TVG in Saratoga Springs area?

[Gander]

I have watched both networks (OTB and TVG) and there is no comparison.
OTB for some reason caters to harness racing and just is very incompetent when it comes to showing paddock coverage and will pays, etc. You have guys like Pricci who say the same thing over and over and act as if people actually would bet based off of their opinions, egggad

Last night immediately after the live showing of the Santa Anita race #8, they cut to a harness race without even telling you who ran 2nd, 3rd and
4th. Now this would have taken the announcer all of 5 seconds to distribute that info?

[Linny]

Thanks Hoff.

The fact is that OTB and TVG/HRTV are quite different in that OTB operates under different regulations. NYS Racing law requires us to use in state product (NYRA/F'Lakes) live. Our agreement w/NYRA demands that Capital air the paddock and post parade as well. COTB makes every effort to air NYRA's "will-pays" and as much of their feed as possible.
As for the secondary tracks, due to the time commitment to NYRA, fitting in more than a replay is usually impossible. At this time of year, when the raceday is compressed and tracks are running races every 20-25 minutes, it's harder still. If there is a DQ or an inquiry at NYRA, or a hold up at the gate it's even more time taken from secondary products. The contract with Time Warner requires that CAP.OTB air 3 commercial breaks per hour. It doesn't seem like much time out of an hour but look at it like this:
Between 2 and 3 pm today we'll have 10 races to air, from 4 tracks. Allowing for 2 minutes per actual race (loading/gallop out + airing the result) that takes 20 minutes of the hour. Add to that the requirement of pretty much staying with the NYRA feed from 13 or so MTP per race and that's another 26 minutes, give or take. Remember too that at "2 MTP" many times you know the race won't start in 2 minutes. Now you've used 46 of your 60 minute hour. Add to that about 10 minutes of commentary/promotion of OTB events per hour and that allows 4 minutes for commercials.
We try to do commentary over the will-pays if possible to "kill two birds" (as it were) but it doesn't always work that way. We are dealing with a bottle neck, trying to feed out 4 signals. Just when it looks like you're about to get caught up, a gate delay, late scratch, loose horse throws off the rhythm.
I understand that sometimes mistakes are made. Things get missed and the wrong button gets pushed.

I have no influence as far as policy. I take orders. Trust me, there are times I wish things were different but as in any workplace, you take the bad with the good. Is the product perfect, no. But on balance I think that COTB does a pretty good job of getting racing out. This is a case of the perfect being the enemy of the good but TVG ain't perfect either.

[Gander]

Great post Linny. Well said.
I understand the sacrifice you have to make regarding secondary tracks during 12:30 to 4:30 (NYRA time) and dont expect much more than a replay. To me thats good enough.

But when NYRA is done their race day shouldnt we expect more from say Santa Anita?

Your agreement with NYRA demands that you show paddock and post parades, yet there have been multiple times in the last few weeks where Jan's commentary has been skipped and sometimes when it is shown it gets cut off for a replay from Laurel or Tampa Bay.

If you want my opinion, focusing more on NYRA would be a better thing since thats what most capital fans care about and bet on.

[Sightseek]

I'm really not all that fond of HRTV because of the awful camera feed...it looks as if you're watching program back from the early 80's. Unfortunately since they have all the rights to Gulfstream & Santa Anita I have to grin and bear it.

As a whole though, the biggest 'fault' of both HRTV & TVG is their focus is on the California tracks so they will be showing you $8,000 claimers at Golden Gate instead of the horses prior to the Hal's Hope. I'd wish companies could or would recognize which races are really waiting for.

Why don't you guys watch the races on your computer.

HRTV and TVG are ok. I am with Sightseek, the total focus on the So Cal tracks is ridiculous. Once Hollywood started on TVG they would stay with that track from the post parade until the end of the race. You wouldnt get to see another race until 20 minutes after the race was official. I know that HRTV and TVG are based out west, but it is ridiculous. Also, HRTV's feed in extremely poor. It is blurry and the color is horrible. However, it is better than nothing.

