Tips/Thoughts on Breeders' Cup tickets this year?

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

b stutts has tear roll like old indian in tree hugger spot

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

The purple cloths, and purple and white are in general the brand of the breeders cup, I think they are more concerned with that then the player. I look at silks anyways.

It is another example of how little energy is devoted to the comfort of the fans and their ability to follow a race as it is run. The "Let them eat cake" mentality
prevails while the handle everywhere else in the sport this year is down.

Hopefully one day the BC brain trust will actually come to believe that the event actually needs to be marketed to the comfort of the bettors if they want to maximize the handle they enjoy. The argument that bettors will play no matter what is not completely true and hopefully is proven this year when popular trainers like Mott and others stay home and hopefully the antipoly players stay away enough to get the Empires attention.

[Bobby Fischer]

Casino Drive is 1/1 morning line

Go Bananas

[Monarchos1]

The BC marketing guy who did the Blood-Horse Q & A on that site Friday claims Trackus will solve everything. This completely ignores the fact that only a few tracks now have that technology, not all viewers care for it, some people prefer to watch horses rather than "chicklets" and that not everyone in attendance will be able to view a monitor even if it has Trackus (check the temp seating at recent BCs to verify this). The bottom line is that they just don't care.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Not to mention that ABC/ESPN will probably have all these crazy camera angles where you will not be able to see the number on the saddlecloth, but maybe pick up a color. At least if it was color coded you would have some idea where your horses are.
God is right about the silks theory too.

At least we will have Trevor there to give us an accurate description to what's going on.

I was thinking about this today and honestly I cant believe people defend this style of showing the races. What other sport has the camera angles changed during the action. I dont want to hear about autoracing or golf. But if you are watching a football or basketball game they dont switch camera angles during the play. And if they show an angle other than behind the pitcher in baseball, you almost cant follow what is going on. But these genius directors feel the need to switch angles 10 times during the race. Why not give us different shots during the replay of the race since they have 30 minutes between the races and the actual race usually only takes 2 minutes to run. Having the races in HD is a obvious plus though.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by docicu3

It is another example of how little energy is devoted to the comfort of the fans and their ability to follow a race as it is run. The "Let them eat cake" mentality
prevails while the handle everywhere else in the sport this year is down.

Hopefully one day the BC brain trust will actually come to believe that the event actually needs to be marketed to the comfort of the bettors if they want to maximize the handle they enjoy. The argument that bettors will play no matter what is not completely true and hopefully is proven this year when popular trainers like Mott and others stay home and hopefully the antipoly players stay away enough to get the Empires attention.

Since when is Mott not going?

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I was thinking about this today and honestly I cant believe people defend this style of showing the races. What other sport has the camera angles changed during the action. I dont want to hear about autoracing or golf. But if you are watching a football or basketball game they dont switch camera angles during the play. And if they show an angle other than behind the pitcher in baseball, you almost cant follow what is going on. But these genius directors feel the need to switch angles 10 times during the race. Why not give us different shots during the replay of the race since they have 30 minutes between the races and the actual race usually only takes 2 minutes to run. Having the races in HD is a obvious plus though.

It is almost like they feel compeled to show angles from down low to try to show how fast the horses are going (ala auto racing). Nobody cares about that angle. If they want to play around with the angles do it during the marathon and maybe the turf. But I do not need to see 18 different angles in a race that is only going to take 68 seconds. Chuck is right, show them after the race. We want to see as much of the field as possible from the normal perspective, period.

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Not to mention that ABC/ESPN will probably have all these crazy camera angles where you will not be able to see the number on the saddlecloth, but maybe pick up a color. At least if it was color coded you would have some idea where your horses are.
God is right about the silks theory too.

At least we will have Trevor there to give us an accurate description to what's going on.

personally i like Trevor's call. i know many here don't BUT if we have trouble following our horses how can we give any race caller grief, for these 2 days.

[Kasept]

If you haven't seen Steve Crist's most recent zippy column, it takes dead aim at the silly braying for various horses to run in the Breeders' Cup "for the good of the game". For instance, John Pricci had one of those impassioned and idiotic calls for Zenyatta to run in the Classic that I thought was a particularly special display of grandstanding. Crist cuts to the core and is especially right here:

The theory seems to be that horsemen should ignore their own expert opinions about what would be best for their horses and run them where they don't really want to, because somehow this will send horse racing to the top of the charts and energize an apathetic general public.

When it comes to virtually any aspect of the game's qualities or deficiencies, Crist consistently can be counted upon to get it right and express it best. His work alone makes the DRF Plus subscription worthwhile...

Spare me, please, 'For the good of the game'
By STEVEN CRIST

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=98991

NEW YORK - In these final days before the Breeders' Cup pre-entry deadline Tuesday, we've been hearing a lot about how various owners have a duty or obligation about if and when to run their horses under the banner of "for the good of the game."

