'Horseplayers' on ESQ TV -- Debuts 1/21, 10p ET

[Calzone Lord]

It was amusing, if nothing else.

Pretty darn entertaining...but, kind of silly.

[Scav]

I liked the NY guys alot, my only thing about it is be accurate. They had Groupie Doll at 20/1 in the 2012 Cigar Mile (also didn't know that is 'when' the show was starting) AND then Zagora was actually in the FM Sprint.

Hellmers is obviously very talented with his previous record, but I do feel that he will turn people off because he is just downright weird.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Scav

Hellmers is obviously very talented with his previous record, but I do feel that he will turn people off because he is just downright weird.

It's hard to read much into him.

Is his oddball behavior an act for the camera?

I've never seen a horseplayer win with such dignity. Pittsburgh Phil (quite inaccurately) was portrayed to win like that. But the best racing mind of that time who put stuff to print, Walter Vosbugh, wrote that Pittsburgh Phil would have horrible temper tantrums after races, and he was a fierce complainer when he didn't agree with a weight assignment his horse was handicapped with.

Headband Weirdo's two contest showings for the Breeders' Cup were extremely impressive, but contests are about stabbing at longshots, and the sample size of races are small.

If you're to believe the Rotunda table, that hot Mail-Order Bride selected five straight winners in a row, solely on the basis of name.

A contest is basically a race to the highest score, so you generally have to stab with longshots and bypass logical horses if you want to win them.

My gut feeling is "I'd sure love to book that guys action over the long-term" -- but who knows. It will be interesting to see more episodes.

[Mike A]

I thought it was entertaining enough to watch the next episode.

Groupie Doll at 20/1 in the Cigar Mile, say what?

Fake announcer at Santa Anita, really, guess an agreement with Frank didn't happen

Not sure about Hellmers thou, some zen like capping or just playing to the camera, none the less, 2nd in the BC tourney back to back.

Team Rotondo, $900 for a pick 4 and pick 6, not sure how it was played, but they seemed to miss on both, when they lost the photo

[Merlinsky]

Someone told Haskin on FB that another production company did the original pilot and when the new production company came on to do the next 9 eps they didn't have all the necessary footage to make edits with, whatever that means. I guess there wasn't an option of putting the real Zagora and Marketing Mix in the shot. Whether it ever existed or just didn't make it to the new company, who knows.

My pet peeve with both this and Jockeys is the fake race calls. They lack the intensity if nothing else. Usually just sound off if not downright silly.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Mike A

Not sure about Hellmers thou, some zen like capping or just playing to the camera, none the less, 2nd in the BC tourney back to back.

He's advocated for betting exchanges in the US ... which makes him respectable in my book, even if he's an otherwise Vegan Weirdo Douche.

[PatCummings]

Racing people need to realize this show is NOT for them. It's not. Feel slighted by that if you will, but this show is for people who aren't fans or current racing bettors. Come to it from that perspective and take a chill in the interim with a lack of 100% accuracy. NO reality TV shows represents reality as it happened.

[JJP]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

that's the show about 4 hookers ...and their mother ?

Stewie-

I think it was three hookers and their mother.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Racing people need to realize this show is NOT for them. It's not. Feel slighted by that if you will, but this show is for people who aren't fans or current racing bettors. Come to it from that perspective and take a chill in the interim with a lack of 100% accuracy. NO reality TV shows represents reality as it happened.

Thus I feel it has absolutely no chance whatsoever of being successful.

[Alabama Stakes]

teller tells the guy good luck......I thought you only got the kiss of death from local telllers at Saratoga.

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by jms62

Thus I feel it has absolutely no chance whatsoever of being successful.

I don't necessarily agree - if it spurs interest from non-fans that become more interested in horse racing, that would be a different successful outcome.

We here at DT don't have to love it - we already love racing.

[deltagulf]

Will it be online to watch?
Cause I'm on the road all the time.

[robfla]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

My pet peeve with both this and Jockeys is the fake race calls. They lack the intensity if nothing else. Usually just sound off if not downright silly.

I read that it was a "glitch" in the premier and all race calls will be real in upcoming episodes.

We'll see.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

It's hard to read much into him.

