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.

11 Reasons I'LL Have Another won't win the Triple Crown

There is a lot of talk about the number 11 going into the 2012 Belmont Stakes. Numerology fans rooting for I'll Have Another's bid for the Triple Crown point out that there have been 11 Triple Crown Winners, 11 horses have failed in the final leg at Belmont Stakes since Affirmed won the TC, and now I'll Have Another is in the 11 hole for the Belmont.

With that in mind here is 11 reasons why I'll Have Another will not be a Triple Crown horse:

1. Gallops only since the Preakness, no official workouts.

2 He really looked at the end of his tether going 1 1/4 in Kentucky Derby effort

3. Early pace will be strong enough to soften up I'll Have Another

4. Looks like a horse that will be decelerating last 1/8th a mile in a race where others (like Dullahan) will be accelerating

5. He's had 2 near perfect trips at Derby and Belmont-think he really get another?

6. Enough Bad Karma around Horses Connections to screw it up (i.e. Big Brown Factor)

7. Rookie Jockey

8. Big enough field for race riding against I'll have Another to be a factor

9. Great horses win the Triple Crown, not very good horses

10. If he loses, that eliminates all the "what will this win do for the game" articles. Enough of a reason alone for him to lose

11. The most important # is 11 and there are 11 other horse in the race and one of them will be the winner

UPDATE: I'LL Have Another was scratched on Friday with a Tendon Injury to his left front leg

Hey What about Me?

Not your usual Preakness Stakes week. Usually the Kentucky Derby Winner gets all the ink, with speculation on if this will the year for a triple crown and who if anyone can beat him. Not this year.

The Preakness week has been dominated by articles about Bodemeister, the runner up in the Derby. In fact if you landed on earth this week after being away awhile, you would have thought Bodemeister won the Derby. And in these parts of the East, specifically New York, the media, web and twitter have been dominated by Takeout-Gate and the resulting duel between New York State and NYRA. With Emperor Cuomo and his Racing and Waging Board political hacks gunning for NYRA there has been plenty of ink and computer strokes dedicated to this story.

 So in the background goes Derby winner I'll Have Another, trying to nose in front of the Bodemeister and NYRA stories. Will he do it. Sorry I'll Have Another. I'll have him on my exotic tickets, but see Went the Day Well crossing the line first, followed by Bodemeister with I'll Have Another fighting for the bottom of the ticket.

2011 Preakness Thoughts

I had the wrong washed out horse in Sway Away

Luckily the audio problems with the NBC race call of the Kentucky Derby were solved for the Preakness. I though the call of Larry Collmus was adequate but I miss Tom Durkin.

A lot of people complained about NBC not showing the Dixie Stakes won by Paddy O'Prado but I knew this was coming so no complaints here. NBC sticks with what works best-pre-taped emotional driven human interest stories, quick interviews and than the race.

107,000 strong for the Preakness, looks like the Kegasus promotion worked. Someone gets to keep his job at Pimlico.

Is is just me or does Bob Costas look as uncomfortable as he did the first time he ever did a racing gig? It seems his inner voice is just screaming, "get me out of here and onto a baseball broadcast!". Costas looks like he is out on a blind date he wants no part of.

Horse Racing Coverage-Versus Good...SiriusXM Bad.

I enjoyed the Versus Television Coverage of the Kentucky Derby weekend and look forward to it again for their Preakness coverage. In addition to the coverage of the Black Eyed Susan on Friday and Undercard coverage on Saturday-remember after the NBC Coverage there is a 30 minute wrap up show on Versus from 6:30-7:00 pm.

On the radio side very disappointed to learn of the changes (cuts) on SiriusXM Satellite radio's horse racing coverage. Steve Byk's At the Races show was broadcast live from 9 am -12pm weekdays on Sirius Channel 93 (and Channel 210 On XM). When Steve signs off the channel picks up the audio feed of TVG. I make my living on the road driving from appointment to appointment with ample windshield time. When I am driving, I can't be looking at a computer, Smartphone or TV, so listening to Steve Byk on Satellite radio and his many regular guests (Steve Haskin, Gary West, Steve Davidowitz among others) and hearing the audio of TVG was a godsend.

However this week SiriusXM made a programming change, broadcasting only 1 hour of Byk's show (from 8-9am) and no TVG coverage at Noon. Instead at 9 am SiriusXM listeners tuning to the channel now hear sports talk from 3 ESPN owned radio programs- ESPN Chicago’s Waddle and Silvy, ESPN New York’s Mike Lupica Show and Michael Kay Show.