This is why Curlin is supposed to run in the Classic despite his handlers' lack of enthusiasm for racing on a new synthetic track; why Zenyatta is supposed to take on the boys instead of being odds-on in the Ladies' Classic; why Commentator and Vineyard Haven and even Zarkava should be entered despite their connections' clear preference to call it a year.

In a sort of twisted version of "My country, right or wrong," owners and trainers are supposed to participate in and support the Breeders' Cup because this will draw more television viewers, create new fans, and attract hordes of new advertisers and sponsors.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Like the avatar.... the classic Philadelphia Athletics logo from the Connie Mack era, the "White Elephant"

[Buckpasser]

For the good of the game? Then why is the BC at SA this year and next?

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by Kasept

If you haven't seen Steve Crist's most recent zippy column, it takes dead aim at the silly braying for various horses to run in the Breeders' Cup "for the good of the game". For instance, John Pricci had one of those impassioned and idiotic calls for Zenyatta to run in the Classic that I thought was a particularly special display of grandstanding. Crist cuts to the core and is especially right here:

The theory seems to be that horsemen should ignore their own expert opinions about what would be best for their horses and run them where they don't really want to, because somehow this will send horse racing to the top of the charts and energize an apathetic general public.

When it comes to virtually any aspect of the game's qualities or deficiencies, Crist consistently can be counted upon to get it right and express it best. His work alone makes the DRF Plus subscription worthwhile...

Spare me, please, 'For the good of the game'
By STEVEN CRIST

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=98991

NEW YORK - In these final days before the Breeders' Cup pre-entry deadline Tuesday, we've been hearing a lot about how various owners have a duty or obligation about if and when to run their horses under the banner of "for the good of the game."

This is why Curlin is supposed to run in the Classic despite his handlers' lack of enthusiasm for racing on a new synthetic track; why Zenyatta is supposed to take on the boys instead of being odds-on in the Ladies' Classic; why Commentator and Vineyard Haven and even Zarkava should be entered despite their connections' clear preference to call it a year.

In a sort of twisted version of "My country, right or wrong," owners and trainers are supposed to participate in and support the Breeders' Cup because this will draw more television viewers, create new fans, and attract hordes of new advertisers and sponsors.

What will draw more television viewers, create new fans, and attract hordes of new advertisers and sponsors is a competent marketing strategy. There is so much that can be done to bring in the young, old, female, and male. It is a perfect sport for Radio. Ideal! But, aside from your far too limited week day show Steve that is all we have.
They can never seem to get there heads around the idea that the owners and trainers are already doing their part by putting the best trained athlete's out there. Makes me crazy. I am going out there anyway. I love watching the championships whether they will actually crown one or not. The entire two days being around a community of horse players and horse lovers does it for me.

[Cannon Shell]

Maybe I am in the minority and i didn't read Pricci's article but running Zenyatta in the Classic isnt really that bad of an idea is it? I understand they have Tiago but she could sweep to horse of the year if she were to win the race couldnt she? She is proven over the surface unlike the other main contenders so she certainly has the home field advantage. I dont think that her going in the Classic would draw more than 12 extra fans or coverage and I dont think it would have any "effect on the sport" but I would be interested to see how she matches up against the big boys.

[blackthroatedwind]

In the Land of the Blind the One Eyed Man is King.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

In the Land of the Blind the One Eyed Man is King.

At least the one eyed man can see over the dashboard without a booster seat

[cowgirlintexas]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Maybe I am in the minority and i didn't read Pricci's article but running Zenyatta in the Classic isnt really that bad of an idea is it? I understand they have Tiago but she could sweep to horse of the year if she were to win the race couldnt she? She is proven over the surface unlike the other main contenders so she certainly has the home field advantage. I dont think that her going in the Classic would draw more than 12 extra fans or coverage and I dont think it would have any "effect on the sport" but I would be interested to see how she matches up against the big boys.

I think the same Chuck..She's beaten everything in the female divison..Why not take a shot at the boys? So many before have zig-zagged around it and we never really ever got to see they could have..She looks to be somethng special and one that could very well beat Curlin and Big Brown etc.

Course then, we'd be crying out for a match-up between her and Zarkava

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cowgirlintexas

I think the same Chuck..She's beaten everything in the female divison..Why not take a shot at the boys? So many before have zig-zagged around it and we never really ever got to see they could have..She looks to be somethng special and one that could very well beat Curlin and Big Brown etc.

Course then, we'd be crying out for a match-up between her and Zarkava

I'm not saying that she should or is even good enough but it isnt that much of a stretch to see her in there. Though the good of the sport theory is laughable since virtually no one outside of hardcore fans have even heard of her before.

[Quiet Chris]

Why wouldn't Casino Drive try the BCC. Do you think he should be afraid of that awesome 3yr old division or is it that really scary older horse division? There are about 6 or 7 horses running that even belong in a race like the BCC, and it if wasn't for the euros, that number might be 4 or 5.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

At least the one eyed man can see over the dashboard without a booster seat

I was referring to Steve Crist......

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I was referring to Steve Crist......

The one eyed man can often be blinded by excessive hair in the face...