TV with ratings. I would say the races she was in outside the Cup were more heavily attended, not this year but last as well, compared to previous years. Getting people out to the track is a positive.

I dont know how many are going to watch again, surely some of them, thats a good thing right?

Hopefully they were not educated, this means you are drawing in new fans, I see this as a good thing. Maybe they were just at the starting stages and now understand more than they did, again this is a good thing.

Hopefully on the betting they were wagering on the days they went to the racing, hopefully this part of the sport drew there interest into the sport, the teaching part to me is a self indulging aspect of the game, you learn through experience.

There seems to be this advancement of an idea that star race horses cannot draw in new people to bet, I just disagree. I have explained to you that I was drawn in by Arazi, because of a Nightline puff piece as you say, and I have wagered at least a few hundred grand in my lifetime.

Now if you want to say the mechanics of the game won't keep these people, you know full and well I won't argue, its kinda turned me off to the game.

[Dahoss]

We'll agree to disagree about how much viewership Goldikova will garner if she is marketed in the same manner as Zenyatta was. People like to think they are seeing something special. That is why 60 Minutes went with the "greatest horse ever" nonsense. That is why the interviewer asked Mike Smith if Zenyatta is better than Secretariat. That's why the talking heads on ESPN's PTI were calling her the best ever before the Classic because she had never lost. Market Goldikova as the best miler ever and throw in the story about her trainer being a former jock, maybe something about what she drinks....ratings gold.

Again, the races she entered were more heavily attended because people wanted to be a part of the experience. How many of those people came again? Considering the state of California racing, I'm not really sure her impact has been anything other than inflated attendance 5 times a year.

I'm not going to assume these new "fans" were educated. I'm not sure why you would. Was there any education in the 60 Minutes piece? How about the ESPN coverage? I didn't see any. I would say your experience with Arazi is more the exception than the rule. Especially when you consider who the focus of the marketing blitz around Zenyatta was targeting.

IMO horse racing needs to try and draw in gamblers and people that follow other sports like football, basketball etc. Football fans pay big money to attend games, buy tons of merchandise and many of them gamble on games. Sports betting is a billion dollar industry by many accounts. I'm glad there was a lot of exposure for the sport, but I just don't know how effective it will be.

[slotdirt]

I think it's great to assume that Zenyatta's brought people to the sport and all, but really, did she attract any more attention than, say, Big Brown did in 2008? I'd suggest not.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

IMO horse racing needs to try and draw in gamblers and people that follow other sports like football, basketball etc. Football fans pay big money to attend games, buy tons of merchandise and many of them gamble on games. Sports betting is a billion dollar industry by many accounts. I'm glad there was a lot of exposure for the sport, but I just don't know how effective it will be.

I cant disagree here because I just find the mechanics of the sport broken. If you do draw in new people it is very tough to retain them as customers. Thats a different discussion though.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

and the TV ratings?

who knows? i can't see the future, can you? besides, didn't zenyatta run in the classic last year? what happened with the ratings?