WTF....instead of hearing something I can't hear on regular radio, I now lose racing coverage for simulcasts of general sports talk shows that can be heard on regular AM radio. No word yet if SiriusXM will find another station for Steve Byk's show and TVG coverage. Of course, SiriusXM Executives felt that the middle of Triple Crown season would be the perfect time to cut racing coverage and replace Byk and TVG.

Post Preakness Thoughts

I found it interesting that Donna Barton-Brothers of NBC noted while Super Saver was loading into the gate that he had lost weight since the Kentucky Derby.

I wondered if anyone in the media had reported in the week leading up to the race if Super Saver looked like he had lost weight. I searched the Daily Racing Form, Bloodhorse, all the blogs, the workout reports, etc and found nothing everywhere I searched. In fact most of what I read said he looked good and quoted how he was eating well. Maybe the best way to handicap is rely less on reporting and go to the Paddock yourself and look at the horse before you place your bet.

Looks like only one horse will race in all Triple Crown Races this year-Dublin. Imagine that we start with 20 horses in the Derby and only 1 can navigate through the whole series. How does that stimulate interest in the fan who starts his year following the road to the Derby?

Maybe if NBC gets all 3 races next year, they can do what was done in the past- line up a Sponsor and pony up money for any horse who enters all 3 and a larger bonus amount if they manage to win the Triple Crown. Will help the network with sustaining interest(ratings) and might entice a few owners/trainers to actually have a goal of running in all three.

Preakness Proposition Over/Under Bets

We hit only 3 out of 8 of our Kentucky Derby Prop Bets. Lets see how we do with the Preakness

Proposition	Over/Under	Prediction
NBC Final Nielsen Rating	6.6	Under-Can’t see it beating ’09 when it hit 6.8 with Rachel/Mine That Bird
How Many Horses will Start	12	Under
Finish Position of Lookin at Lucky	2	Under: He has to get Lucky one of these days, why not now?
Attendance at Pimlico	105,000	Over-Last year drew 78,000, Get Your Preak on infield marketing will easily top this
Non Derby Starters finishing in the Money	1	It’s a Push-(Caracortado gets in)
Todd Pletcher Horses finishing in the Money	1	Push-Super Saver in, Aikenite out

Blind Squirrel WPS Picks: Lookin at Lucky, Paddy O'Prado, Caracortado

For the latest Preakness News, Predictions, and PP data check out our home page at tbablogs.com

It's all about the Jockey

Usually it is all about the horse, come Triple Crown time, but as we head into the Preakness Stakes it appears most of the attention is on the Jockeys. This year 3 Jockeys are getting more media coverage than any of the horses.

First we have the Borel Factor, that being, just bet on any horse being ridden by Calvin Borel in the Triple Crown Series. Seriously, any newcomer to the sport must be saying, this is an easy game-The guy won on Street Sense, on Mine That Bird, on Rachel Alexandra, and now on Super Saver. Just bet on Borel and cash your ticket.

Jockey Garrett Gomez has been getting his share of ink as the Jockey no longer riding the unlucky Lookin at Lucky. Baffert, trying the change the goalie trick, has told Gomez to hop on someone else as he most likely will give the mount to Martin Garcia.

And finally Kent Desormeaux, who rode Paddy O’Prado to a 3^rd place finish, garners headlines for his perceived lackluster finish above O’Prado, who got passed at the wire by hard charging Ice Box. Kent has been very vocal in defense of his ride claiming Paddy O’Prado hit a hole in the track and it caused him to lose balance so he switched his leads. I watched the replay a couple of times and it is hard to see if O'Prado stepped in a hole or not but the horse did change leads.

If you have the time I recommend you listen to a highly entertaining interview of Derosmeaux by Steve Byk over at Thoroughbred Racing Radio Network. Kent was in Bermuda for some R&R at the time and it is quite possible he had a cocktail or two before the interview.

