![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
![]() Quote:
Is the concept that a fast pace hurts the horses up front, and thus helps the horses from way back, too difficult for viewers too understand? I don't think so, but unless we take the time to explain this, and demonstrate it, we won't even get the audience thinking about it. In my opinion, we waste a lot of time by both incorrectly identifying our potential audience, and failing to take any advantage of the opportunity to educate them. We will never truly grow our fan base in a meaningful way by continuing in this direction.
__________________
Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Very true. Football is anything but dumbed down on TV. I would argue football is even harder to understand than horse racing when you factor in the terminology the analysts frequently use.
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
Maybe NBC should dedicate 2 channels for the pre-race show. One could be the nuts & bolts handicapping, with pace discussion, track bias talk other race on the card talk, etc. Then you have the fluff show for the people who bet their dogs name and are at a party watching the race. You would think that this would be a win win situation for everyone. The bettors/people looking to learn, might pick something up and still have the ability to get a wager in. While the fluff crowd could learn how to make the perfect mint julip.
__________________
Felix Unger talking to Oscar Madison: "Your horse could finish third by 20 lengths and they still pay you? And you have been losing money for all these years?!" |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
![]() Quote:
Once again, I completely disagree with this mentality. In fact, I basically base my professional life, which every day seems to be more of my entire life, on this concept. If we want people to become more interested in our game we need to at least offer them the opportunity to understand it.
__________________
Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
The other big challenge is that a horse race is only 2 minutes long, while a casual fan has a fair amount of time to watch a football, basketball or baseball game and get the hang of the sport. So yeah, more and better segments on understanding the race would go a long way toward making the race exciting for a non-racing fan. I think ten minutes is long for a single segment, but say, 5 two-minute segments, each on a different bit of information, could hold an audience (and keep them watching the entire broadcast). So that then if the first quarter then goes in 22 and change, they know what that means. I haven't watched the full NBC broadcast yet, but I know a lot of my friends really liked the bit about which horses might run well in the mud, because it made them feel a bit smarter about the race. Doug's post on here about Derby races that give the illusion of a can't-lose horse was really interesting and that kind of thing could make for a great discussion in post-race analysis, and get an audience eager to come back for the Preakness.
__________________
Gentlemen! We're burning daylight! Riders up! -Bill Murray |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
![]() I thought the NBC coverage was good.
The Human interest stories weren't annoying like they sometimes are. The girl who interviewed celebs and talked about fashion wasn't annoying. Her piece with Itsmyluckyday, Oxbow, and Lines Of Battle was cute. The coverage by Randy Moss and Bailey was good. Some of their announcers weren't on top of their game ... Rosie Naprovnik didn't give Bob Costas a pass when he told her she "would be riding Mylute in a race for the first time" Bob Costas has huge prestige, but he always seems to bring his F game to the Derby telecast. Other than that, I think they did a fine job. Donna Barton had a few good moments. They showed all of the right replays after the race. I'm not sure you could have asked for a lot better. |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
__________________
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'." |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
![]() The only people my age who like to go to the track and bet horses are people who care about sports.
They're usually deeply into fantasy football, they're always general sports fans, and they always have a job, and most of them dislike Poker. The rest are poker players who get bored with poker. Most of them that show up a few times a week at the track redboard stories of success in some fantasy site called 'Fan Duel' more than they ever redboard on tickets they've cashed the last few days betting horses. My girlfriend just hasn't gotten into racing at all. She enjoyed Saratoga, and even Mountaineer, and likes hanging out with me at the track here for live racing. She has no interest in betting or handicapping. My brother Dave is a year younger than me, same parents growing up (both trained thoroughbreds for fun) same grandfathers growing up (both bet horses for fun) -- he doesn't care about general sports and doesn't care about horse racing. When he goes to the track a few times a year, it's to drink beer and screw around. The focus needs to be on attracting people like the ones I see, who gamely show up and try to figure out the game and take a beating. If you're marketing to people my age who aren't into fantasy sports or poker, you're wasting your time and money. You're going after people like my girlfriend and my brothers. |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
|
#11
|
||||
|
||||
![]() I'm not sure why fantasy sports and poker have by far the best crossover to horse racing for people in their late 20's and early 30's.
Fantasy sports (and Poker to a lesser extent) is information driven, both require some basic skill in probabilities, and both are betting oriented games. The people who play these games are generally much gamer than the ones who don't. Anytime you bet horses, you're going to have some terrible days and you'll catch cold streaks ... I've seen these young guys lose $800 to a thousand dollars in a day betting horses, and they'll come back...even though they know their handicapping skills aren't good enough and their chances of winning long term are very low. Those casual once or twice a year fan isn't going to bet nearly as much, and they won't bounce back from the beatings as well. |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Seems to me that a vast majority of racing fans are into the game because of the gambling aspect. Even relatively casual fans go to gamble as much as to party. I don't think very many people go to a racetrack or simulcast facility to see celebrities. On the big racing days there are obviously many people who attend/tune in for the social/party atmosphere. Most casual fans watching the network coverage on the big days don't have online accounts ...they may have dropped a buck in an office pool or are using the event as an opportunity to socialize/party. They are not likely to become serious fans of the game unless they have a desire to gamble. The lure of potentially making money along with the challenge of picking winners is what seems to keep the majority of actual race fans coming back. Educating the the casual fan and marketing the potential money making aspect along with the handicapping challenge aspect seems the most likely way to turn a novice/casual fan into more than just a big day fan.
__________________
....stay lady stay...stay while the night is still ahead... http://www.playlist.com/playlist/15640118795/standalone |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
Racing is an interesting puzzle and requires a lot of research that can potentially pay off if you're right. You don't only have to be a sports fan to appreciate that. |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
![]() I don't think I said that people other than sports fans could not become interested in horse racing. When you are spending marketing dollars you are trying to get the most potential new customers for your money invested. I think luring people from casino gambling, fantasy or other sports betting is probably the easiest conversion.
|
#15
|
|||
|
|||
![]() I can't comment on NBC TV coverage because I was freezing in my barely undercover seats at Churchill. But I believe they missed out on the biggest entertainment story, people squatting in someone elses seats and the fights that nearly erupted trying to evict said trespassers.
|
#16
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Article regarding NBC's coverage of the Derby and going forward:
http://www.drf.com/news/jay-hovdey-b...ething-new-fan |