NBC enters the gate for the Preakness

Orb is not the only winner in the Triple Crown Chase this year as NBC Sports had nice ratings for the Kentucky Derby.

Since than I have seen plenty of commercials on both the NBC and NBC Sports Network plugging the Preakness Stakes. NBC is also live streaming  the Preakness day on all media platforms (mobile, tablets, etc) on  their website.

It will be interesting to see if the Michele Beadle Bashing continues across Twitter. We all have complaints with different Sports commentators, play by play guys, commentators and the like but this particular woman appears to annoy some more than would seem appropriate. I first saw the term Beadle Bashing over at Pull the Pocket's blog and I like his take on the matter.

On Derby Day I was at a house party where you couldn't hear the TV Volume anyway so I can't comment on Beadles work. From the media critics columns I read, she did fine in the job she was employed too do. Where I come from, getting hired to do a job and than doing that job as assigned is a good thing.

Do you really want Beadle to start giving you exotic betting tips. It was not like Beadle was the solo host. If you wanted analysis listen to Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey, and others. If you want straight analysis, can't you just tune over to TVG, HRTV, your local OTB cablecast channel, or even just watch the live stream of your betting account or your Horse people full Twitter feed where analysis is 24/7 (and than some)? I don't see where hiring Beadle led to the letting go of any hard core racing analyst on the telecast (it didn't).

 Rather than lie down and take it, Beadle on her Twitter account gave it right back, probably much to the delight of her both her 750,000 plus followers and NBC executives.

A couple Kentucky Derby Plays

Everybody has their methods; here are two suggested bet methods for the 2013 Kentucky Derby:

1. 

15-1 Four Horse Trifecta Box

In a race where you can argue any of 10 horses can win it, why not bet a 15-1 morning line horse than a 7-1 horse. A 4 horse 50 cents Trifecta Box will cost you a mere 12 bucks.

Here are Four 15-1 horses that could easily come in:

 Overanalyze

 Itsmyluckyday

 Java's War

 Vyjack

2.

 Overlay Exacta:

Both Golden Soul and Frac Daddy are better than their 50-1 odds. Golden Soul will have no problem with the distance. Frac Daddy looks like he will like a heavier, slower track, watch the weather.

Wherever you go tomorrow, have fun with it and have a great Derby Day!

TV Racing-watching another way

Interesting read over at the Pull the Pocket blog titled "Racing on Television: Why doesn't it work better"

The author gives valid reasons as to limited ratings on Kentucky Derby Prep televised races. He surmises that getting over 1 million people to tune into a Derby prep on television where they don't know the horses, the protagonists change, and they can't even gamble on a gambling outcome, in a  gambling sport, seems to be a fundamental barrier to success.

I also would add two more reasons to the limited ratings:

1. Watching sports via traditional cable subscription (some of the Derby Prep races were on the cable only NBC Sports Network) is down overall as US Households are learning to cut the cord and watch sports via other mediums. The # of US Households that have cut out cable TV from their homes is up 3 million since 2007. Also watching sports via the internet, Smartphone or simply "following" the event via a Twitter feed is more interesting to some, particularly those under the age of 30.

2. Except for the actual Kentucky Derby, which draws in many casual fans, the Derby preps are watched mainly by serious fans/horseplayers and those  people are ensconced in the habit of "watching" racing via the internet where they also can bet on it at the same time through the various betting account websites. People are used to watching via their regular avenues-that being TVG, HRTV, a betting account video, or following via Twitter, and not on a Network.

 I love watching the races in high quality HD, which NBC Sports Network provides, but since I also bet on the Derby Prep races, I usually do what I normally do, that being, I use my I Pad or Laptop to log on to my NYRA Rewards betting account, place my bet and follow from there on the live video feed. Breaking habits for just a few weeks every year is not easy.

The Derby Prep TV ratings will continue to be a low number, especially with the growth of people actually following and watching the race on their Smartphone's, laptops, tablets, Twitter Feed and TVG/HRTV, and not on traditional network TV anymore.

Rainy Day Big A Quick Pick

With rain at the Big A I checked the PP's for any quick picks for some Friday Quick Cash.

My eyes have landed on Pumpkin Lane in a Race 8, a Six Furlong AOC race on the dirt for Fillies and Mares 3 year olds and up.

After 3 Allowance attempts last 3 times out finishing 4th, 5th and 4th,  at 1 mile each time she cuts back in distance.

Her last win was 4 races back on a Muddy Track at the Big A on Jan. 13th.

Her Trainer, Anthony Quartarolo, comes off a big win at Parx with 1st time colt Mewannarose winning at 11-1 this past Tuesday.

Look for Pumpkin Lane to be primed and worth a WPS bet at the morning line odds of 8-1

Wacking the Wood

Spring is here and so is the Wood Memorial. Always the highlight of the Big A Spring season for me, but due too the continued squalid conditions on the racing side of the racino, I'll watch on NBC and bet through my NYRA Rewards account. 

You can catch my complete analysis of the race over at the Thorofan site.

But long story short, I really like Elnaawi to finish in the money. I won't try to beat Verrazano as I see no reason why he would take a step back off his thus far perfect record. The distance won't be a problem and I think Pletcher has him tuned nicely for tomorrow.

 But Elnaawi was third at Aqueduct in the Grade II Gotham won by Vyjack, despite a rough trip. He gets a new jockey in Eddie Castro replacing Channing Hill. I like the tasty 12-1 odds and think this horse is an overlay if post time odds remain in that area.

On the Turf

Somehow we are now in April and the 1st quarter of 2013 comes to a close.

What is new? Looks like the same old, same old. A bunch of NY State Politicians get to do the Perp walk, and an early Pletcher Derby Hopeful falls off the trail.

Something new at least for 2013 is Turf racing in New York as 3 races are carded today at the Big A. If the weather cooperates and the races stay on the Turf, my eyes are on the 9th race, where a 16 horse field is entered.

Some horses are I am looking at for a nice score:

Suilleabhain at 6-1 ML has 4 prior starts on Turf. Retired at 8-1 ML is a half brother to 3 grass winners and has also been raced prior on the Turf.

Sayaprayerforme, 20-1 on Morning Line, gets the quick turnaround from Trainer Anthony Quartarolo after racing on dirt at the Big A on March 27th, finishing 9th in a Maiden Special Weight. This 3 year old gelding is out of the Dam Nan's Bay who is a daughter of the great turf racer Dynaformer.

If it stays on Turf and all 3 above stay in, lets try the three  in a Trifecta box

February Thoughts

It's February 2013? How did that happen? Oh well, here is what has happened since I last checked in.

Despite the changing of the guard at NYRA, on track deaths at Aqueduct are just about the same as last years rate.

Starting next week Aqueduct goes to a 4 day race week from the usual 5 to address safety issues and preserve a horse population that has dwindled, apparently at least in part due too more aggressive new drug rules that went into effect prior to this meet. For those holiday planners, no live card on Valentine's Day, so you will have to impress your date by taking her/him elsewhere.

Some highly regarded Pletcher horse goes in the Withers this Saturday at the Big A. You can check out my look at the race over at the Thorofan site.