A view from Europe

[Kingfisher]

I left the States several days before the Belmont to take a position in Switzerland for 9 months. Try as I might, I was not able to find any television coverage. Unfortunately also, the computer I am using wasn\'t compatible for video with my online account, so I still have not seen the race, only the chart.  I can report that Brisbet did not have any problem with Internet activity. To my disgust, as I certainly did not foresee Birdstone.

On Sunday I did happen to catch the French Derby on TV, however.  The Swiss OTB shops  only book French racing and I haven\'t so far been able to find an equivalent to the Racing Form or Thorograph, so better for me to be able to pass on it. But the TV show put NBC\'s coverage of the Triple Crown races to shame.  Every horse had a camera with him, at least for some time, from the barn right up to loading in the gate. There was a camera mounted on a track over the starting gate so you could see each horse as it loaded. The race was followed by several cameras next to the horses so you had closeups during the race. It really was unbelievable.  And cameras followed the winning jockey into the locker room, where all  of the other jockeys were giving him hugs. And when have you seen Gary Stevens half naked kissing the winning jockey on both cheeks? (His horse finished way back). It was a very exciting race, also. A 33-1 shot came from midpack to just nip the 3-2 favorite.  The whole broadcast, even though it was in French, was just so much more than what we get in the States. None of the little manufactured side stories. No closeups of Santos\' kid crying, or the owner of Smarty Jones struggling in his wheel chair to negotiate an escalator to get to the winner\'s circle. And they immediately went back to the replays to determine the final unofficial order of finish for the viewers.  NBC would do well to take a tip from the French regarding racing broadcasts.

One last question. Can anyone point me in the direction of handicapping tools for French racing?  Are any numbers approximating Thorograph available, especially ones that take ground loss into consideration?

Thanks,

Kingfisher

[TGJB]

I\'m not sure I want to see a half naked Gary Stevens kissing another guy, but I agree about the European telecasts-- I was in England for Ascot last year (going again next week, photos of me in a morning coat and top hat may or may not be forthcoming on this site), and the TV coverage was tremendous.
We are working on a product for English racing, and should have it by the beginning of next season. If you see any sophisticated data of any kind for any European racing we would be very interested in hearing details.

[magicnight]

Kingfisher;

Rather than looking for a Triple Crown winner to \"save\" racing (the horses are already carrying more than their fair share) the bozos who run racing in the US should consider your post.

If the NTRA and the big tracks were able to put a fraction of the resources that the networks put towards TV coverage of other sports into improving racing\'s video the upgrade in quality images would do more to attract fans than three TC winners.

I have not been in France for more than 10 years, but even back then the quality of their video coverage put the best US coverage to shame. Longchamp had cameras mounted on cars that got incredible images tracking the pack as they made their way around the course.

In the past TGJB has made the point of how football ratings were helped by quality camera coverage and experts like Madden breaking down plays and making the game more compelling to viewers. Why can\'t a Belmont or a Churchill install mounted cameras on the outer rails (like the mechanical rabbits at dog tracks) that could track the pack and provide better video?

The Museum of Racing in Saratoga used to have a film (not sure if they still do) that showed what it was like to be a jockey ... gorgeous filmed images of a realistic looking race set to rollicking Aaron Copland music ... made me want to lose 110 pounds and learn how to ride.

Those tracking shots that they have used on some BC telecasts were pretty great - why can\'t racing have that on an everyday basis?

Good luck making sense of French racing ... get to the Arc on the first Sunday in October if you get the chance. Great racing and a nice culture clash between the French ladies in their fancy hats and the Brits and the Irish betting with both fists and standing guard over their mountains of beer cases.

JB - Good luck at Ascot!

B

[gowand]

60 minutes 2 just did a story on Bailey and mounted a camera on his helmet.  What a great way to watch a race.. How about allowing advertising on jocks in return for cameras in every helmet on big race days.

[P.Eckhart]

You can bet your Pimms and cucumber sandwiches that The Queen will win that first harness race on the card each day.

As for our TV; man if you want Willie Carson, he\'s yours, take him, please.

As regards the racing, I sincerely hope Russian Rhythm takes one more step toward her place as undisputed queen of the world.
(I might get Smarty fans on my side here since she\'s Pennsylvania bred also)