As I was working out on my elliptical machine I had one eye on the lap meter and both ears on two so called sports commentators on ESPN’s PMI (Pardon My Interruption). As they were going down the list of sports issues the topic popped up, “the chances of Super Saver to win the triple crown”. Woh, that struck a nerve! Both quickly turned on horse racing as a viable sport and agreed that nobody cares anymore.
Granted, the sport of kings has lost it’s way and needs some guidance but I digress. To sit there and poo-poo horse racing and then spend 10 minutes of expensive air time discussing why or why not Philly fans should be hit with a tazer when they run out onto the field of play, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, shame on you!
Nobody cares? Nobody cares!
How about these facts:
– 155,804 fans stood out in the rain for hours to view the classic event. MLB, PGA and NASCAR would have told everyone to go on home.
-Why was wagering on the 13-race card – from all sources $112.7 million which was an increase of 7.8 per cent? And in a down economy, because nobody cares?
-16.5 million people watched Super Saver win the Derby making it the most-watched Derby in 21 years. Dying sport?
-NBC earned a rating during the derby of 10.3, the highest in 18 years. And, compared to the other sports on TV Saturday afternoon? Well, let’s see NBA Western Conf. semi finals 4.7, the final round of the PGA’s Quail Hollow tournament 2.8 and NHL’s Eastern Conference semifinals between Boston and Philadelphia got a 1.6 rating on NBC
-The ratings actually rate right behind the final round of The Masters! Wow, and how much air time did that get?
Horse racing is in transition again. But it is full of history, brimming with diversity, set in natural beauty, flavored with a wonderful wagering system, spiced with characters throughout and blessed with those who want nothing more than for it to survive as the true sport of kings and queens that it truly is.
