But today will be the last opportunity you'll have to raise your voice when the Thoroughbred Racing Associations and Harness Tracks of America hold their simulcasting conference two weeks hence in Saratoga. And that's why we have this back on the HRI lead page. Your input is important. Trust me, the wheels of progress are beginning to grind forward. Slowly, but in the right direction.
In return for taking the time to respond, I promise to tell your story. The response has been strong but I'd love to have as many of your ideas as possible when suggesting how the industry might improve its simulcast presentation. And with nine of every 10 dollars wagered off-track, the need for a better product is more important than ever.
So, please, if you haven't done so, post a line or two. No need to be long-winded if you don't wish to be. Just list your top two or three preferences, I'll grade them, and pass them along.
In case you missed this post first time around, your choices should be based on standard television production values. How does the picture look? Is the message and the information--scratches, post times, etc.--presented in a clear and comprehensive fashion?
Are graphics legible and meaningful and not just unwanted window dressing? How was the camera work; too many cut-aways, not enough? Were simulcast hosts appealing and informative, or verbose and arrogant? How useful was the quality of betting information? What about the paddock and post parade presentations?
Those are some of the values I value to serve my wagering needs. And these are some of the issues I'd like you to consider. So, please, let's see those 1-2-3s. Thanks.
This Is Final TIme This Post Will Appear on the HRI Lead Page
25 Sep 2009 at 03:24 am | #
Thanks, JRP, for taking the time to do this. As with Crist’s blog, your efforts represent one of the few real attempts to consult with the customer base of the industry. I am assuming you have no interest in hearing about the OTB sites:), but rather the quality of the simulcast feeds.
1. Create more split screen graphics that juxtapose continually updated betting pool information, live pictures, and payout data.
2. After the post parade, keep the camera on the horses warming up--not just the favorite (s), but pan the track. If possible, zoom in so we can tell if they are washing out, etc.
3. Call this a quirky one, but after the race is over, always show the winner’s circle moment. Fans deserve a chance to see the winning connections and the triumphant steed!
Thanks!
3.
25 Sep 2009 at 03:29 am | #
Eric,
FOr these purposes, we consider any and ALL non-racetracks to be simulcast centers, including OTBs, of course. Thanks.
JP
25 Sep 2009 at 05:38 am | #
NYRA--show the Pick3/4, Double payouts more than just once following a race
Do a better job of showing the horses warming up.
Del Mar--Show the odds of the horses,not just the numbers during the running of a race.
Churchill--needs to do a MUCH better job of showing probable payoffs for doubles, pick 3....
25 Sep 2009 at 08:32 am | #
1. Better coordination of post times. I’ve seen Saratoga and Del Mar have races go off at the same time. Right now, Woodbine and Belmont’s first race are both at 1 p.m. I’d like to see a European model where the post times are staggered between the top-tiered tracks. If River Downs and Thistledown can stagger their post times, so can Oak Tree and Belmont. Eliminating simultaneous post times should help handle.
2. When showing the probable payoffs, tracks should show whether or not it is for a $1 or a $2 wager. Yes, you can probably figure it out by looking at how high the payouts are, but all the tracks have to do to eliminate this ambiguity by adding two characters.
3. List the prices as soon as the race is official, even if it’s only in a small graphics box. Woodbine and Mohawk are the most egregious offenders after the major races. They’ll have a lovely shot of the winning horse and of the winning connections, but sometimes take several minutes to post the payouts.
25 Sep 2009 at 09:42 am | #
Have a universal base for payoffs. None of these $1 base returns from Louisiana on WPS, or 50 cent pick 4’s from Turfway, and $2 base pick 4 payoffs from other tracks.
How about this:
Payoffs on WPS, exactors, doubles, pick 6’s based on a $2 ticket, and all other bets base the results on $1 tickets.
Or have them all based on $2 tickets. I don’t really care, I just want to see consistency.
Surely the industry can come to common ground on this one issue.
25 Sep 2009 at 12:00 pm | #
Some of us don’t have the volume on—or can’t hear it. So put all information on the screen.
An example is track conditons.
