Hello, hitcho-ga!
According to my research, the use of the internet by the horse racing
industry has been primarily for news, discussion forums and
radio/video feeds. I found little in the way of internet racing
promotions and pods, but have highlighted some other interesting
references below.
RSS Feeds
==========
CBS Sportsline
http://cbs.sportsline.com/xml/rss
Fox Sports:
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2005035
Some other RSS horseracing links:
http://www.shas3.com/RSS/Sports/Horse%20Racing.html
Ozeform
http://www.ozeform.com/site/rss/rss.aspx
AardvarkSports
http://www.aardvarksport.net/chat/rssfeed/
==
Podcasts are a new phenomenon, and I found only one mention of a
podcast marginally related to horseracing.
The following podcast related to the Kentucky Derby can be found on
the Digital Podcast website:
Scroll down to "Skypeout with Dad (After the Kentucky Derby)
[SomethingthatHappened.com]
More of "Hundred-Dollar Harry's Hot Tips" on horseracing.
http://www.digitalpodcast.com/detail.php?id=150
==
Unfortunately, the U.S. horse racing industry is still in dire need of
help, as the following article highlights:
"Horse Racing Seems Headed for Far Turn." 03-29-2005 Los Angeles Times
http://www.intix.org/news.php?ArticleID=535
==
The 31st ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON RACING - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2004 - has
an interesting presentation about the expansion of television coverage
of horse racing, and the future plans for moving onto the internet.
I have excerpted a few paragraphs but it would be beneficial to read
the entire transcript since it is somewhat convoluted!
From "TECHNOLOGY: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UNKNOWN."
http://www.ua-rtip.org/Symposium/2004%20Symposium/04%20Transcripts/fritechnologythegoodthebad.html
"Were going to look at technology from the television perspective and
how we're thinking about making horse racing and TVG look better to
the consuming public from a television angle; and then second we're
going to talk about technologies that we use to extend our business
through telephony, through the Internet and through interactive
television."
"On the Internet side, I think we're going to do a lot more to develop
this. This year was focused on the TV side and we're still doing
things and there'll be more. And then on the Internet side we're going
to ramp those efforts up coming in '05, and what we've done most
recently is, again, you have to have this product, it's kinds of a
schizophrenic product; you have to have it simple enough for people
that aren't expert, either Internet viewers or wagerers; and then you
need something that's advanced enough, sophisticated enough that the
whales and the people that drive your business find it a good product
and like using it, and there's a lot of competition. So it really
keeps us on our toes."
"So some of the things we've done there is we've enhanced the
capability in the back office so it runs really well on broadband and
it moves more quickly to the latency factor on our side is terrific
compared to a lot of Internet sites in all of sports; or I should say
all Internet."
"We fight with the font issue, about the size of the font. The
Internet you can obviously go smaller because people can focus in.
We're trying to make it easier for people to find what races are next,
trying to make it easier on the top for people to see what's going to
be on TV. Most of the races are on TV, especially of our core
partners. But some of them aren't. This allows you to follow it that
way."
"And we're going to really focus next year from the consumer
standpoint and we have research in the field now to decide how to
tweak this product to make it more consumable."
(Read further for discussion about remote tv and internet gambling.....)
==
The use of the internet for online wagering to help promote the sport
is discussed in a 2003 article:
"Thoroughbred Horse Racing And The Internet. Should We Take A Chance
On Gaming On the Internet?," by Paul V. Majkowski, Edward M. Pinter
and John J. Witmeyer III Of Ford Marrin Esposito Witmeyer & Gleser,
L.L.P.
http://www.fmew.com/archive/racing/
Some excerpts:
"The next step, and a necessary one for the horse racing industry, is
to put the races and allow wagering on the Internet (although some
will argue, admittedly with a degree of persuasiveness, that while
increasing handle and purses, racing on the Internet will all but
destroy the live gate and render a day at the races, to see a Silver
Charm, a thing of the past). One of New York's off-track betting
corporations has already started to operate an Internet site, as have
at least two other operators in other parts of the country."
