Are we getting close to a primetime Derby?

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by OldDog

"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?

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

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.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by OldDog

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.

Yeah, but wouldn't parties function just as well into Saturday night?
Don't forget about the West Coast, the Derby goes off in the middle of the afternoon. I would think that you would pick up more viewers out there by having a later post time. Personally for me, I would have less of a chance on seeing the race if it was dead set in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.

The concept that intrigues me is that a network could really dedicate a time block and show more than the Derby to the public. The key is, to make it more about handicapping/racing than fluff pieces.
Maybe they can guarentee some sort of super pick 4 pool and then show all of the involving races.

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Yeah, but wouldn't parties function just as well into Saturday night?
Don't forget about the West Coast, the Derby goes off in the middle of the afternoon. I would think that you would pick up more viewers out there by having a later post time. Personally for me, I would have less of a chance on seeing the race if it was dead set in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.

Again, that's a fair statement. Derby parties notwithstanding, I guess what it comes down to for me is that the Kentucky Derby is an event unto itself, a decidedly traditional event, and I'm more concerned about the event itself than how TV covers it. Derby Day is Derby Day, and I don't want it to change to Derby Night just to (perhaps) pick up some viewers.

Originally Posted by MaTH716

The concept that intrigues me is that a network could really dedicate a time block and show more than the Derby to the public. The key is, to make it more about handicapping/racing than fluff pieces.
Maybe they can guarentee some sort of super pick 4 pool and then show all of the involving races.

TV producers seem to believe that viewers tuning into to Derby Day coverage want to see the fluff, as evidenced by them showing anything but the Woodford Reserve. Man, that steams me. Only during the BC coverage was a little more than casual attention paid to handicapping. I suppose that's what we get in the era of "reality tv" (which is anything but reality).

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by OldDog

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.

You can't teach an OldDog new tricks, I suppose.

[jms62]

Will we ever get to see the Woodford Reserve?? My ADW doesn't show it for contractual reasons and the network that is the reason for the contractual reasons failed to show it 2 years in a row.

[ghartman02]

I think it's a great idea, but I'm not sure from a "security" standpoint if that would work, releasing 150,000K after dark. The vast majority of people park away from the track. Churchill's lot is not all that large: so most folks park in the surrounding neighborhoods. The other thing is the infield. Unless you bathe that in light, it may be hard to see to get around (and wager) etc: it's difficult enough during the day: the windows don't have the best lighting. I've attended 40 plus Derbies in my lifetime, and while it's a great day, at around 7p, you're ready to leave.

The NBA and NHL playoffs occur durring that time, and dont forget MLB night games.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

The NBA and NHL playoffs occur durring that time, and dont forget MLB night games.

And all of them are likely occuring during the day as well as the night. It's still the most popular event on the day, the most known American horse race. Churchill shouldn't be beholden to anything else.

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by ghartman02

I think it's a great idea, but I'm not sure from a "security" standpoint if that would work, releasing 150,000K after dark. The vast majority of people park away from the track. Churchill's lot is not all that large: so most folks park in the surrounding neighborhoods. .

I work near Churchill Downs and drive through those surrounding neighborhoods on the way to work in the daylight. When I leave work at night, I drive around those surrounding neighborhoods and avoid driving through them. I do not think they are totally safe at night unless you are surrounded by large numbers of people. I stayed at a hotel down the street from Churchill and my car, parked in the hotel parking lot, got broken into during the week of a popular trade show at the nearby convention hall (the police told me the thieves come out during big trade show weeks).

But they will get over 30,000 people this Saturday for night racing -- I think the post time for the Derby Trial is after 9:30pm.