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#1
10-30-2007, 10:13 AM
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BC Coverage: Feedback?
Curious who listened last week to the Cup coverage from Monmouth and what you liked/disliked?
Will be doing more 'big weekend' and event coverage moving forward and need to hear what people want more of/less of... Likely hitting things like CD for Clark Weekend.. U of AZ Symposium.. Handicapping Expo.. Natl. Handicapping Tourney.. Sunshine Millions.. Etc.. in coming months... Too much analysis? Not enough? Guests.. Right blend of trainers/writers/cappers/track mgmt./specialty experts? Can readily tailor show to needs of audience.. Thx..
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans 
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#3
10-30-2007, 04:16 PM
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Steve,
We do tend to compliment your work to excess but that's only because you're blazing a new frontier in the sport which we canopt get enough of. Now that you've introduced us to most the horses, trainers, and jockeys, maybe a look into some of the owners would be good? I like your approach to the big events and certainly focusing on them only makes for a better educated listener/capper. I do like when you bring live races and would suggest maybe some races where we really all cap and talk about. For example as a follow up to your talk with Kairan about the 7th tomorrow at AQU. Found the discussion so interesting I downloaded the form. Perhaps some follow up discussion and then the race?? Maybe a weekly contest? Just a suggestion. Otherwise, it's all good my friend. Spyder PS: Have a chance to talk to Dr. Allday? Thanks
__________________
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
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#4
10-30-2007, 07:06 PM
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Steve,
As I've told you before I think the show is Awesome, actually the only reason I have Sirius. I unfortuantely was out of town last Tuesday and Wednesday and was at Monmouth on Friday so I was not able to listen to the shows. In general I think you have a good mix of trainer, track management and handicappers on a week in and out basis. If I could program the show, and the guests were willing to give you more time I would try and schedule fewer guest and have them available for callers to call in. It always seems that 1/2 hour is too short for a lot of guests. I realize most of the trainers and track management are very busy and perhaps even working during the your show any way just a thought. I think my two favorite shows from last year were the two "specials" you did on "Mutuel Interest" and the show on breeding. May I suggest a show similar to the New Owner Seminars that TOBA puts on. I think it would be interesting to get a different perspective, on the various partnerships that are available and perhaps compare that to direct ownership. Just my opinion of course. Keep up the good work we all truly appreciate the hard work you do in getting "our" sport out there. HH
__________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that matter don't mind, and those that mind, dont matter." Theodore Seuss Geisel "Dr. Seuss"
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#5
10-31-2007, 09:21 AM
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Appreciate the thoughtful response (and kind words).. Lots of good suggestions here... Definitely want more owners as guests. The ones we've had (Jim Scatourchio, Barry Irwin, Charlotte Weber) tend be industry leader types and I talk to them more about the state of the game than the performances of their runners. Being on the scene of the big events probably produces the best the show can offer.. Derby; Saratoga and BC this past week have been the highlights undoubtedly. A "Race of the Week" is a terrific idea. A Wednesday particularly as everyone can download the PP's as early as Sunday and cap and enter a contest and then hear the race live.. That's a winner... Might be able to incorporate the idea with Seth Merrow's Equidaily.com and DRF. Thanks for the feedback and good suggestions!
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
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#6
10-31-2007, 09:50 AM
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I think the only way you could improve the show would be to give us 6 hours daily "live from Greenwich"
 Thinking back, I can't recall where I learned of the show. I clicked on something, on some site .... Looking at the websites I commonly do, I don't see links to it. More advertising? Some webpage tradeoffs for clickable links? What you do best is the mobility and flexibility - if there is a hot topic of the day, you are on it within 24 hours, usually with the principals involved. And your ability to discuss sensitive issues with those people, without intimidating or threatening to trap them, so that they open up and discuss rather freely. Trust and honesty. Breeds more openness within the industry. And we get to hear more than is often reported in press  The BC coverage was can't miss. I agree would love to hear more from the owners. Learning personalities, and small details often dropped in casual conversation, is priceless. I like every time you have a less-well-known trainer on, especially after he/she has a good day with a nice win. More national exposure for these guys is great! I like visiting the "smaller" tracks. The one thing about the show that makes it step up into the elite class of the reporting of a Steve Haskin, for example, is the ability to make the listener feel a true "insider" in the sport. Heck, maybe you could just broadcast 24-hours a day?
__________________
"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts
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#7
10-31-2007, 10:29 AM
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I, too, vote for 24 hour a day At the Races!
Seriously.....I stumbled on the show quite by accident about three months ago and would now not even think of missing it on my commute home. You have brought this old salt back to the game in earnest, after years and years away. The Breeder's Cup week was wonderful. I think the lasting value of your efforts, Steve, is to show the way to Race marketers that they need to focus more on the people. When we have the ability to humanize the trainers, jocks, owners, handicappers, columnists, etc., through your interviews, the race becomes SPORT, not betting on the role of a die. Even the animals take on a persona. Granted, I need the action, however the ultimate success of the sport in the competitive media environment is going to be on selling it AS a sport, not the numbers game portrayed on TVG and HRTV. There's kind of a nutty analogy in the success of NASCAR. I never watch it, but I gather that its success comes from the marketing of the personalities, not the vehicles per se. Longwinded, sorry. Keep up the fantastic work, please.
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#8
10-31-2007, 10:32 AM
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Thanks very much.. Also great suggestions. Can be hard to pin down guests for one hour, but certain people would do it. Since we usually have a specific topic to discus in the 30 min. segments (actually just 24 minutes), it's hard to make room for callers unless specifying the segment for that. Maybe 45 min. segments with half devoted to calls?? Thatr could work too... I am immensely proud of the "Mutuel Interests" and Breeding Specials, and am pleased to see you agree that they were important and memorable. We're absolutely going to do several more theme specials this winter including an ownership show and one featuring the personalities behind the great aborted 1990's racing publications (Fig's Form, The Racing Times and Metro Turf) that were the foundation for changes in the Form as we now know it. Thanks very much for the feedback..