I have been burned by wrong/misleading info many times.
Tracks should clearly list when SOME turf races are off. Many sites show Track/fast Turf/yielding, but only the stakes race is on, with the others off.
25 Sep 2009 at 12:05 pm | #
The biggest thing this sport needs is a reduction in take out, the way it is now a bettor has no chance, your much better off at a crap table, who can buck these 20% + take outs, its insanity, and all it does is break the bettor faster.
25 Sep 2009 at 01:54 pm | #
As a technical director at one of the racetracks I’m interested in peoples input. We won the simulcast award a few years back. But the more input the more we’ll consider…
25 Sep 2009 at 02:06 pm | #
Remember, Takeout runs the business. Salaries, horseman, purses, track maint. marketing etc.
Do the math.
25 Sep 2009 at 02:19 pm | #
JimB, takeout is not at an optimum level. I bet 4 times as much when I get a substantial rebate. Studies have speculated that if horse racing collectively dropped takeouts from 21% to 13%, handle would at least double....meaning the tracks would have at least the same amount to pay salaries, horsemen, etc.
I’ll use the same slots example. If a slot operator makes 1 million on the standard average 10% house edge a slots machine has, then why not increase it to 20%, that would mean the operator only needs to get half the total handle in order to make as much money as today....but they know they will make less, because the players won’t last very long, get discouraged too easy and many will find another way to lose their gambling money.
They will go less if at all, exposing less friends and family to spend a night out with them at the slots as well.
Even another extreme example. Do you honestly think that if horse racing were to double takeout to 42% on average that they would make more money in the long run?
They would only need half the handle to make the same. Should be a no brainer.
However, I hope you realize that they won’t make more money, in fact, they will make a lot less.
If you disagree, you have no clue.
25 Sep 2009 at 07:32 pm | #
1. Please split the screen on races that have runaway winners i.e. 4 lengths or more so we can see the race for 2nd thru 4th. Nothing worse then waiting for them to reach the finish and then if its close cut away to the next race up on the program
25 Sep 2009 at 09:24 pm | #
The only area of growth in horse racing wagering is Advanced Deposit Wagering. A logical focus would be on improving the immediate experience of these stay at home players.
Horse players who wager on the internet- interact with the excitement of the races- through the medium of images presented on a computer or TV screen. Presently, the quality of these racing images is unbelievably bad. Does this make sense? Consumers spend thousands of dollars on high definition TV’s. Why? In the case of sports fans, they are immediately captivated by the compelling high definition experience: Could you imaging watching ( let alone wagering on ) an NFL game being broadcast in the low quality signal provided by Belmont, Santa Anita, etc?
Anyone who has seen the Breeders Cup in the vivid detail of a high def signal realizes the gut level impact that great racing can provide. Churchill and Keeneland are to be commended for being the first to provide off track fans with a high def signal of the races. But how in the world could the major tracks justify providing such a poor signal to their ADW customers?
26 Sep 2009 at 12:24 am | #
1. New York: Use split screen. I could see the race better from the roof of Belmont than watching your TV coverage.
2. Del Mar: Put the odds under the horses number during the running of the race. When showing the conditions put the claiming price NOT THE PURSE on the screen. DMTC is a amateur operation. If you watch their simulcasts you will see what I mean. Their betting platform is Del Mar Bets.com, which is Xpress Bet-HRTV, yet they gave their exclusive TV rights to TVG. These are some really smart people.
26 Sep 2009 at 12:24 am | #
1. New York: Use split screen. I could see the race better from the roof of Belmont than watching your TV coverage.
2. Del Mar: Put the odds under the horses number during the running of the race. When showing the conditions put the claiming price NOT THE PURSE on the screen. DMTC is a amateur operation. If you watch their simulcasts you will see what I mean. Their betting platform is Del Mar Bets.com, which is Xpress Bet-HRTV, yet they gave their exclusive TV rights to TVG. These are some really smart people.
26 Sep 2009 at 03:23 am | #
1) I watch several tracks at the same time when I’m at the track; without sound. The tracks managers should spend more time on the visual info and not the audio info. Magna tracks all look the same but from there it’s anything goes.