Is his oddball behavior an act for the camera?

I've never seen a horseplayer win with such dignity. Pittsburgh Phil (quite inaccurately) was portrayed to win like that. But the best racing mind of that time who put stuff to print, Walter Vosbugh, wrote that Pittsburgh Phil would have horrible temper tantrums after races, and he was a fierce complainer when he didn't agree with a weight assignment his horse was handicapped with.

Headband Weirdo's two contest showings for the Breeders' Cup were extremely impressive, but contests are about stabbing at longshots, and the sample size of races are small.

If you're to believe the Rotunda table, that hot Mail-Order Bride selected five straight winners in a row, solely on the basis of name.

A contest is basically a race to the highest score, so you generally have to stab with longshots and bypass logical horses if you want to win them.

My gut feeling is "I'd sure love to book that guys action over the long-term" -- but who knows. It will be interesting to see more episodes.

Mike Gundy voice: "That's not true!"

That might be the case in NHC type contests Doug but, this is the live BCBC, a whole different format. When you have to bet a minimum of $600 on 5 races from Friday's BC program and $900 on 6 races from Saturday's program.
You can't throw that kinda money at bombs just hoping to connect on one.

While I will be the first to say that Helmers is Grade 1 douche on camera, his two performances over four days of Breeders Cup races at two different tracks is not a fluke. The biggest mistake he made was betting very little of his bankroll on Fort Larned. (Who he said, he had a huge opinion on)

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

Mike Gundy voice: "That's not true!"

I'm a MAN! I'm 40! Come after ME!

[pmayjr]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Racing people need to realize this show is NOT for them. It's not. Feel slighted by that if you will, but this show is for people who aren't fans or current racing bettors. Come to it from that perspective and take a chill in the interim with a lack of 100% accuracy. NO reality TV shows represents reality as it happened.

Fair or not, a lot of people think regular horse players are kinda greasy lowlifes... The premiere episode of this show didn't do anything to change anyone's opinion of that.

Team Rotundo and the dude with the magnifying glass made me think this could be "the Situation", Ronnie and Vinny from Jersey Shore when they're in their 50s .

They're colorful personalities to watch, but they're greasy as f*ck (I say this as a member of the Walmart crowd, I'm no snoot).

[Left Bank]

I thought it was pretty entertaining, and I will watch it again, as long as they stick with the racing and don't start to dwell into their personal lives too much.

[ateamstupid]

Finally got around to watching the first episode today and I liked it. There were some issues, but overall it was well-produced and a fun hour. The NY guys are good on camera. I hope going forward, there's more about the nuts and bolts of handicapping, but we'll see. If nothing else, it's some positive press for an industry that is constantly getting raked over the coals for this or that. Hellmers is a kook.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Finally got around to watching the first episode today and I liked it. There were some issues, but overall it was well-produced and a fun hour. The NY guys are good on camera. I hope going forward, there's more about the nuts and bolts of handicapping, but we'll see. If nothing else, it's some positive press for an industry that is constantly getting raked over the coals for this or that. Hellmers is a kook.

Also watched and was expecting not to like it due to some of the "mistakes" pointed out here. I was pleasantly surprised, I also loved the New York crews. Question I have was the breeders cup footage of Helmers shot after the fact. I have never seen someone so devoid of emotion after a major possibly life altering score.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by jms62

Also watched and was expecting not to like it due to some of the "mistakes" pointed out here. I was pleasantly surprised, I also loved the New York crews. Question I have was the breeders cup footage of Helmers shot after the fact. I have never seen someone so devoid of emotion after a major possibly life altering score.

I got the sense from Hellmers that despite building the lead through the day, he never felt comfortable. I think he was girding himself against the possibility of the repeat an anguishing beat... and he was right. That McGoey did it a second year in a row is one of the most remarkable, implausible results imaginable.

I didn't realize that I hadn't commented yet about the show.. I didn't get to it until Wednesday and enjoyed it. Early highlight was scene at Belmont track kitchen Morning Line with Conte where the great (sometime jock agent) Winston Heslop was hanging out. Was sad seeing St. Nicholas Abbey and Ramon in spots. Thought despite the minor glitches and simplified betting conversation that it was entertaining and a good start.