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
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#9
10-31-2007, 11:15 AM
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Steve,
Your show is great. A large part of my work day is accompanied by your program. Frankly, I don't know how you do it every day for several hours. One thing that I'd give thought to on the handicapping side would be to focus on the late Daily Double at NYRA. It would be a nice kickoff to the show and if you had a handicapper-guest, would take up probably 40 minutes, tops. It might also draw a bit more interest from newer folks who are probably more likely to wager into a DD pool than a p3 or p4. Just a thought and keep up the good work.
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#10
11-01-2007, 07:08 AM
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Thanks very much.. We do have a number of link/banner exchanges going with other racing-related sites, but there's no doubt more advertising is needed. There's still a rather limited awareness out there. I agree that one of the shows real benefits is having the time and flexability to react to topics of the day and 'breaking' industry news. I try very hard to be on top of those stories and get them on the air. And one of my favorite things to do is offer retrospectives on passing greats (having John Hertler/Angel Cordero for Slew o' Gold; Ross Fenstermaker for Precisionist, etc..). It's clear that listeners want to hear more from owners, so we'll push for more. And I appreciate the compliment on my interviewing. I'm trying to always get the answer to the question(s) that I think the listeners would ask provided the opportunity. And I love getting the lesser-known, regional star trainer, or consumate horseman on the show... Pat Mouton; Donnie Von Hemel; Bob Gorham; Chris Paasch; Pat Reynolds; Del Carroll; Chuck; Pat Kelly; Paula Capestro; Christine Jenks; Steve Margolis; Alan Goldberg; George Mikalades; David Fawkes.. all have been on in recent months.. Steve Haskin is of course the most invaluable resource I have for the show, with a breadth of knowledge about the game that is without equal. His generosity towards me and my career goes back to the start of Derby Trail on Yahoo, and being able to count on his contributions in nearly every area of the sport has been key to any improvement in the presentation of 'ATR'. The roster of writers/handicappers/commentators/track management that the show counts on is instrumental to the continuity, and no one is more reliable than Steve. And I think you're 100% right that making listeners and members here privy to the inner workings of the sport is key... Thanks so much for the feedback..
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
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#11
11-01-2007, 07:29 AM
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Appreciate the kind words and really am pleased to hear your interest in the game has been rekindled. That means a great deal to me... I think you hit on something that I've been trying to do without thinking about it, and that is to feed the needs of the wagering-concerned while balancing that straightforward info with a presentation of the personalities and issues that comprise the sport. While the game will always be gambling-driven, I cannot do what Andy does on 'Playing to Win' as I lack his complete and total comprehension of the gambling side of the game. As a journalist first and horseplayer second, I try to strike a balance with the show that can hold everyone's attention 15 hours a week, and I don't believe concentrating too much on any one aspect of the game can do that. The NASCAR analogy is a good one, as I spent 18 months in Charlotte with Procter & Gamble when we sponsored the Folgers, Tide and Crisco cars. Tim Richmond, Darrell Waltrip and Buddy Baker were indeed the stars of those vehicles, and were marketed as such. But NASCAR is also a good analogy as attendance at an event is a social 'happening' much as a day at the races should be. The 'experience' is a huge part of the potential success of the marketing of the game, and its' why I think Derby Trailer gatherings at tracks, and the formation of Dee Tee, has worked. Not everyone who's getting together at the track or that has bought into our partnerships is a horseplayer.. Many are in it for the social network aspect and sheer pleasure of the atmosphere/experience. The game can be successfully introduced and grown understanding the wide interest levels of the potential and existing 'race fan' and catering to their respective needs. Thanks for taking the time to provide the feedback...
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
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#12
11-01-2007, 07:39 AM
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This is another great idea that could be a featured segment maybe Tuesdays (Calder, Philadelphia?) and Thursdays (NYRA). I might be able to get sponsors involved (DRF, tracks) that could provide a focused capper guest to do the races with me. And thanks for listening. It's funny how the 3 hours a day flies by for me 98% of the time. Dave Johnson and Bill Finley did a three hour version of their weekly 2 hour Sirius show Saturday from Monmouth, and afterwards, Johnson said to me he didn't know how I could do 3 hours/5 days a week. As I always say, some days it's not enough time!
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
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#13
11-01-2007, 09:13 AM
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Steve,
I thought it was great. It is hard to improve on what you do within the time constraints you have. I was also very excited to read that you might broadcast live from the National Handicapping Championship (and not just because I am in it). The contest circuit doesn't get nearly enough coverage (even from its sponsors the DRF and the NTRA). I think hearing from top handicappers and how they approach the game would be a super show. Paul
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#14
11-02-2007, 11:18 AM
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Think so too.. With all the big contest players, cappers, etc., on hand, think it would be great.. And having not played in a qualifier this year, it's the only way for me to get out there! SB
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
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#15
11-07-2007, 10:59 AM
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Steve.
Outstanding coverage. I didn't get to hear the entire 15 hours, but what I did hear was excellent as usual. I don't think the Breeders' Cup has ever received such extensive radio coverage. I can only hope the BC and Monmouth Park went our of their way to accommodate you. Unfortunately, you were dead on with your early week weather concerns. There are a host of 1 hour, 1 or 2 day per week racing shows, but there's only 1 "At the Races with Steve Byk" giving us extensive coverage of the game we all love. Thanks so much Steve.
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