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TV coverage

Coach miguel said:
No problem with folk celebrating as it shows how much it means to them. Just ocassionally though as it loses it effect after a while.
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Exactly this.^

It's not the occasional clip - it's after virtually every race at the moment.

I have no issue with owners (some of who are in syndicates and fulfilling lifelong dreams) and stable staff being visibly ecstatic after victory, but if ITV Racing plan on doing this after almost every race going forwards it will not only lose effect but become positively tedious for many viewers.

I get that ITV want to sell the human element to viewers, but if they think those watching are identifying in their hordes with this now post-race ritual I reckon they are sadly mistaken.
 
Coach miguel said:
No problem with folk celebrating as it shows how much it means to them. Just ocassionally though as it loses it effect after a while.
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Not to those that are celebrating it doesn't and to many of them it is the only chance they get to show their emotions in their moment of glory after all without them we would have no racing and imo WE are the bit players not them just let them have their moment for all to see well done ITV..........after all if it upsets us that much we know where the OFF button is :)
 
barjon said:
If you want hard focussed racing join RacingTV, more general entertainment stuff is a small price to pay for pretty decent coverage on ITV.
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Or not join anything and just watch the racing in glorious silence.

I'll have ITV Racing on in about 25 minutes - can't fault their extensive coverage (as I've said many times but that seems to go unnoticed) - but listening to it isn't compulsory and tbh I'm puzzled about why some seem to get so emotional about the subject.

If I'm not upset that many like to watch with the mute button off, why are others upset that I choose to watch with the mute button on?

All seems a bit petty, tinyminded and controlling to me.

Live and let live - each to their own and all that.

This thread invites ongoing opinion on TV coverage of racing - not all of that opinion is going to be the same.

Anyone who has an issue with others taking a different view to them might be happier giving the thread the old body swerve.

I like reading a variety of opinions - to me, it's what the forum is all about.
 
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Gullible said:
Absolutely especially the lowly paid Lads & Lasses :love:
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I'm still trying to get their mementoes changed. Currently 99% of racecourses give them a silver photo frame. Lovely you might think to put a photo of your beloved horse in, until you've got a whole stash of them and then realise that the owner, trainer and even jockey get a much nicer memento. And it's so clear that you, the person who is very much responsible for that horse for virtually every hour of the day, gets fobbed off as an afterthought.

When I worked in the US, I remember the groom who looked after the winner of the Kentucky Derby got a brand new pick-up truck. The most prestigious race in the country and they rewarded the person handsomely. And of course a great bit of PR for the dealership that donated it.

I'm not saying that there should be cars given but I do think that there should be a LOT more thought that goes into it. I have emailed the RCA amongst other places. The CEO did reply and said something like that had never actually crossed his mind and it was really up to racecourses. I replied back that's why I was contacting him and maybe he could influence his racecourses to actually get more generous.

We will see! I am a bit of a thorn in his side as I also emailed him about kids in the paddock (Pointing we police it heavily and no children under 12 are allowed in) Can you imagine the horrendous publicity if a child gets kicked in the head and suffers life changing injuries or worse? To be fair to him - it's good for Joe Public to bring things like this up and he's very good humored and always replies to me
 
barjon said:
If you want hard focussed racing join RacingTV, more general entertainment stuff is a small price to pay for pretty decent coverage on ITV.
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Absolutely.

It's not made for our own individual tastes. It's only made for a 'typical' or 'casual' viewer, whoever ITV deem that to be at any given time.

I've viewed the complaints on this forum over many years, I can't tell if these are ridiculously tedious, or I've just got no taste and decency!

Granted, I'd rather have Ian Davies, Slimbo and a few others on here doing the punditry, but until that becomes a realistic possibility, I'll bite the bullet and accept ITV for what it is.
 
As tv is about getting max bums on seats in front of the tv, I think we should be at grateful for the level of coverage & just mute the parts 'not to individual tastes'. Because the median level of understanding as a whole is different to regulars on racing forums
 
If Freddie Gingell (one of the few genuinely likeable people I've met in this game) can get "Bridle Ponce Of The Year Every Year" Hitman to win a race he can do anything.

Top, top, ride - on a very difficult ride.
 
pawras said:
I think we should be grateful
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On a point of general principle, I'm never grateful for anything.

(I hope watching all this telly isn't impacting my electricity bill too much).

Got to admit I did quite like seeing Gingell enjoying being hoisted aloft just then - I was introduced to him at Larkhill Point a few years ago by a bookie who went to school with his Dad, he's a cracking lad and a fearless talent and he deserves every bit of success that comes his way.
 
Ian_Davies said:
On a point of general principle, I'm never grateful for anything.

(I hope watching all this telly isn't impacting my electricity bill too much).

Got to admit I did quite like seeing Gingell enjoying being hoisted aloft just then - I was introduced to him at Larkhill Point a few years ago by a bookie who went to school with his Dad, he's a cracking lad and a fearless talent and he deserves every bit of success that comes his way.
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Well if not grateful , bitch and complain less cos they show lots of races and you can ignore the between race slaver packed with the same superlatives every week.
I have a bigger gripe with some of the camera angles shown in the final couple of furlongs sometimes. They might have visual appeal but you can't really tell who is in the lead unless there is a significant differential between the runners.
 
pawras said:
bitch and complain less
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But I thought this thread was for bitching and complaining?

I might think you're bitching and complaining about camera angles, but I'd defend your right to do it.

As it happens, I possibly agree - there have been lots of advances in outside broadcasting, but some of the "innovations" in use of cameras don't add to a race for me.
 
pawras said:
I have a bigger gripe with some of the camera angles shown in the final couple of furlongs sometimes. They might have visual appeal but you can't really tell who is in the lead unless there is a significant differential between the runners.
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That's been a gripe of mine since Channel 4 took over.
 
Ian_Davies said:
But I thought this thread was for bitching and complaining?

I might think you're bitching and complaining about camera angles, but I'd defend your right to do it.

As it happens, I possibly agree - there have been lots of advances in outside broadcasting, but some of the "innovations" in use of cameras don't add to a race for me.
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Well it's about tv coverage, good and bad, and I think we're focusing on the bad a bit much, which is natural I suppose.
 
The new series of Champions: Full Gallop has missed/ignored quite possibly the best performance from last season; Sir Gino's win at Kempton Dec 26 from episode 2.
Given the brouhaha about Constitution Hill , his prep and "that gallop " , to give his galloping companion no mention absolutely boggles. Our members gave it acres of attention at the time and it was a huge story.
Such omissions do the viewer, either interested or casual little favour.
A pity really.
 

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