2) It would be great if the tracks could agree on a unform way to present scatches and changes. NYRA is pretty good but look at Monmouth; it’s terrible. Scatches and overweights are comingled and you have to go through the crawl a few trimes to get all the info.
3)More visuals on the paddock activity and the post parades. I would also like to see the gallop outs. Less time on talking heads that you can’t hear.
4)Sometimes you see the photo from a close finish; sometimes you don’t.
5) I know this is asking for way too much; HD. The big events on network TV look terific; the track broadcasts look drab and dreary. The visual markers used by the networks are great; similar to down and distance markers you see on NFL broadcasts. Also, the camera angles used in Dubai are great. In thre US, how many times do we lose sight of the horses as they run behind the tote or a stand of trees?
26 Sep 2009 at 04:16 am | #
Since we are talking about simulcasting we need to have the ability to see each tracks LIVE racing by clicking an icon. NYRA does not have live racing...their feed at their wagering site is delayed by at least three minutes, while countless other tracks show the on site live feed, i.e. Del Mar, Monmouth, etc. I understand the issues they have but it does not make for pleasing viewing.
NYRA video is pathetic. It has not changed in decades. Head-on video is not available, split screen is not available, and the conditions of the race are not listed anywhere.
Betting information should be available in pop up windows as it is when at the track. In fact all information pick 4, pick 6, exacta and other payout possibles should be available in pop ups.
Scrolling on video for scratches and other changes is time consuming, and hazardous to making mistakes. Again, have a list of changes to the card and allow players on their computers to click an icon to see the list in a “pop-up”.
26 Sep 2009 at 04:40 am | #
I’d like to see everyone go to HD, like Keeneland and Churchill. But I understand that is almost impossible and probably last on the list of things to do.
I would like to see everyone go to a Woodbine like presentation with the chicklets. This always people that have a hard time seeing to find their horse easily and then watch the race. You wouldn’t hear a “who is this on the outside” or “where is my horse”
Tracks like Churchill and Keeneland have recently stepped up their game and their simucast presentation as far as will pays, odds and available information is the best in the industry
26 Sep 2009 at 04:51 am | #
i pay a lot of attention to the horses warming up prior to the race. however, most camera operators have not a clue that many bettors want to see all the horses as they gallop out, not just a few or in some cases, one or two, typically the ones with three legs. if i can’t see the horse i’m interested in gallop out, i don’t bet the race. a few tracks actually show the horses in order, with their names above—the cdi-owned tracks, but not all of them and not always. thanks, jack
26 Sep 2009 at 05:45 am | #
It’s a visual game. The fan base view 99% of races from a TV screen. Provide better graphic color combinations,and for God sake do away with special event same color saddle cloths. Show a wider angle of the turn and stretch runs, and more post parade coverage.
26 Sep 2009 at 05:57 am | #
Several years ago NYRA took a poll on its website: full screen pan shot versus split screen. It came out almost dead even. Hence, NYRA left it the way it is.
As a trip handicapper, I vote STRONGLY against the split screen. You can see the first few horses well but can’t see anything in the full field shot. With the full screen pan shot you can see enough to tell if there is trouble, and whether you need to watch the race over when replayed.
All tracks should adopt Santa Anita’s method of showing the gallop out after the race. It is the best there is, at least that I’ve seen. NYRA barely shows it at all.
All tracks should show the post parade without graphics or outrider ponies blocking the view of the racing horses, particularly the feet and legs. This should be a no-brainer, unfortunately, it isn’t.
26 Sep 2009 at 06:03 am | #
Need to show the finish line ,similar to the way the first down marker is shown in football
Adopt Trakus for all tracks.Very difficult to determine where your horses are in a race or even determine who the finishers are.Difficult to seperate saddle cloth colors,the light plays games with them.
Inquiries are handeled poorly.Very often the numbers don’t blink and the Bettor has no clue on why and who the horses are. why not utilize the sroll to keep us informed.
Racing is in the dark ages .Compare watching the running of a race to viewing any of the major sports on TV.
The tv product of a minor track like Freehold puts Nyra, CD and Ca. to shame.
