beyerguy -

A few points:

I'm not a "hard core" bettor (I rarely bet anything more exotic than an exacta), but I still like to see who finished where. As you suggest, I have learned (after last year's wait -- minutes, not seconds -- to see that Midway Road completed the Preakness exacta) to go to the Internet for the results of TV races.

I think it's possible for TV to serve both bettors and the general public. How long does it take to show a replay of the first few finishers?

I reject the notion that the "general public" doesn't bet, especially on Triple Crown races. Members of my family who don't bet any other time of the year bet on Triple Crown races.

You don't have to be playing trifectas or superfectas to want to know who finished second or third. Based on my experience escorting members of the "general public" to the track, they often (despite my protestations) bet to show. Presumably, they'd like to know if they won.

I understand that NBC is interested in ratings (and maybe Emmies), not bettors, but racing has an interest in these broadcasts too, and racing needs to develop customers. I think racing does itself a disservice when it allows the betting aspect of the sport to be downplayed. Even broadcasts that are paid for by racing (think Sunshine Millions) tend not to be bettor friendly.

By any standard, the TV camera should be focused on the correct finish line, as it was NOT in this year's Arkansas Derby.

Things that I can forgive in NBC broadcasts, I can't forgive in ESPN broadcasts. ESPN is not targeting the general public. ESPN2 was on the air from Pimlico for almost 5 hours Saturday before they stopped showing the morning line for the Preakness and started giving odds based on the early betting (which started on Friday). I would think the fact that Smarty Jones was bet down to 2/5 early would be newsworthy, if only to emphasize how much the "general public" loves Smarty Jones.

To be fair, there's one thing that ESPN does that I love. The blimp shots of racing action are great. You get a great view of who had traffic problems (Millennium Dragon, for example) and who fouled whom. I'd love to see racing find a way to get high-angle shots to help out the stewards and trip handicappers (and even figure makers who need accurate ground loss info). With today's technology, there ought to be a way.