DRF| Former jockeys give racing broadcasts a bold voice

TouchOfGrey · #1 08-11-2011, 06:13 PM

Awesome read. Can't get enough of the Mig!

DRF| Former jockeys give racing broadcasts a bold voice

Quote:

By most accounts, Migliore is off to a good start with HRTV and telecasts generated by NYRA’s TV department. The rider of horses who won 4,450 races, Migliore rebounded from numerous injuries, including at least two that could have been fatal, before a spill at Aqueduct in January 2010 led to surgery that left him with two plates and eight screws in his neck. The day he announced his retirement, the week of the 2010 Belmont Stakes, one of the first people to call was Amy Zimmerman, the award-winning executive producer for HRTV and associate producer for racing for NBC and ESPN.

Twenty-one years before, Zimmerman had watched “A Cup of Courage: The Jockey’s Story” on the Discovery channel. It was a documentary about the dangers of race-riding and featured, among others, Angel Cordero, Laffit Pincay, Chris McCarron, and Migliore.

“Richie was very good on that show, talking about the day he broke his neck in a spill at Belmont Park,” Zimmerman said. “It was something that just stuck with me over the years. He was so articulate. From that moment on, I thought of him as someone who could help a telecast and be a great ambassador for racing at the same time.”

Seattleallstar · #2 08-11-2011, 11:37 PM

did stevens leave TVG, or did TVG let him go?

Linny · #3 08-12-2011, 06:29 AM

Rich has always been an outspoken and intelligent guy. He's been an advocate for the game and he has the advantage of not having to deal with a language barrier that hinders others. Mig always knew the importance of outreach to the fans and took full advantage of Saratoga's close fan/participant relationship. I can't speak for downstate fans but Rich was always much loved here in the Albany/Saratoga area.

In the Albany area Jeff Carle (who was far less well known that Mig) has been on OTB-TV over the last few years and has also offered alot of insight into the game from the perpective of rider and trainer.

Princess Doreen · #4 08-12-2011, 08:37 AM

Mig is a classy guy. Very fan friendly and approachable. He tells some great stories. The one about him spreading the ashes of a decased owner at Belmont is side splitting.