*bangs head on desk

Heidilady · Postby **Heidilady** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:03 pm

Sure celebs have been coming to the Derby for decades..it's just I have a distinction between Nick Lachey and Ginger Rogers. I swear I saw Vanessa Minnillo chewing gum at the Barnstable Brown party in that segment. So help me..the big social event of the Derby and you can't keep the Wrigley's out of your chompers for 5 seconds.

They've always made a big deal about the hats. Not sure why there'd be concern over how much they show them. Seems like they had a contest for picking favorite hats online last year too. Ever since I've been watching there's been a fun tradition of the hats show on television. It's a cute segment they always plan for. There's always someone wearing the twin spires for a hat. Yipes.

WarHorse, congrats on your Derby baby! So cute and how funny that it was in the middle of the day.

skeenan · Postby **skeenan** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:57 am

WarHorse wrote:I missed it as one of our mares broke her water at 5:10. So I was helping the newborn learn to stand and nurse when Street Sense did his thing. (The filly is doing great, BTW.)

One of the things that bothered me about the races is they never give the name of the mare. How the hell many mares have I foaled, and not known their children were in the races? If you are going to cover the horse, cover all of it, not just the stallion and the owner. Sheesh.

Well, if THAT isn't a good omen, I don't know what is!

Good luck with your new filly!

It would be nice if they gave more pedigree info. I don't remember which announcer said this ('cause I could care less about remembering their names) but he read the dosage profile then said to Gary Stevens, "I don't know what that means, do you?". C'mon, at least pretend to know... that's when I started saying to my husband how I wish TVG got to cover the race... at least you have announcers who are race-savvy...

I had to look up Tiago's pedigree, as they kept saying "Giacomo's brother". Half-brother...

It reminds me of seeing a movie about a champion rider, and they throw some actor on a horse that can't ride at all... those who aren't horsepeople don't know the difference, but those who do see right through it...

I like the parade of hats... when they pan the crowd. I don't need to know some bimbo star's race pick... or hear 20 seconds of how Nick's flavor of the moment didn't know what to wear... ugh...

Kari · Postby **Kari** » Sun May 06, 2007 7:22 am

NBC's coverage started at 4:30, and it was just as gay as ESPNs. Despite the fact that he was trashed, someone interviewed Jerry O'Connell with a drink in his hand. (Is "Crossing Jordan" a hit? That's an NBC show.)

The dumbass reported asked O'Connell if he had, in fact, met the Queen. O'Connell said that yes, he did meet the queen, as he was standing in line at the port-o-potties......

I had already heard about "the bittersweet memories of the great champion Barbaro winning this race a year ago today" FOUR TIMES IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES at that point. I muted the TV, dozed off, and was awakened by my alert husband when the riders up call went out.

I have to go flower shopping with my BF for her wedding on Preakness Day. I get to tape the race AND fast forward through all the Barbaro tripe before the race!!!!

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Sun May 06, 2007 12:29 pm

I DVR'd the NBC coverage and I just scanned through it...I can't BELeIVE how little they showed of the damn horses. I didn't realize when I was flitting around yesterday that the celebrity coverage was that extensive. I may complain to them. It's the only way the change; they fear losing viewers.

Sam · Postby **Sam** » Sun May 06, 2007 12:30 pm

Kari wrote:(Is "Crossing Jordan" a hit? That's an NBC show.)

Twas when it premiered some 7 years ago. It's been in decline for a few years and has been bounced from 3 different timeslots in the last few years (Started out on Mondays, moved to Sunday, now it's on Wednesdays or Fridays, I think). It's still pulls ratings, but not big numbers like Heroes is getting. It's more like an anchor they plan other nights around because they know it gets a steady share they can use as a fill. If they hadn't already canceled Studio 60 (DAMNIT!) you can bet there would have been a few from that show there on prominent display.

I don't mind the pan shot of the Parade of Hats. I understand the history and tradition of that... I object to the idiot celebs rambling on about theirs.

halfpint23 · Postby **halfpint23** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:21 am

angelsprite wrote:<SNIP>
I am really glad HRH the Queen showed up. She's been on the throne for decades and into horse racing longer. I think this is her first Kentucky Derby. Anything the Queen of England does in America becomes fashionable, so maybe it will give horseracing a much needed shot in the arm.<SNIP>

<SNIP>

FWIW......

HRH is Her (or His) Royal Highness, a title reserved to a princess or prince.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the lady to whom you are referring....

