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I’m with Crepello and Jac on this – what on earth is going on when the runners for the premier English classic take second fiddle to talking with former jockeys (not just Kinane and McCoy but Carson and Mercer)? The ‘horses’ coverage ahead of the Derby had minimal input from FC from the paddock (basically AO’B saddling Cliffs of Moher and Capri), and included only two-thirds of the parade, where the ones omitted included the winner! FC then said that she had Cracksman as a negative – but it was hard to see why given the absence of footage. Then, cut to footage of Cliffs of Moher on the way to post awash with sweat and edgy – and that was the focus for the rest of the build-up. ‘Patchy’ doesn’t begin to describe it. Then, compare that to the Princess Elizabeth Stakes and the Diomed – where we did actually get to see most of the runners. It doesn’t make sense.
Whilst some of the jockey-talk is fair enough, currently there is way too much emphasis on this.
Aidan O’Brien gives his time freely to the media. He had six runners, two children riding and still found time to do,interviews through the day, in the build up and after the race.
He talks to his parents after the race.
Give the guy a break.
Contrast his behavior (always impeccable) with that of Hugo Palmer who told journalists to ‘leave him alone’ after Galileo Gold’s recent defeat.AOB is a gentleman. He religiously speaks to the press both immediately before and after the race. He always has time for people.
I also thought the Derby coverage was poor on ITV today. I switched over to Racing UK at about 4.10 because they were showing dresses on ITV and Lydia went through every single runner in the paddock giving her thoughts as the camera panned round. It HAS to be more about the horses surely?
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Good point about Mr O Brien, he is always polite, however annoying the interviewer is.
It was quite educational today. At least i know that seeing white fluffy clouds means it’s going to be dry. Why have a weather presenter on a live show, we can all see if it rains or not.
Agreed David AOB always takes the time to give a snap interview and I was particularly impressed with himself on Oaks day when he had all the troubles of the World upon him and halfway through walking the Course with Team Coolmore he was hijacked by Matt Chapman who had slid under the running rail and pulled him to one side..completely unphased AOB answered his every question about the delays and thoughts of how his horses would fair in the upcoming races.
I have never seen him lose his temper and he is obviously superstitious like many trainers and would have wanted to have completed that walk with his Team.Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Aidan O’Brien gives his time freely to the media. He had six runners, two children riding and still found time to do,interviews through the day, in the build up and after the race.
He talks to his parents after the race.
Give the guy a break.
Contrast his behavior (always impeccable) with that of Hugo Palmer who told journalists to ‘leave him alone’ after Galileo Gold’s recent defeat.This.
It was obvious from a piece recorded at his home (they showed it a while back) that, as a character, he’s painfully shy. He’s found a way to handle all the attention but I suspect it’s still an ordeal for him. He seems a gracious, kind man who cares a lot for humanity.
It HAS to be more about the horses surely?
Unfortunately I think ITV have made a conscious decision somewhere up the ladder to try and promote the people side of racing more than anything. I assume their thinking is that hardcore race fans will have Racing UK anyway, and that spending 15 minutes pointing the camera at every horse in the parade ring will bore the average viewer. They’re desperately trying to make racing more accessible to the everyday viewer, which they manage to do quite well when explaining things in layman’s terms, like why Epsom is such a unique racetrack. Unfortunately this means they must sacrifice what we the hardcore fans find more valuable and insightful, such as a detailed look at all the horses.
I can’t really knock them for trying to increase their viewership, even though I don’t think its urgently needed, racing isn’t in too bad a place right now. Gambling on it is at an all time high anyway.
Some of the personnel choices baffle me. Mick Kinane in theory was an excellent guest to have on, but he hadn’t much of interest to say, mainly because of the poor standard of questions aimed at him. I mean they spent the best part of 5-10 minutes talking about why he was such a great jockey, surely they could have used that time to pick his brains on something worth hearing? Then when they did get around to it they didn’t ask much in the way of insightful questions. As for McCoy, I’ve no idea why he would be part of the panel on Derby day, surely there is somebody from a flat racing background available? I think a bloodstock agent such as Ed Sackville would be much more insightful at these big flat meetings.
I’ve nothing against Chapman, he knows his stuff and asks the right questions, something the rest of then don’t really know how to do. I understand he is the embodiment of the Marmite Man, but personally he doesn’t go through my head.
Brian Gleeson is worth the lot of them I think. He really knows his stuff, and has a strange but funny way of making all his closing sentences full of suspense. He’s much better than the likes of Mick Fitz and McCoy, especially during the flat season where his expert knowledge of pedigree’s comes to the fore.
I’d give them a 7/10 for this weekend, mainly for the nice features they put together.
