This Tuesday, Bloodhorse published an interesting article coming out of the Jockeys’ Guild Assembly, which was held in Hollywood, Fla. on January 19 and 20. (Article available here: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/89718/track-executives-work-to-promote-jockeys). The article discussed efforts described by Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnson and Remington Park president Scott Wells to attract fans and customers to horse racing by marketing and promoting the jockeys. Mr. Johnson’s proposal includes commencing a new media outlet, JockeyTalk360.com. It also, admirably, includes an aspect that will seek to raise money for the PDJF. The question that we have, however, is will a new (or renewed) focus on the riders lead to any appreciable increase in the number of new fans that begin to follow the sport? Continue reading Jockeying for New Fans: Is Promoting the Sport’s Human Athletes Part of the Answer? →

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We could not have been more excited to receive the emails notifying us that the Breeders’ Cup approved our request for media credentials. We were going to the Breeders’ Cup–as press!  After our initial excitement waned, however, one question resonated—now what?  How do we cover our favorite sporting event on the planet?

When Nolan, Johnny, and I started Thorobros six months ago, it was never our intention to report race results. Nor was it our intention to be a pick sheet or to offer pre and post-race analysis.  DRF and Bloodhorse more than had those aspects of racing covered.  Instead, we began with the lofty and vague intention to critically analyze the business and marketing aspects of the sport in hopes of making an impact.  But how did that intent translate to the 48 hour opportunity afforded to us by the Breeders’ Cup?

Our answer was actually pretty obvious. We were going to cover the Breeders’ Cup.  Physically cover it; using every minute of our time at Santa Anita to explore every inch and activity the event had to offer. By immersing ourselves in the sport’s premiere event, we hoped that we would observe more about the culture, trends, and characters of the racing industry and be better positioned to advance our global objective. Continue reading Covering the Cup: What We Learned at BC14 and Suggestions for BC15 →

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Yesterday featured impressive performances and memorable moments.  Unfortunately, for the Bros, it didn’t feature life changing scores or any impressive totals in our Battle of the Bro Picks.

Standings:

Nolan: $32.00

Sean:  $10.80

Special Guest Lodge $6.80

Johnny: $4.00

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The wait is over.  Breeders’ Cup 31 is finally upon us. 

While not a “picks site,” the gambling aspect of the Sport of Kings cannot be ignored, and we here at Thorobros certainly do not intend to ignore it this weekend.  The Breeders’ Cup offers some of the best betting opportunities of the year and we hope to be fortunate enough to cash one or two “big ones.” 

But in addition to the financial incentives, picking a winner also brings the satisfaction of being right.  It’s a great a feeling when your hours of homework payoff and you realize you outsmarted 95% of the betting population.

In that spirit of competition, we here at Thorobros are having a little Battle of the Bro Picks, where each of us will pick one horse, per Breeders’ Cup race, for a $2 across the board bet.  We’re still working out the details of what the winner gets, but it will likely involve numerous beers and a volcano burrito from Taco Bell. 

Internal “handicapping contests” among friends offer great side action, are easy for new fans to comprehend, and can accommodate any budget. We always encourage this activity when we have a group of friends at the track, especially when many of those friends are new to the sport.   Give it a try this weekend with the Breeders’ Cup races, and definitely let us know how it goes.

Best of luck everyone.

Continue reading Friday Breeders’ Cup Battle of the Bro Picks →

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Call the statistics inaccurate, or criticize the method in which they are collected, but regardless, in the television world it is undisputed that Nielsen Ratings are as good as gold.  Higher Nielsen ratings generate higher advertising dollars.  And advertising dollars fuel commercial television. Period. Thus, for a sporting event to garner major dollars for a TV deal, it needs to promise and evidence desired Nielsen Ratings.

Such is the case for horse racing and the Breeders’ Cup.  In fact, given the doomsday predictions for a “dying sport”, the Breeders’ Cup ratings are even more critical as they represent the sport’s single opportunity to prove that it has a future beyond just the Triple Crown. So for an event that’s success is often measured by numbers such as on track attendance and handle, I submit that this year, in particular, the most important number may be the Nielsen Rating earned for the primetime broadcast of the Classic and (most likely) the Mile.

Continue reading The Rating Game: Nielsen Ratings and the 2014 Breeders Cup →

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As we approach the 31st running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, each of us will analyze one potential contender per week that we think, based on their campaign and resume, fit the profile of a Breeders’ Cup winner.

In anticipation of next weekend’s QE II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, today’s BC Profile examines “Win and You’re In” Qualified and Filly and Mare Turf Contender Tapestry.

Continue reading Breeders’ Cup Profile: Tapestry, Filly and Mare Turf →

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