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Monday, August 15, 2011

Boobs

Watched some TVG late Sunday afternoon, and they ran an ad for their Fandicapping show, during which Ken Rudulph interacts with fans at Del Mar. In the spot, he approaches a group of women and goes: "I just want to know one thing. Are you ready to show us your tix?"

Oh, man. Seriously? That is really weak. This is what it's come down to, idiotic sexist frat-boy humor? Once wasn't even enough; the spot included a second similar and equally unfunny encounter (with another group of women, of course). I (and even the Head Chef) had to laugh though when they then cut away to the studio where some brunette bombshell (who wasn't Christina Olivares) was displaying her cleavage prominently. Yeah, we get the message.

The show itself wasn't much better. At one point, Rudulph declared that he was going to find some folks that were "young and attractive!" I'd guess that some people that he passed over may have been understandably offended. Well, at least that means he won't be getting into my face when we're out at Del Mar in a couple of weeks.

One thing about the Versus telecast that I forgot to mention in the last post: the network has a lot of hunting programs as you may know, and they ran a promotional spot that included a shot of a hunter lifting the head of a dead deer, proudly showing off his kill to the camera. Well, I guess you'd expect that a bleeding-heart liberal like myself would be offended by that. But, in any event, it just doesn't seem like a sensitive choice for a telecast of a sport as sensitive to issues of slaughter and animal cruelty as is horse racing.

- Monday at Saratoga will definitely not go down as one of the shining moments in the track's illustrious history. The heavy rain that NYRA raced to beat with accelerated post times on Sunday finally came overnight and into the day. Not a good day as it turned out to card five turf races, and a lot of scratches even from the dirt races. So, some short fields and a short crowd of 9,166.

The Saratoga Special was an ugly affair; four horses battled and blazed their way to a first quarter of 21.78; by the time they got to the third quarter, they had slowed to 26 seconds flat! Union Rags ($8.50) who was the innermost member of the quartet was the only one left still (kinda) running, and zig-zagged down the stretch to the finish, somehow earning a Beyer of 95. Another winner for trainer Michael Matz, who we mentioned yesterday. Union Rags is by Dixie Union out of a Gone West mare (with the standard inbreeding to Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector that I don't bother mentioning because it's so commonplace these days). His second dam is Terpsichorist, and there's a solid grass mare from quite some time ago that I do recall quite well (which means I must have made some money on her). She won several stakes amongst her 11 wins for trainer Woody Stephens.

Indian Tale made her third start in nine days as Dutrow continues to get his money's worth after claiming her last Sunday. Could only manage second this time, but earned $12,700 for a total of over $45,000 since she was claimed from Carlos Martin for 35K. In Step ($9) still has a ways to go to make back the $1 million that Darley paid for the daughter of Unbridled's Song as a yearling.

17 Comments:

Anonymous said...

The track seems especially dead at Saratoga this year. Lots of slow times, highlighted by the pedestrian final time of the Whitney. Did you see the finale Saturday when the 66-1 shot won? Talk about an ugly stretch run; it looked as though they were running in slow motion. -jp

Anonymous said...

Dutrow disgusts me!

Anonymous said...

Indian Tale is entered in a starter allowance on thursday as well.

Alan Mann said...

I think she might run in the Iowa caucuses too.

Figless said...

She would fare well in the straw poll.

And yes, the hunting promotions seem misplaced on a racing telecast.

ljk said...

It was impossible to make up ground on that track yesterday. Not only did Union Rags come home slowly, but he pulled away.

I was curious about the $200K Fasig-Tipton bonus since the form said the horse was sold at a FL 2yo sale. IEAH bought the horse at the yearling sale and pinhooked it. I guess I didn't know they were in that business.

steve in nc said...

Please tell Dutrow I was only kidding when I advised him on this board to run Indian Tale twice a week through the end of the meeting.

I noticed how slow they were running in the last race on Saturday when Durkin had so much time to pause during his call. First it seemed like he was looking up the name of the horse, then he took like 5 seconds to think of what to say next (transitioning from Ess Shaped to Yes Shaped!).

Now that NYRA streams the signal, and I can see more of the walking ring and the post parade reliably, I watch a lot less TVG. But both are best with the sound off until the race starts.

Maybe for some sort of unintentional parody, they should team up Ken Rudolph, Mr. B, Greg Wolf, and Jason Blewitt, and take away their teleprompters. And then, just for the feature race, a Muttonchops/Mike Battaglia/Dick Vitale trifecta. Go Baybeee Go!

Anonymous said...

At the racetrack I frequent, most of the men have bigger tits than the women.

Riposte said...

The second I see Ken R. on TVG, OFF goes the sound.

I do end up missing races due to this (out of sound, out of mind) but it is well worth it, not being subjected to this idiot's puerile existence.

Dutrow Fan said...

To the self-righteous one who wrote, "Dutrow disgusts me!" -- why?

Because of what you've *read* about him?

What is it that you REALLY know about the guy, first-hand, that "disgusts" you?

If all you can do is regurgitate what you read in the press and on the 'net, please, STFU.

Anonymous said...

I recently moved and now have access to both TVG and HRTV. I watched HRTV for 10 minutes and now would rarely turn on TVG. Frat boy humor and analysts acting like 2 year olds on TVG is a turn off.

Anonymous said...

Im a Christian man and i DONT like what TVG has become! The Ken Rudolph remarks were theeeee last straw. Im a serious bettor and will watch on video stream from now on.

Anonymous said...

Dumb blog!

Anonymous said...

2:20 is Ken Rudulph.

Anonymous said...

Carothers is another turn off for me on TVG. The most important thing for him is to make sure his hair is on his head.

Figless said...

steve in nc, should really listen (and watch) maggie on the nyra telecasts, she started slowly but has upped her game and now offers important tidbits on horses condition and paddock tempermant.

you can mute the male hosts but turn up the volume for maggie.

Johnnie said...

Nice to see Indian Tale was pulled up. Good for Dutrow running the horse into the ground.