Voleur I think you’ve summed that up perfectly because that is exactly what they are doing trying to make racing accessible to the everyday viewer, which isn’t a bad thing but along with the majority of racing fans I want to see the horses at every stage of the race almost as I would on a day at the races where I am round the paddock, off to see them go down, off to put my bet on and then to get a good viewing position, those not interested in the races sit in the bars watching it on TV and betting on the Tote (might as well stay at home) anyway each to his own.
So I guess I’m going to have to get Racing UK before Royal Ascot starts as I don’t really want know where everyone’s outfits came from and how many feathers they have in their hats I want to be with Lydia in the paddock following those horses every hoofprint… Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Its shame you’ll have to fork out for the subscription Triptych, for something so standard – albeit important – as seeing the horses in the paddock. They say they are open to feedback but despite numerous complaints of this from many people, they’ve shown no improvement on that front whatsoever. Hopefully it does improve, and improve soon.
I think they should read this Thread Voleur then perhaps they might realise what racing people think of the presentation as it stands. I’ve been meaning to go over to Racing UK for a while now but apart from that I am a Member at Newmarket and get there as often as I can. Always try to keep Royal Ascot week free (almost impossible task but usually manage it) and at least will get to see all the races. Last year Channel 4 did exceptional coverage of the Royal Meeting showing at least 6 races every day, I wonder if ITV will follow suit.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Whatever is said about how polite AOB is I can’t be alone in being annoyed and frustrated by the lack of content,meaning and insight in what he says,to the extent that there is virtually no point in the interviews.
Amidst a blizzard of ‘listens’ and lists of names of staff and lots of gratitude all AOB ever says is that ‘everyone is pleased’ with whatever horse he is talking about and then after the race you still get nothing that might for example explain why a 4th,5th or 6th string at best has won the Derby and why it could be argued that arguably the greatest trainer in the world doesn’t seem to know what he’s got in his stable.
<p abp=”143″>It HAS to be more about the horses surely?
<p abp=”144″>Unfortunately I think ITV have made a conscious decision somewhere up the ladder to try and promote the people side of racing more than anything. I assume their thinking is that hardcore race fans will have Racing UK anyway, and that spending 15 minutes pointing the camera at every horse in the parade ring will bore the average viewer. They’re desperately trying to make racing more accessible to the everyday viewer, which they manage to do quite well when explaining things in layman’s terms, like why Epsom is such a unique racetrack. Unfortunately this means they must sacrifice what we the hardcore fans find more valuable and insightful, such as a detailed look at all the horses.
If they can’t understand talking about horses, however will they understand the complicated Epsom Derby course?
TV programmes about animals are very popular with the ‘everyday viewer’ so wouldn’t ITV attract a bigger audience share by showing more of the horses rather than people-focused explanations?
<p abp=”304″>TV programmes about animals are very popular with the ‘everyday viewer’ so wouldn’t ITV attract a bigger audience share by showing more of the horses rather than people-focused explanations?
Yes of course, it’s like the Eurovision Song Contest with no singing. Like almost the whole media, it’s confined to what it thinks are slebs when the real slebs are the horses.
Before the Diomed I found myself trying to look behind the presenters to see the horses parading in the paddock around them I somehow felt let down by ITV for how they were making us wait to see them. There was a nice piece with Sovereign Debt and his trainer, the eventual winner of the race but the inane chit chat spoilt the whole presentation, I don’t see the point of Francesca Cumani being in the paddock if she’s not going to do a run down of each horse and his/her potential chances and try to speak to some of the connections before the race.
As Tonge mentioned earlier they completely missed out the winner of The Derby in the Parade
Hope they up the game for Royal Ascot and not just treat it as a ‘jolly’ for the weathergirl, Sir AP and all the other hangers on that seem to roll up on the day, hopefully we won’t have to put up with Gok Wan but don’t hold your breath.. :wink:
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I initially thought the coverage was better than Channel 4, and some ways it is, but the flat season has been appalling so far. First off I missed the whole Craven meeting that I thought I’d recorded on a series link because they changed the titles (I would have missed Epsom too if I hadn’t checked, because they had done the same thing), a series link doesn’t work anymore so I have to remember and record each show.
Yesterday’s Derby was terrible, hardly any sight of the horses, especially the un-fancied winner before the race. I felt stressy and angry, more interviews, old footage (good at the right time), commentators talking about how the horses looked, but no we the viewers didn’t get to make up our own minds. It also felt disjointed, there are too many presenters, why do we need all of them? In the old days they had three maximum and it was fine.
I completely agree with Golden Miller, people want to see animals, the horses are beautiful, lets sell them in racing. Otherwise it’s 100% about betting and people can bet on anything. What about a really good informative paddock commentary about the make and shape, breeding and condition, those betting would really benefit from this, you don’t bet on a retired jockey after all. The paddock commentaries and film of horses on Saturday TV in the 1970s were what got me interested in horses and breeding. Come on ITV listen please, inspire a whole new generation.
Incidentally I am one of those who complained, both about the coverage and the programme titles, they never bothered to acknowledge me.
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