[Linny]

I agree, I'd like to see SA treated as we do NYRA during the day. The problem is that we also have an agreement w/the harness industry that was signed as part of the ability to take nighttime TB racing. We have certain requirements re: what we must show. Taking NYRA + 3 others is hectic. Taking 2 TB + 3 harness tracks is almost beyond belief. The harness tracks run about every 15-20 minutes. The races take longer so each hour is eaten up by far more "actual racing." At some times there are 15 harness races per hour! That 30+ minutes of racing before you get to post parades and TB racing.

There are times (day and night) when there will be 3 races on tape, lined up ready to replay and we just can't find a seam. Suddenly we realize it 4 MTP at a track where we haven't shown the prior race.

As for NYRA post parades and paddock, our contract doesn't require airing it but we make every attempt as a courtesy to viewers and NYRA. When I say post parade I refer not to the entire time from paddock to gate but the portion of the program when they show the horses 1 by 1 with the graphics showing names/#'s etc. Often we break away after the parade to air a replay. If we didn't, the replays would be lined up around the production center.

On the whole, we try. It's worth noting that TVG uses about 15 people operating some pretty nifty controls to put on one show. Most of our equipment is quite dated and our show involves 1 host, 1 director and one sound man. The director and sound guy also have to tape all the races from non NYRA tracks and line them up for airing.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Why don't you guys watch the races on your computer.

.

hmmmmm, computer screen or a gigantic T.V.?

Originally Posted by Sightseek

hmmmmm, computer screen or a gigantic T.V.?

Some computer screens are bigger than a tv. My sister has her computer hooked up to her TV some how. It is really cool.

Originally Posted by Linny

I agree, I'd like to see SA treated as we do NYRA during the day. The problem is that we also have an agreement w/the harness industry that was signed as part of the ability to take nighttime TB racing. We have certain requirements re: what we must show. Taking NYRA + 3 others is hectic. Taking 2 TB + 3 harness tracks is almost beyond belief. The harness tracks run about every 15-20 minutes. The races take longer so each hour is eaten up by far more "actual racing." At some times there are 15 harness races per hour! That 30+ minutes of racing before you get to post parades and TB racing.

There are times (day and night) when there will be 3 races on tape, lined up ready to replay and we just can't find a seam. Suddenly we realize it 4 MTP at a track where we haven't shown the prior race.

As for NYRA post parades and paddock, our contract doesn't require airing it but we make every attempt as a courtesy to viewers and NYRA. When I say post parade I refer not to the entire time from paddock to gate but the portion of the program when they show the horses 1 by 1 with the graphics showing names/#'s etc. Often we break away after the parade to air a replay. If we didn't, the replays would be lined up around the production center.

On the whole, we try. It's worth noting that TVG uses about 15 people operating some pretty nifty controls to put on one show. Most of our equipment is quite dated and our show involves 1 host, 1 director and one sound man. The director and sound guy also have to tape all the races from non NYRA tracks and line them up for airing.

Sounds very convaluted to say the least. But keep up the good work.

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

hmmmmm, computer screen or a gigantic T.V.?

If you're really just watching races I can see how you wouldn't have an online account. But if you want and need Exacta and mult-race will pays as well as replays and access to multiple years of charts and workouts, then having an online account is very useful.

[Gander]

Da Hoss:
As somebody who pays a great deal for cable TV, I dont think we're way off. Technology is changing every day and so too must the cable channels. Without my baseball package, I think my cable runs about $60 per month. Thats no bargain. ESPN is a great example of a network who evolves with the times. While I dont expect Capital OTB to be half of what ESPN is, it would be nice to see people who knew first names of jockeys. There is one guy on OTB who has been on there for at least 20 years who still cant identify jockey's first names. He routinely says "jockey Bridgmohan". I know you've heard this guy, hes on as much as Greg Girogio. Hey, have you ever seen that weird show Greg Girogio use to do where he dresses up as an older dude? Borderline funny farm!

[Gander]

You are right. Its a lot better than nothing and at least I have Anthony Mormino to look forward to every weekend. His show is great. I wish he would post on here, maybe Linny could help out in that dept. He could teach us all a ton. And having every NYRA race live is a good thing to know you can count on. That should never change.