The rest of the so-called celebrities are mere window dressing bimbos (and mimbos) and I'd a heck of a lot rather see the horses!
I was busy in the barn all weekend, nursing a critically ill filly foal, who is thankfully looking like she's going to recover - yippee!

halfpint23 · Postby **halfpint23** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:21 am

angelsprite wrote:<SNIP>
I am really glad HRH the Queen showed up. She's been on the throne for decades and into horse racing longer. I think this is her first Kentucky Derby. Anything the Queen of England does in America becomes fashionable, so maybe it will give horseracing a much needed shot in the arm.<SNIP>

<SNIP>

FWIW......

HRH is Her (or His) Royal Highness, a title reserved to a princess or prince.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the lady to whom you are referring....

The rest of the so-called celebrities are mere window dressing bimbos (and mimbos) and I'd a heck of a lot rather see the horses!
I was busy in the barn all weekend, nursing a critically ill filly foal, who is thankfully looking like she's going to recover - yippee!

halfpint23 · Postby **halfpint23** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:22 am

angelsprite wrote:<SNIP>
I am really glad HRH the Queen showed up. She's been on the throne for decades and into horse racing longer. I think this is her first Kentucky Derby. Anything the Queen of England does in America becomes fashionable, so maybe it will give horseracing a much needed shot in the arm.<SNIP>

<SNIP>

FWIW......

HRH is Her (or His) Royal Highness, a title reserved to a princess or prince.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the lady to whom you are referring....

The rest of the so-called celebrities are mere window dressing bimbos (and mimbos) and I'd a heck of a lot rather see the horses!
I was busy in the barn all weekend, nursing a critically ill filly foal, who is thankfully looking like she's going to recover - yippee!

halfpint23 · Postby **halfpint23** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:30 am

angelsprite wrote:<SNIP>
I am really glad HRH the Queen showed up. She's been on the throne for decades and into horse racing longer. I think this is her first Kentucky Derby. Anything the Queen of England does in America becomes fashionable, so maybe it will give horseracing a much needed shot in the arm.<SNIP>

<SNIP>

FWIW......

HRH is Her (or His) Royal Highness, a title reserved to a princess or prince.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the lady to whom you are referring....

The rest of the so-called celebrities are mere window dressing bimbos (and mimbos) and I'd a heck of a lot rather see the horses!
I was busy in the barn all weekend, nursing a critically ill filly foal, who is thankfully looking like she's going to recover - yippee!

halfpint23 · Postby **halfpint23** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:33 am

angelsprite wrote:<SNIP>
I am really glad HRH the Queen showed up. She's been on the throne for decades and into horse racing longer. I think this is her first Kentucky Derby. Anything the Queen of England does in America becomes fashionable, so maybe it will give horseracing a much needed shot in the arm.<SNIP>

<SNIP>

FWIW......

HRH is Her (or His) Royal Highness, a title reserved to a princess or prince.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the lady to whom you are referring....

The rest of the so-called celebrities are mere window dressing bimbos (and mimbos) and I'd a heck of a lot rather see the horses!
I was busy in the barn all weekend, nursing a critically ill filly foal, who is thankfully looking like she's going to recover - yippee!

halfpint23 · Postby **halfpint23** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:36 am

DAMMITALL...... please excuse redundant posts, this thing keeps telling me we the post isn't going through.....debug something or other.
SORRY!

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:00 am

when I get that message, I just go back to the thread and refresh. Then my post shows up every time.

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:51 am

Absolutely the WORST racing coverage I have ever seen. Every year at work I create a Derby Pool to gin up a little excitement for the Derby amongst people who don't really care about racing. Even those people couldn't believe the 20 non-stop minutes without a horse in sight.

Man, did I miss TVG being at CD this year. I wish I could have seen HRTV's coverage. I guess they are trying to make a deal with DirecTV.

Even ESPN wasn't very good. Jerry O'Connell was clearly too drunk to be interviewed on-air. Thank God they couldn't get to the Queen.

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Mon May 07, 2007 11:29 am

And now they are reporting that Derby ratings were up 12% this year from last year. You know that's because of Barbaro interest. Now all those extra people that tuned in are going to judge us on the hat coverage, and worse, NBC is going to be convinced that they focused on the right thing for ratings!

**head banging on desk repeatedly**

Postby **Roguelet** » Mon May 07, 2007 11:57 am

You guys do realize that the intended audience being played to by that broadcast is NOT the "real" horseracing fan, right? They're targeting those people who watch only this one race every year, to see the glamour and glitter and stars and crap. I guess they figure horse people are going to watch the race regardless, so they don't have to make any effort to please them... they're trying to pull in those people who don't really have a clue and don't really care that much about the racing side of it all.