WATCHING TV

Sorry guys, but this is day 2 of my birthday celebrations and watching Julie and Nico, great show, Robin Bruss on the ARC, magic, plus Frankie in the ARC, great show, well done!!

Thanks for this note Dave. I appreciate the feedback. The Arc was fantastic, mostly because the meeting is all about the passion of racing. There is no public toteboard (only screens in the betting halls), there are no announcements to bet, Equidia broadcasts the best pictures of any racetrack in the world, the loudspeakers play music from the movies - Gladiator and Last of the Mohicans, I think - even in the parade ring, designed to stir the crowd, and it succeeds. The racegoers are more than fans, they are fanatics in their support for their horses, and back their judgement accordingly. The meeting proved to me that if you develop a fan base, the betting will follow. Full stands of passionate people translate to good television and good television translates to compelling public broadcasts and an exciting attractive sport which is newsworthy, and which attracts people to become part of it.

The game is RACING. Betting is the side show. If you transpose these, fans become bored with the numbers and dots on the screen, and are soon seduced away to other sports which offer greater passion and excitement (which television currently has us believing to be poker !) and though the core of hardened punters will remain, they are getting older, whilst the next generation know little of horseracing as a sport. As we promote poker on Tellytrack, we sell our soul – and for measly sheckels in advertising revenue. But that’s another story.



And as for ZARKAVA, she would be a machine for her consistency and brilliance, but you realize that she’s flesh and blood in the drama that surrounds her temperament and the professionalism of her team to secure the best of her. She is GREAT ! I shouted myself hoarse over the last 300m when she took the lead and still get a lump in the throat when I think of the race. Historical. Memorable. Perfection. And I was there. I’m sure the indelible impression in my mind and the feelings of admiration will always remain, though in my head, I still think Empress Club to the best filly I ever saw. But again, that’s another story..



I didn’t see the show tonight, but will catch it sometime. Glad to hear that it went down well.

Best regards

Robin

Agree with the sentiment, racing first!

It was one of the finest shows that I have seen and bodes well for the future. We need to look at doing documentaries on our Jockeys and or behind the scenes stuff. Robin Bruss is 100% on the mark by saying that we need to generate interest in racing rather than broadcast dots and blips.

I was shocked at Clairwood on Cup Trial day that nobody applauded the winners on their return to the winners box. (What makes this really sad is that both horse and Jockey risk their lives to run in a race).

The Summer cup is a perfect oportunity for the Tellytrack crew to do some behind the scenes shots. I was thinking of doing an amature documentary from a punters perspective at this years July but got caught up in the lead up an forgot all about it. I have some mates in promotional filming that I will try and get involved for next year. Maybe Tellytrack will buy it....

E TV did a documentary called "The Summit" on horse racing (trainers and tipsters) a few years back. It was pretty good. At the end of the show there was a race between the three trainers (James Goodman, Mike Azzie, Mike De Kock).