"Taken to its fullest extent, the Internet could link horseplayers
with tracks all over the world, with a fan whose home track is
Woodbine in Toronto, making wagers on races from San Siro in Italy
(indeed, one of Capital Region OTB's Internet customers is from
Dubai). As discussed below, the Internet and thoroughbred horse racing
are a perfect fit that would no doubt favor racing's revival."
"The benefits to the racing industry of providing racing and
pari-mutuel betting on the Internet are clear -- larger handles and
more, and likely younger, fans. Larger handles mean larger purses and
better racing, and should allow states to lower pari-mutuel taxes
without reducing revenues. This again benefits the horseplayers by
returning a larger portion of the pari-mutuel pools to the bettors,
and thus makes racing a more attractive wagering opportunity,
permitting racing to recapture some of the gambling market it has lost
to casinos and lotteries. As the fan base increases, particularly
among younger people, it can be anticipated that the new generation
will attend live racing."
"For many reasons, racing and the Internet seem to be perfect fit, a
progressive and economically needed measure to ensure quality racing
in years to come. Contrary to the old warning, horse racing and the
Internet properly places the cart with the horse. Since existing law
on simulcasting envisions interstate pari-mutuel wagering on horse
racing, and since horse racing at established venues does not carry
the risk of possible fraudulent odds making that casts a shadow over
virtual casinos, it may be that governments will decide not to direct
their limited enforcement resources so as to try to preclude
pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing, even if efforts are made to
curtail virtual games of chance."
HOW BREEDERS ARE USING THE INTERNET
====================================
From "Stonerside Stable Tracks Its Champion Thoroughbreds Around the
World Using the Internet Connectivity."
http://www.connectkentucky.org/connectkentucky/u_storytext/StonersideProfile.pdf
"Stonerside Stable is dedicated to finding the best horses, providing
the best care, and cultivating champions across the globe. Because of
the extensive distances among horses in the racing stable division, it
is essential that the farm office is able to track the daily
activities of each horse. "High-speed Internet was the perfect medium
to keep employees involved and aware of the horses? routines for
Stonerside Stable," said Vicky Van Camp, research and information
director for Stonerside. "We?ve made great use of our website to keep
everyone within the organization up-to-date on the daily changes with
the horses-whether it is the results of a race in England or the birth
of a foal in Argentina."
"In order to monitor each horse, Stonerside uses Equibase Company?s
Virtual Stable. The email notification program informs recipients of a
horse?s entry, workout or race. The information is sent in real-time
and gives Stonerside a timely and comprehensive look at a horse from
miles away. Stonerside also uses the Internet for live calls of races
outside of the United States. "We race horses in England and can
listen live to the call of the race via the Internet. Within a few
minutes, we print out a detailed chart of the race," Van Camp said.
Instantaneous results on the Internet allow Stonerside to stay
informed about possible investments and simplify decisions."
"Horse racing as an industry is very plugged-in to the Internet,"
added Van Camp. It was only inevitable that independent farms like
Stonerside would follow suit. Stonerside Stable?s success in racing
and breeding is truly benefiting with the evolution of high-speed
Internet. While investments in technology are necessary to continue in
its success, horses remain their number one priority. "Mr. and Mrs.
McNair made a commitment from the beginning to compete at the top
level of the industry, and they constantly replenish and cull the
broodmare band and the racing stable to keep only the best," Van Camp
said
DEDICATED HORSE RACING NEWS SITES
==================================
Row 12 - Horse Racing
http://horseracing.row12.com/
Race Horse World
http://www.racehorseworld.com/
"For the best information on horse racing, online betting, shopping,
buying / selling horses, riding holidays, racetracks and race cards
you are in the right place. We have all the best links for horse
racing, online betting and much more.
