Derby Changes or not to worry?

Hello fellow foodies,

Over the past few months I have been playing out some ideas in my mind about the changes in the world of horse racing here in Kentucky. I am not going to go into the need to change the leadership of the State Senate or how stupid ... oh never mind. I was slipping right into it.

Last year and for two Fridays this summer night racing has been a tremendous sucess for Churchill Downs. They have recently been 'rewarded' with a second consecutive year of the Breeder's Cup. They have already announced Friday night racing for the Fall meet this year, Friday evening October 30. Halloween eve. That sounds spooktacular.

A recent news story in the Ocassional-Journal talked about Churchill cutting racing at Arlington in IL, and how those places WITHOUT additional gambling income had to cut back.

Those night racing dates have been a huge success here.

This evening at 11 when I turned on the news I found LIVE coverage of the US Open. At Eleven PM.

It's going to happen. Within 3-5 years the Kentucky Derby and probably the Oaks as well are going to end up being evening races. The Kentucky Derby, post time 8:47 P.M., the first Saturday of May. How much bigger will the television viewership be? How many more people can they get into the track with night racing?

OK, why is Richard running on about a one day a year race being run at night, on a Food Forum?

What is that going to do to the restaurant business on the First Saturday of May? How may reservations will there be for 10 or 10:30 at night instead of 7:30 or 8:00? Will there be midnight or 1 AM reservation requests? How will you staff for it? Will there be more or less? What about Friday night. Since people won't have to be at the track till 2 for the first race will they eat later on Friday night. More breakfast or brunch reservations on Saturday? This is not some small change when it happens. Or is it not a change at all, but just simply moving staff to later. Or, is it more business with Derby Brunches BEFORE going to the track and then dinners after? With a later race, is that more people staying over that night instead of driving home after the race?

Executive chefs, owners, managers, what say you. Not something to think about or worry over until and unless it happens or is this going to be a seismic shift here that weekend? Have you thought about it, already planning? Have you seen a big late Friday night surge or have the crowds at the Downs eaten there and simple want to go home? What about the bars?

Is this just much ado about nuttin or did it make your mind swim?

Let us all know.

Good question Richard. But if I had to bet on this one I'd bet against a night time Derby. A big part of the identity of the Derby is the tradition and I doubt that they would gamble on that and run the risk of turning it into just another horse race. I think the public is too attached to racing in the day/partying at night concept. Still, if the money looks good to the organizers they might try it. Once. But I doubt seriously that the race goers want an evening Derby.

I don't think the TV powers would want a night Derby - at least not at this point.

I've heard/read many reasons why this is so, ranging from what time makes the most sense to show the race to how the light is best in the early evening for the race.

Speaking of evening sports - I'll be interested to see the ratings from the U.S. Open (golf). The leaders are not even teeing off until sometime in the 5'oclock hour (EST) this evening. Predicting a 4-hour round (if not longer), things will be wrapping up between 10-11 EST. Pretty late for a Sunday.

There's been some movement of televised sporting events toward the evening hours (golf) but there has also been movement back toward more traditional times (Nascar moving back to 1pm EST Sunday for most races).

The Derby has, at least in my lifetime, has always been shown in that late afternoon Saturday "Wild World of Sports" time slot. I think many people plan to watch it, and another part of the population happens across it on TV. I think there would be less planned viewing and even less "happening across it" for a night slot.

There are other issues as well. Advertising night racing to locals make alot more sense than advertising the most premiere race to a much larger population. Also, infield security at night would be a bigger issue.

The final point is simple - the Derby is not struggling. Racing as a whole is (very much so). But the Derby was strong this year - in terms of rating, attendance, and handle. Night racing is adding a new angle to racing and helping the overall numbers. The Derby, for the most part, exists outside these numbers. It's doing quite well, and the people who matter - Churchill, NTRA, NBC - know this.

One final thought.

Much of the night racing seems to revolve around some kind of theme - Beach, Halloween (I'd assume), etc. The Derby already has its theme and its time. I don't see it moving to evening in the next 20 years, if not longer. Being that we are talking about gambling, I'd say there being a night Derby in the next 20 years is at the odds of 30-1 or longer. Now, a night Derby at some point in an indefinite future? Prob, 3-1 or so, given that Churchill always seems to screw up the good things it has going.

It's also worth noting that a night Derby, from a television perspective, would conflict with the typical big-ticket boxing matches that occur Derby night, that bring in big big $$$ in pay-per-view money. Many have a tradition of Derby watching during the day and watching boxing at night.

[Robin Garr]

Hello fellow foodies...

Richard, just out of curiosity, is there any particular reason why you put up your posts in bold? Maybe it's just me, and I'm not telling you not to do it, but it's sort of the metaphorical equivalent of talking really loud.