Heaven forbid anyone should emulate Keenland’s web site or simulcasts.
Maybe we need some real creative TV people and not the racing experts who are in the radio days.
26 Sep 2009 at 04:32 pm | #
1. Between three minutes to post and post time, give me a good look of every horse. My bets are ready to go but if you don’t give me a view of my horses, I won’t waste my time.
Some tracks are great - others awful.
2. Show Win, Place and Show pools along with exactor payouts on the left of the screen. That way you don’t have to waste my time with that W/P/S full screen at 1 minute to post.
3. Keep the odds up as long as you possibly can. Tracks don’t realize how often bettors are looking for a horse to throw into their last second supers. No odds = no bet.
4. Never, never never show hosts on the screen!! I won’t listen to them but showing them??? What a waste of screen time.
27 Sep 2009 at 03:49 am | #
NYRA-Consider the split screen, do a better job of showing horses warming up.
And-- get rid of Jason Blewitt!!.
27 Sep 2009 at 04:12 am | #
Fire Blewitt??
Anyone would be an improvement!!
Maybe we should start a petition, George???
27 Sep 2009 at 10:20 am | #
A central/uniform equine health information system should be established to prevent abusers from racing horses vet-scratched at one track at another track soon after.
Drugs need to be banned for many reasons including racing unsound horses that were vet-scratches at other tracks. For those horseplayers who find very important to observe how horses warm up and how they travel should demand an end to chemical induced appearance of soundness. They should demand to bet on genuine health, soudness and form and that the practice of racing sore horses end.
Without drugs to manipulate soundness, boost performance, endanger horses and jockeys and deceive examining vets, jockeys and horseplayers, the later would concentrate on studying the horses, pps surface and race conditions, not factor the integrity and character of those who control the racing of horses.
Wouldn’t safer racing and fair competition be more fun to bet on and entertaining to watch than degenerate racing?
The meticulous keeping and disclosure of equine medical records, including their weight the morning of each race, at least to examining vets and jockeys would be excellent. However horseplayers should know about the physical condition of each horse. Such public information would help prevent abuse and injuries and would prevent horseplayers from betting on horses that DNF.
27 Sep 2009 at 02:29 pm | #
Blewitt is hard on the ears!! Guess I’m not alone in that opinion!! Are you listening NYRA??
27 Sep 2009 at 04:59 pm | #
1. The final pan shot needs to square up to the finish line. There are many tracks were the final pan shot is a horrible angle for close finishes. Calder is particularly bad.
2. Trackus needs to become universal, not just for the video presentation but for the time data on each horse.
3. OFF THE TURF needs to be included in the changes and the information crawl at all times. I still can’t believe how many times the off-on turf is late or wrong.
27 Sep 2009 at 09:02 pm | #
Call out the New Jersey National Guard, and have them shut down - on the spot - New Jersey Account Wagering. Permanently. By force, if necessary.
Then bring back the private enterprise companies that N.J. state government now OUTLAWS from doing business in the state.
27 Sep 2009 at 09:14 pm | #
Step Two: I agree with the respondents above:
Jason Blewitt is a really nice guy; this is not a left-handed compliment.
I’ve seen him in person at BP, when he was genuinely concerned about helping out someone who had asked him, privately, how to get a job somewhere, or with someone either at the track, or elsewhere.
But he is a terrible broadcaster.
When he came on full time years ago, that’s when I pretty much stopped watching the NYRA recap shows.
In his first full year, he was altogether horrible.
He’s improved somewhat since then,I guess - judging by the few times I’ve tuned in - but not nearly enough to justify remaining on the show.
His creativity & vocabulary is very limited; his addiction to cliches is predictable; and that We’re All In This Together routine is mega-annoying/cloying.
Toss Andy into the NYRA on-air caultron - UGH - and the soup is stone cold, inedible.
We need two new chefs.
