ESPN Triple Crown Trail coverage

follygirl · Postby **follygirl** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:20 pm

I was very disappointed that the TCT races got preempted by Latin American baseball on Saturday. I got an email from the NTRA & Citgo that convinced me it was going to be a great show! I have nothing against LA baseball or baseball in general, but ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

With all the channels available, can't we have 90 measley minutes here and there in the spring to cover these big races? Last month some basketball game interfered with full as-advertised coverage. It didn't make me feel very hopeful about horseracing being in the hands of ESPN. And I was really surprised--I think it reflected poorly on Citgo, not to mention interfering with the other advertisers. Is LA baseball really a better cash cow for the network than stakes level horseracing?

Cathy

HR LLC · Postby **HR LLC** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:03 pm

I love horse racing and I watch TVG all the time. You cannot expect ESPN to switch the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic for a horse race. Last time I checked, baseball is the #2 sport in the USA behind the National Football League in terms of popularity. At least TVG picked up the Rebel live from ESPN since the baseball game ran over its time.

I am more upset that DirectTV does not pick up HRTV. My horses will race at Lone Star Park and Remington this year. I may have to order Dish Network so I can see them race on HRTV. I tried to watch the San Felipe on the internet thru Brisbet.com. The video was terrible. The race was over and the video showed the horses at the half mile pole, then it jumped to the horses being pulled up after crossing the finish line.

StrawberryFelidos · Postby **StrawberryFelidos** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:17 pm

With all the channels available, can't we have 90 measley minutes here and there in the spring to cover these big races?

Nope.
Kinda makes you wonder what the Breeder's Cup will be preempted by, doesn't it?

Due to the Little League semifinals running over, we will not be able to show you the Breeder's Cup Distaff or the BC Juvie. So sorry for the inconvenience, enjoy the little suckers at the plate

Sam · Postby **Sam** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:51 pm

StrawberryFelidos wrote:Due to the Little League semifinals running over, we will not be able to show you the Breeder's Cup Distaff or the BC Juvie. So sorry for the inconvenience, enjoy the little suckers at the plate

Okay, THAT was the one that sent me through the roof.

I love baseball, I'll go anywhere to watch a good game (even Boston :twisted:

), but seriously WTF :?:

Little League?

LITTLE LEAGUE

This is what happens when some overzealous soccer mom convinces the local stations her darling boy's high school game MUST be shown on UHF 40 (Folks .. there was a REASON those games used to be broadcast on the UHF channels).

Give me a damn break. WHY is that even on TV? Unless you are related to the rugrats, does ANYONE really give a damn about little league baseball? Yeah, some of them can play, for kids anyway, and occasionally you MIGHT see ONE kid that makes it to the majors (Jeter) BUT THEY ARE STILL KIDS ... okay, leaving out my inherent bias against kids ... If I want to see a bunch of 9yos playing baseball .. I'LL GO DOWN TO THE PARK.

I've got nieces/nephew and a few honorary nieces/nephews in sports that I can watch play, I DON'T need to see it on TV.

Whose bright idea was this anyway? Hell, if they're going to do it, why are they screwing around. Why not just go all the way?

"The Proud Parent Network ... showing junior achiever sporting events from across the country. Coming up, the semi-finals of the Powderpuff Girls Flag Football League. Later this evening, don't miss the opening face-off in the Preteen Hockey League."

... don't even get me started on how ABC used to pre-empt for BOWLING!

Morningside · Postby **Morningside** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:16 pm

seriously... that little league baseball crap is unforgivable

austique · Postby **austique** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:36 pm

We are low man on the totem pole...plain and simple and until the powers that be start thinking of ways to grow the popularity of the sport instead of sticking slots in every track and going "Its fixed!" we're going to remain there, so I have no issue with horse racing being pre-empted by a very fine Cuban team. I would have a problem with it being pre-empted by say any game involving Alex "the Cooler" Rodriguez :roll:

follygirl · Postby **follygirl** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:15 am

But that is my point, Austique, preempting advertised, big triple crown prep races is not a way to grow the sport. Every little bit helps. How can anyone get interested in horseracing if they don't know the horses or if they decide "I am going to watch these races and see who is in the Derby hunt" and baseball is on instead? I am new in horses, about 3 years now. I have HRTV, and youbet.com and try to watch the races, get to know the horses, the lingo, etc, but it is a losing battle. I just bought the youbet.com replay package last weekend because I missed some races--it is hard to get anything accomplished when I am running back and forth to the computer all day--and the very key races I wanted to watch weren't available on the replays because of "contractual issues"! So they get preempted on TV, and then I can't view the replays! It is very frustrating.

charlie · Postby **charlie** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:11 pm

Worst one I remember, I tuned in for a race and it was delayed/pre-empted by a dang YAGHT race, and the wind had stopped blowing and all the dang boats were just sitting still in the water and I was going nuts!

austique · Postby **austique** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:11 pm

Yeah, but ESPN has viewers that would pop a capillary should they miss the end of the game and they number far more than race fans angered because they didn't get to listen to Kenny Mayne wax poetic about New Joysey Jeff or whatever that horse's name was.