Triple Crown Races-Final TV Ratings Analysis

The 2009 Triple Crown Series showed that a good product with good promotion can yield a good audience. The Triple Crown Races shown on NBC and ABC averaged an overall TV Nielsen Final Rating of 7.0. This rating is up 19% from the last time there was no triple crown on the line going into the Belmont Stakes (2007). The individual ratings for all 3 races as well as the overall # compare very favorably with other major sporting events of 2008-2009. Here is a look at the numbers listed by year, event and Nielsen Final Rating:

1. 2009 NFL-Super Bowl-42.0
   
2. 2008 College Football Bowl Championship Series: 10.2
3. 2009 Kentucky Derby: 9.8
4. 2009 NASCAR Daytona 500: 9.2
5. 2009 College Basketball Final Four: 9.0
6. 2008 MLB World Series: 8.4
7. 2009 NBA Finals 8.4
8. 2009 Golf-Masters: 8.3
9. 2009 Triple Crown Races: 7.0
   
10. 2009 Preakness: 6.8
    
11. 2008 MLB Playoffs: 6.7
12. 2009 Belmont Stakes: 4.4
13. 2009 Indianapolis 500: 4.0
14. 2009 NBA Playoffs: 3.4
15. 2009 NHL Finals: 2.7

Source: Nielsen Media Research

TV Ratings-Belmont Beats out French Open, NHL & Others

The 5.0 overnight rating (race segment) and 4.3 overnight rating (total coverage) for the Belmont Stakes on ABC were the best ratings of all broadcast sporting events this weekend except for the NBA Finals Game 2 shown in primetime on ABC Sunday Night. The weekend was jam packed with Network Broadcast Sporting events including the NBA Finals, The French Open, The PGA Memorial Open featuring a Tiger Woods comeback, and the NHL Finals (Game 5) on primetime Saturday night.

The Belmont Stakes, even in a non Triple Crown year had no problem beating out major sports events such as The French Open and the NHL Finals. Image what ratings could be garnered if the Triple Crown Series was on one Network (currently shared with Kentucky Derby & the Preakness on NBC and the Belmont on ABC.

Here are the figures listed by Sport, Network and Overnight Rating
Source: Nielsen Media Research

1. NBA Finals Game 2-ABC-- 9.9
2. Belmont Stakes (Race Portion) ABC-- 5.0
3. Belmont Stakes (Total Episode)ABC--4.3
4. PGA Memorial Open-Final Rd. CBS--3.6
5. NHL Finals Game 5--NBC--2.6
6. Tennis- French Open Men's Final-CBS--1.8
7. Tennis-French Open Woman's Final-CBS-1.4
   
8. Prefontaine Classic-Track&Field-NBC--1.2
9. WNBA-Shocks-Sparks-ABC--0.6
10. LPGA-State Farm Classic--NBC-0.6
    

Belmont Stakes-Who's In, Who's Possible

In
Charitable Man
Chocolate Candy
Mine That Bird
Brave Victory
Dunkirk
Flying Private
Luv Gov
Miner's Escape
Mr. Hot Stuff
Summer Bird

Possible
Rachel Alexandra
Nowhere to Hide

2 weeks to the Belmont Stakes and the big question remains, will Filly Rachel Alexandra run? Judging by comments in the media seems her trainer, Steve Asmussen would prefer to pass on the big race. If I was a betting man, and I guess I am, seems you could get favorable odds today that she is not running.

In other possible entry notes Nick Zito who will be entering Brave Victory and Miner's Escape, is also considering Kentucky Derby also ran Nowhere to Hide. Zito is quoted in Tim Wilken's Time Union (Albany, NY)column today with the following:

"We've done well in the Belmont, so why Not"

Joe Talamo will be the new Jockey on the other Birdstone progeny, Summer Bird, who placed 6th in the Derby.

Weird fact of the day: On this day in 1884 Knight of the Ellersie, wins the Preakness Stakes by 2 lengths over Welcher. There was no 3rd place finisher or 4th for that mattter-it was a 2 horse race.

Preakness Final TV Ratings 2000-2009

The NBC telecast of the Preakness drew the 2nd most viewers this decade drawing a 6.8 rating and 10.9 million viewers, second only to the Smarty Jones Preakness win in 2004 which drew a 7.7 and 11.6 million viewers. US TV viewers love big sporting events with great story lines ( i.e. Super Bowl, Olympics) and the Preakness race of the underdog Mine That Bird and Filly Rachel Alexandra fit the bill. Here is the year by year breakdown of the Preakness ratings this decade:

Year --- Winner -- Network -- Rating -- Viewers

2009 --- Rachel Alexandra--- NBC-- 6.8-- 10.9 million

2008 --- Big Brown --- NBC -- 5.5 -- 7.9 million

2007 --- Curlin -- NBC-- 5.7 -- 8.4 million

2006 --- Bernardini-- NBC -- 6.6 -- 10.1 million

2005 --- Afleet Alex -- NBC -- 6.3 -- 9.3 million

2004 --- Smarty Jones-- NBC --7.7 -- 11.6 million

2003 --- Funny Cide -- NBC -- 5.7 -- 8.6 million

2002 --- War Emblem -- NBC -- 6.5 -- 9.2 million

2001 --- Point Given -- NBC -- 6.4 -- 8.7 million

2000 --- Red Bullet -- ABC -- 4.1 -- 5.5 million

What Sports The Preakness Beat Out: Overnight Ratings Closer Look

The 7.9 overnight NBC race portion TV coverage as well as the overnight 6.3 total NBC Preakness Saturday coverage had no problem beating out all weekend sports events including the Lakers-Rockets Game 7 (5.6) and the Blackhawks-Red Wings Game 1 (2.0). Here is a closer look listed by date, event, network, rating and household share.

15/16/09-PGA Tour: Valero Texas Open: 3rd Round CBS: 0.8/2

5/16/09 Rolex Equestrian Championships (taped) NBC: 0.9/2

5/16/09 Preakness Stakes: Pre-Race Special(4:30-5) NBC: 2.7/7

5/16/09 Preakness Stakes: Total Coverage NBC: 6.3/15

5/16/09 Preakness Stakes: Race Segment(6-6:45)NBC: 7.9/18

5/17/09 NBA Playoffs: Rockets-Lakers: Game 7: ABC: 5.6/na

5/17/09 PGA Tour: Valero Texas Open: 3rd Round CBS: 1.9/4

5/17/09 National Heads-Up Poker Championship (taped)NBC: 1.4/4

5/17/09 NHL Playoffs: Blackhawks-Red Wings: Game 1: 2.0/5

Source: Nielsen Media Research

NBC Preakness Overnight TV Ratings-Highest Since '04

The overnight ratings are in and they are impressive. NBC drew a 7.9 overnight rating, which is up 27% over last year (Big Brown) and the highest since the Smarty Jones Preakness win in 2004.

Here are Preakness Overnight Ratings since 2002 listed by year, Winner, Network, Rating and Household Share.

2009 Rachel Alexandra NBC 7.9/18
2008 Big Brown NBC 6.2/14
2007 Curlin NBC 6.4/15
2006 Bernardini NBC 7.0/16
2005 Afleet Alex NBC 7.2/17
2004 Smarty Jones NBC 9.2/20
2003 Funny Cide NBC 6.4/14
2002 War Emblem NBC 7.4/16

NOTES: The ratings listed is for the Race portion of the broadcast, defined as the final hour of broadcast (6pm-6:45pm). NBC broke up the day in 3 portions, A 1/2 special (4:30-5pm) which drew a 2.7 share and a "pre-race" show 5-6pm which drew a 5.1 share. Those shows saw a 42% and 46% jump from the 2008 Preakness shows.
These ratings are overnight figures and final ratings figures will be released later in the week.

We will have pre-race Belmont Stakes Ratings historical data for you in the coming weeks.

Source: Nielsen Media Research

This is what makes racing great

Rachel Alexandra winning the Preakness over a hard charging Mine That Bird is what makes racing so exciting to me as a fan.

You had a awesome filly winning against the boys, a plucky gelding proving the Derby was no fluke and an exciting race. It is stories like this that create a buzz and grab the back pages of the NY Daily News and NY Post and tons of other covers on Papers across the country.

Preakness Questions

Will Mine that Bird win the second leg?...NO-he had the perfect trip, perfect surface, perfect ride-won't happen again

Will Rachel Alexandra win?...looks like the best in class but taking a big step up, can she beat the boys off only 15 days rest, I will be rooting as a fan for this Filly...but the answer is No

Will we have another long shot win?...NO..but Take the Points and Terrain can finish in the money and worthy of consideration in your exotic bets.

Will NBC have a higher rating than the '08 Preakness? (overnight rating was 6.2)...YES, interest is high off Long shot Mine That Bird win and fan interest in Rachel Alexandra will spike ratings past the 6.2 figure.

For what its worth here's my predicted order of finish: 1. Pioneer of the Nile 2. Big Drama 3. Rachel Alexandra 4. Friesan Fire

All Access?

