Have you ever noticed how Todd Schrupp takes pot shots at Magna and HRTV whenever possible? Top on the list of complaints for many is that he won't mention a Magna track by name. For instance, he refers to Gulfstream Park as a major racetrack in south Florida. Today I enjoyed this exchange between Todd & Frank Lyons:FL: Thunder Gulch....think he had a good day yesterday?
TS: Yeah, he had a great day with Circular Quay and then at a major racetrack and shopping center Balance won a Grade I race.
FL: Soon to be an arcade near you.
TS: Here's an idea. Lets not use this property for racing.
FL: Put a roller coaster in.*
Most of us that follow the game closely know that Magna is developing a part of Santa Anita's parking area. While I think the project could be beneficial if done right, there are legitimate reason's to object, and plenty of concerns racing fans should want addressed. I think a serious conversation would serve racing fans well, but since TVG, and Schrupp in particular, refuse to even mention the name of the track or cover any happenings at Magna tracks, an intelligent discussion about it can't take place on TVG.
This is certainly beating a dead horse, but it just gets so old. Can you imagine if ESPN refused to cover any sporting event that wasn't televised on their network? Ridiculous. But, that is TVG's model. This is one reason why I am so fond of HRTV. They don't ignore all the racing from the other team. In the past, HRTV would even show big races from TVG exclusive tracks once they went official. Perhaps the production values are lower, but at least they don't insult my intelligence.
What I would suggest is to not throw the baby out with the bathwater, though. Racing fans love the banter and appreciate the on air talent that speak honestly without a filter. But to bash "the other team" in a Fox News like manner adds no value for the viewer. It's not like Republicans vs. Democrats, or Mac vs. PC. We don't care about TVG vs. Magna, we just care about racing.
*I wonder if Frank has noticed how many people there are at Fairplex or the NorCal fairs where they have, gasp, roller coasters.
4 comments:
don't know what your talking about. I mute the tv when i have it on.
This seems to be just the sort of thing that would turn a budding horseplayer off - petty childishness. Part of what I can see being a very difficult part of becoming a fan is learning all of the tracks, trainers, revolving cast of horses, etc. In fact, it's probably what keeps my mother turned off.
Refusing to name a track, and instead potentially forcing a casual viewer to do research... probably not a good idea in a sport that requires so much memorization.
Fortunately, I get only NBC and PBS, so I'm spared the debacle.
I agree, it is the most obnoxious thing when he pulls the "major track in arcadia" crap. Now that they have lost the Churchill downs signal i'm wondering if he's gonna start saying "Ravel is heading into the major american race for 3 year olds in Kentucky in early May, in fine form" I have always been a TVG supporter, but its getting hard since they are losing all the tracks i like to watch. I'm gonna have to get dish in Cincy to get hrtv.
TVG has nothing but idiots like Schrup , Carothers, etc. They make comments that originate from their backsides. Schrup is an opinionated nothing. He claims he worked in Florida. Truth is has never worked at anything. The only thing that works on this creature is his mouth. I would recommend that you mute your tv when he is on.
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