28 Sep 2009 at 04:15 am | #
1. SET FIRM POST TIMES AND THEN STAGER THE STARTING TIMES FOR ALL THE MAJOR RACETRACKS DAILY !!!!!
2. OPEN ALL THE RACETRACKS ON ALL THE ADWS, SO YOU ONLY NEED YOUR FAVORITE ADW TO WAGER.....
3. OPEN AN INDUSTRY BETTING EXCHANGE !!!
28 Sep 2009 at 04:23 am | #
Don Reed is spot on about NJBETS....what a joke
and i know Obama is the president, but isnt this still the USA and outlawing the competition , ILLEGAL !!
come to think of it , you can use NJBETS as a great example of being against healthcare reform as the state (NJ) owns the NJBETS and by law only “allows” its citizens to wager on NJBETS and not private ADWs, thus we get the worst ADW in the world as a take it or leave it option...as i see it, its either LEGAL or ILLEGAL to wager on ADW in NJ , it cant be ok for NJBETS but illegal on all the private ADW....one can only imagine how that public option will work out for the people
28 Sep 2009 at 07:16 am | #
I am not interested in the winners circle ceremony. Top priority is the “will-pays” connected to the preceding race. A second TV monitor may be neccesary to update current changes, scratches, odds and will-pays.
28 Sep 2009 at 07:23 am | #
My suggestion is to have Networks, such as TVG, show PEDIGREE information! I actualy emailed them to ask, in this current roller coaster of dirt, turf, mud, may different synthetics, that we should not have to caal or go boot a computer to see he Breeding info. I wrote TVG and they atualy told me they did not have the technology to do this, yet I know better, with my spouse and roomate both high up in Racing Productiond for both Netwroks, as well as the fact that ten years ago I edited/inputed breeding info from home using PC Anywhere. I submit that TVG likes thier system just fine, after all, how many people get to handicap thier clients AND charge a fee per wager!!!
28 Sep 2009 at 07:40 am | #
Few suggestions:
1) Stay with the horses throughout the warm ups and gallop outs after the post parde and have the hosts provide some comment about how the horse are acting prior to loading in the gate based on their “on-track” view
2) Keep all graphics regarding the horse during the post parade away from the bottom of the TV screen being sure not to obscure the horses legs. This really irritates me when when you cannot tell if a horse is wearing front wraps because of a graphics banner
Lastly in New York get a better camera angle or place the partner pony on the other side of the race participant for the post parades as all the horse are obscured by the pony
28 Sep 2009 at 07:47 am | #
Many good suggestions. Thanks John for taking the time to compile these suggestions. I hope we can see what you come up with.
Less TV time on hosts and more on horses in the paddock and on the track; continuous updates on will-pays and standardize it to be consistently a $1 or $2 payout; staggered start times for major racing venues; implement TRACKUS at all tracks.
25 Oct 2009 at 07:17 am | #
This is probably a very basic question but can anyone tell me “changes are in the crawl” means? I’ve seen it across the TV screen referencing both Woodbine and Belmont but am puzzled. Cheers....
25 Oct 2009 at 03:07 pm | #
My guess is that the “crawl” refers to the words that have been typed into messages that run continuously, moving from right to left, along the bottom of the TV screen - just as they do on ESPN and other sports channels when scores of games are updated or the contests have been decided.
Posting changes (scratches, medications used, etc.) in writing is invaluable; often, the voices of the commentators get drowned out or are otherwise indecipherable.
(i.e., when the race track announcer is either bored stiff or sounds like he’s got a hot chick down the hall, and then - enveloped by ennui or lust, but not both - zips through the changes too quickly for listeners to flip the pages of the program to see what he’s referring to).
The “crawl” method also presents facts in a logical, careful and deliberate manner (a method of communication not normally associated with or encountered frequently at race tracks or anywhere else in the sports world).
Hi, John: Long time no read, my fault; just came back from three days at Keeneland where both nice and arduous events occurred-hope you’re well and destined to cash in at the BC in a couple of weeks.
I still haven’t reconciled myself to the two-day format, which really stinks, and has drastically lessened my interest in the shebang.
This feeling hasn’t been improved by the idiots running the BC who, after I had asked to be disconnected from their unwanted emails, continue to send solicitations to buy their junk (tickets, etc.).
Be Well,
DR