So I go onto the Pimlico website to see if they are web casting the Preakness Stakes draw today at 5 pm, now that ESPN has dropped live TV coverage of the event. No luck, but the website tells me HRTV is covering it. Well that's great if you get Satellite, but I am a Time Warner Cable Subscriber and HRTV is not available on Time Warner Cable systems. No worries, as I find out ESPN360.com is also covering it. Great, I type in the web address for ESPN360.com and here is what I find:

"ESPN360.com is available at no charge to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an ESPN360.com affiliated Internet service provider. ESPN360.com is also available to fans that access the Internet from U.S. college campuses and U.S. military bases.

Your current computer network falls outside of these categories."

Turns out that Time Warner Cable which also provides my DSL service is not an "affiliate Internet Service Provider". So, looks like I am shutout. Don't you just love trying to follow this game?

Outrage?

"Whenever there are great virtues, it's a sure sign somethings wrong"-Bertolt Brecht

Got a kick out of the Mothers Day happenings with the alleged plot to exclude Filly Rachel Alexandra from the Preakness. Seems many in the press and in blogger land are outraged, in horror, think this is despicable, etc, etc.

Maybe it is the state of the times we live in, but it did not move me much. As long as everyone plays by the rules they are given, I don't get too upset about these things. I'd rather see Rachel Alexandra skip the Preakness and run in the Belmont Stakes, but if Jackson wants her in the Preakness, that's fine too, load him all in the gate and let 'em go.

Speaking of a Filly running against the boys, what happened to all that outrage last year when Eight Belles had to be put down after her game 2nd in the Derby? Should not these same people be screaming at the top of some hill in Baltimore as to this horrible mistreatment of Rachel Alexandra by forcing her to run in the Preakness? What happened to William Rhoden, the NY Times Columnist, who last year led the crusade against the sport with multiple columns about the ills of the sport, including running a filly against the boys?

He did write an article about horse slaughter and the global meat market on May 1st, but since the Rachel Alexandra announcement that she will run in the Preakness, he has written 3 columns which included not a word or opinion on the situation. The 3 columns were one on NBA MVP Lebron James and 2 columns on NY Yankee Alex Rodriquez. (Apparently no one ever writes about A-Rod so Rhoden treated us to back to back columns on him, with the 2nd one stating that "for all his character flaws, the one thing he consistently does well is play baseball". Really, never knew that.)

Will be interesting to see if Rhoden parachutes in with a column before the running of the Preakness, or perhaps he will wait in the bushes to see if some misfortune happens and than his outrage will return, in the form of a NY Times column telling us so.

Derby Doubles Ratings of NBA Playoffs, NASCAR, & PGA with Tiger

It's been well publicized that the Derby had its best ratings since 1992 and the final # this year of 9.8 was an increase of 11% since 1988.

Now lets look at what the Derby Beat out last weekend, listed by Event, Day, Network and Rating.

1. Kentucky Derby-Saturday-NBC-9.8
2. Bulls-Celtics Game 7-Saturday-TNT-4.4
3. NASCAR-Saturday-FOX-4.0
4. PGA Tour-Sunday-CBS-3.7
5. Mavericks-Nuggets Game 1-Sunday-ABC-3.2

The 9.8 Derby ratings converts to 16.3 million pairs of eyeballs. How many of the 16.3 million will turn on NBC on the 16th of May to watch the Preakness?. Not all of them of course, as the Derby will always be the King in TV land, but I expect a big #. Certainly not scientific in nature but today I attended a family event and I had many non racing fans and casual racing fans come up to me to talk about the race. It's amazing what an upset in the Big race does for casual fan interest. No doubt the spectacular last to first rail run by Borel and Mine That Bird added to the excitement of the upset. All the casual fans seemed to know that the Preakness is the next leg of the Triple Crown and they all said they would be watching. I was also surprised that about 1/2 of the casual fans also knew who Rachel Alexandra was.

Source: Nielsen Media Research

Big Brown wins the Preakness

Big Brown was mighty impressive and is the real deal. His turn of foot and acceleration are visually impressive.

We now go on to the Belmont in 3 weeks. I will venture downstate from my home track of Saratoga to my 2nd favorite track-Belmont Park. It is a beautiful track and I invite all of you to come out and witness the attempt for a Triple Crown.

The Belmont is the true "Test of Champions". I think Big Brown will be tested with the likes of Casino Drive, Denis of Cork, Tale of Ekati. That long final stretch has doomed alot of horses seeking the Triple Crown. I was there when Smarty Jones was in the lead only to be taken down by Birdstone in the stretch, and Funny Cide and War Emblem failed at the Belmont also. You have to get all 3 races to win the Triple Crown and that is what makes it so tough. It will be a fun 3 weeks leading up to the hype to Belmont.