I was wrong. It was both of them.
This year, Keeneland and Woodbine, in the spirit of Alpha and Golden Ticket, could not be separated in the minds of the panel commissioned by the TRA to evaluate which track produces the best television product for racing’s simulcast players.
I have participated on this panel and remember that whenever I was confronted with a tough choice, I always had the hardest time separating, well, Keeneland from Woodbine.
In no way is it related to the discussion at hand, but interesting to note that both tracks offer racing on synthetic surfaces.
I wonder if their respective management teams believe that because there is still a good deal of resistance by rank and file bettors to wager on All-Weather surfaces with the same gusto they have when betting dirt races, we had better do a better job presenting their product?
Clearly, no apologies need be made for Keeneland and its boutique meet hat’s second to none.
(Sorry, Saratoga fans, but 6-1/2 weeks is more of a box store than a boutique. And even with a couple of 3-to-4 week sessions, they wisely resist the temptation to run more than nine races except for big weekend stakes days).
Keeneland and Woodbine have something else in common that, on balance, most horseplayers prefer; the Trakus system which, in addition to trip handicapping data heretofore unavailable to those practitioners, makes it easier to know exactly where your horse is relative to the competition virtually at a glance.
There’s no sport that is more colorful than horse racing, and none that is so perfect for the digital and internet age, given all the data that needs to be mined and digested. More than any other American racetrack, Keeneland gets this.
Throw in the friendliest takeout rates in the country, an HD presentation, and top young track announcer Kurt Becker and it’s easy to understand how Keeneland can be ranked right at the top.
Indeed, Keeneland and Woodbine are the only tracks to have been so honored on five occasions.
Production values that impressed the panel included Keeneland’s sharp video presentation, multiple paddock cameras, and the Trakus staging that lends a value-added element to the viewing experience.
As for our friends north of the border, the judges were impressed with the graphics packages and the audio presentation and information disseminated by Woodbine’s on-air talent.
Twelve tracks submitted entries, using the actual simulcast audio and video transmission of a single race aired to their simulcast partners and wagering outlets. Each entry included the occasional pre-race feature, odds, will-pays, commentary, the actual running of the race, results and accompanying post-race features.
Keeneland’s winning entry originally aired April 12, 2012; Woodbine’s on August 6.
While those tracks finished in a dead heat, the competition was more than just a two-track race.
Five other tracks received first, second or third-place votes on several ballots, including two from the CDI group, Churchill Downs and Calder Race Course, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Gulfstream Park and Mohawk.
Churchill Downs and Del Mar each won simulcast awards in the past, as did Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Penn National, Turfway and Los Alamitos. But none have matched Keeneland’s and Woodbine’s consistency.
The TRA has spearheaded these awards since their inception. Perhaps now they could interest all tracks in working on a simulcast presentation that offers racing to betting public—one contest at a time. And it doesn’t even cost anything.
11 Oct 2012 at 01:51 pm | #
The judges made an interesting and telling comment regarding Woodbine. They stated, “At Woodbine, it’s all about the horse.”
11 Oct 2012 at 05:00 pm | #
They do an excellent job, no doubt. Let’s hope they’re around in the future; can’t believe, er, accept, what’s going on there.
11 Oct 2012 at 06:50 pm | #
I’ve been watching and betting Keeneland from home the last couple of days (Sunday, Wednesday) and at the OTB on Friday and Saturday. The video is indeed excellent. What is missing is the audio presentation. On the weekend it was OK with Mike Battaglia providing some commentary, but, was non-existent yesterday on a midweek day.
In this regard prefer watching and listening to NYRA’s race coverage.
Think all tracks should do a verbal as well as visual run-down of all entrants prior to every race. There’s an awful lot of dead-air time between races that could be made much more interesting and entertaining.
11 Oct 2012 at 06:53 pm | #
TTT wherever you are THANKS for the free Keeneland ratings. I’ve done well so far, hope it continues.
11 Oct 2012 at 07:27 pm | #
Denny, agree that NYRA’s handicapping info is top class. Yes, there is much dead air between races but many simo facilities cut audio entirely due to audio conflicts between tracks; another reason for staggered post times!
It’s just hopeless; my head is throbbing already for continually banging it against the same old wall, day after day after…
12 Oct 2012 at 09:18 pm | #
I don’t know what the criteria were but I hope one was the only thing simulcast players are interested in: what are the odds and the exotic payoffs. Santa Anita’s new presentation is the worst. On the first Saturday, there were winner’s circle presentations and interviews, video of food trucks and celebrity interviews that delayed the Pick 3 payoffs and, in one instance, the actual odds for the next race until the horses were coming on the track. Unacceptable. Players a thousand miles away don’t care about anything but odds and payoffs.
Along those lines, is it asking too much for uniform payoff info: Is that a $1 exacta probable or $2; is that the $1 pick 4 payoff or the 50 cents? NYRA gets mixed grades. At least you know every payoff is for $2 but who bets $2 Pick 3’s and especially Pick 4’s. Anyone playing other tracks have to guess.
And don’t get me started on NY, California, Ky. and (in the winter) South Florida running races simultaneously. It happens every day between Santa Anita and Gulfstream, both Stronach owned. It’s impossible to avoid this with all tracks but everyone in racing knows (or should know) where most of the money is being bet. All it takes is someone in front of the TV monitors in the offices to say, “Hold for a minute. There’s a (NY, etc) race in the gate.”
13 Oct 2012 at 02:58 pm | #
Has nobody mentioned the incredible job the NYRA does? Their “hire the handicapped” program with respect to the person posting the numbers during the running of the race should be given high marks. The creative posting of numbers by hand in this high-tech world, allows everybody to think they have a chance, even if their horse is up the track. Who needs Trakus, and perfection!
TTT