West & WSJ in separate treatments re: racing's target audience

[joeydb]

I'll bet the same thing could have been said of poker before the World Series of Poker was televised and exploded.

In fact, Texas Hold 'Em was not a well known variant of poker outside of Texas and Nevada 20 or 30 years ago.

We need a televised tournament, edited the same way that the format of WSOP was a couple of years ago - setup of strategy, highlights of big scores, odds changes, shots of celebratory and disappointed players. The leaderboard. In my humble opinion there are similarities that can be drawn.

And another key ingredient of the WSOP Main Event fields: distinctive and colorful personalities. Horse racing has had those in abundence forever.

[richard]

A televised world series of handicapping sounds like a good idea. Maybe around the Breeders Cup next year.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by joeydb

We need a televised tournament, edited the same way that the format of WSOP was a couple of years ago - setup of strategy, highlights of big scores, odds changes, shots of celebratory and disappointed players. The leaderboard. In my humble opinion there are similarities that can be drawn.

And another key ingredient of the WSOP Main Event fields: distinctive and colorful personalities. Horse racing has had those in abundence forever.

I just don't see how it could be made dramatically interesting to watch. Not because handicapping isn't interesting, but because it's internal (most of it happens in the head). Even with poker, in the televised games I've seen, they have a camera so that the audience gets an omniscient view of the game- they see the cards the other players don't, which heightens the viewing interest, because the game just isn't exciting enough without that extra knowledge. Plus, the action actually happens during the game itself- the players change strategy, betting tactics, etc., depending on how the game is unfolding. In handicapping, it's all done before the race starts. Plus, poker players are facing their opponents throughout a single game, while handicappers are staring at a screen for two minutes several times over the course of a contest.

If someone can figure out how to make the actual analyzing the past performances dramatically interesting, as in, the audience is chewing their nails with anxiety over which horse the player is going to select, they'll have a, well if not a million dollar idea, at least a hundred thousand dollar idea. I just can't figure out how the process of handicapping could be presented as exciting to watch, and compelling in its immediacy. Because good TV is all about conflict and excitement in that moment. Not saying it's impossible, but I can't figure out how it could be done.

[richard]

On a live basis you would have the semi-finals on BC Friday and the World Series Finals on Sat. Do the whole card each day, televise their picks prior to each race within the live television format and post handicapping results and leaderboard.

On a taped basis you could edit a lot of drama into a 1/2 hr or hr show. Show the ML, each horses best Beyer (or whatever speed figs are used) and last race Beyer as the cappers post their picks. Only the audience can see the picks as they are placed. The stretch run of each race could be shown after the audience know the picks and the standings coming into the race and what has to happen to affect the standings. The picks will be revealed to the players as the race starts.

[Cannon Shell]

I dont see how a tv handicapping tournament could be anything but awful tv. It would be similar to listening to guys talk about their fantasy football teams. We dont need to try to emulate poker because not only has that ship sailed but as genuine risk points out, it is an entirely different type of action.