All Horse Racing
http://www.allhorseracing.com/
BloodHorse
http://www.bloodhorse.com/
Racing and Sports
http://www.aapracingandsports.com.au/racing/international.asp
Daily Racing Form
http://www.drf.com/
Equibase
http://www.equibase.com/
Let It Ride (includes Live Video and Wagering)
http://letitride.com/
Thorougbred Times
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/default.asp
Stick Horse Racing
http://www.thestickhorseracing.com/index.html
Stick Racing Audio/Video page
http://www.thestickhorseracing.com/stick-audio-video/video-entry.html
HORSE RACING FORUMS
====================
The Racing Forum (UK)
http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/
"Theracingforum.co.uk was set up in the year 2000 as an online
discussion forum for a horse racing community full of enthusiasts from
all over the world to discuss their passions and views. Since starting
this site we have been acquiring new memberships on a regular basis
once the site became listed on other websites and within the search
engines databases. The sites growth has astounded everyone involved as
we have rarely advertised the site, the website continues to go from
strength to strength due to the way the site is closely administrated
and the tireless effort put in by the members to make this site the
best and most friendly place for horse racing fans on the internet."
Row12 Horse Racing Forums
http://horseracing.row12.com/forums/index.php
==
MORE HORSE RACING/JOCKEY NEWS LINKS
http://sportsvl.com/rest/horse%20racing.htm#USA%20Racing
===
Search Strategy
rss horseracing feeds
podcasts horse racing
podcasts promote horse racing
internet horse racing promotion
horse racing audio files
internet promotions to attract horse racing patrons
internet promotion for U.S. horse racing
online betting for horse racing
promote horse racing through the internet |
Clarification of Answer by
umiat-ga
on
03 Jul 2005 20:33 PDT
Hello again, hitcho!
I have compiled some resources that touch on the issues you raised in
your clarification. While none of the following links focus on horse
racing, perhaps they will spark some insight and ideas into how
podcasting might be used to promote the horseracing industry.
The Emergence of Podcasting
----------------------------
See "Podcasting: Making Waves," by Sam Whitmore. Forbes.com. 4/21/05
http://www.forbes.com/personalfinance/funds/2005/04/21/cz_sw_0421whitmore.htmlUS
=
From "Podcasting Users to Approach 60 Million by 2010." Scoop. 17 June 2005
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0506/S00039.htm
"According to new forecasts from The Diffusion Group, a leading
consumer technology research consultancy, demand for time-shifted
digital audio files or "podcasts" is expected to grow from less than
15% of portable digital music player owners in 2004 to 75% by 2010.
TDG's new report, Podcasting: Fact, Fiction and Opportunity, suggests
that between 2004 and 2010, the use of podcasting among US consumers
will enjoy a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 101%."
"Yes, the roots of podcasting lie in non-commercial amateur blogging,
but podcasting's non-commercial status is changing as more businesses
begin to find creative ways to use this new delivery medium to push
audio content."
"Freedman's claims have indeed been validated by a host of recent
commercial podcasting activity. ABC and NBC (along with MSNBC and
CNBC) are using podcasting to offer recorded newscasts via online
downloads. National Public Radio, Infinity Broadcasting, and even
Clear Channel Radio have teed up a number of popular radio programs
for podcasting. Even Business Week created a special audio blog to
accompany its recent analysis of the podcasting phenomenon."
=
POLITICIANS are employing podcasting to get their message out:
From "US politicians embrace podcasts," By Kevin Anderson. BBC News. 4/13/2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4441135.stm
"Now politicians and the political parties in the US are jumping on
the latest internet bandwagon: Podcasts."
"Podcasts are a relatively recent outgrowth of blogs, but instead of
being text and pictures, podcasts are downloadable audio files. Last
year, President Bush was keen to get his message out unfiltered to
voters by granting interviews to local media, talk radio hosts
sympathetic to his policies and by using online video. Podcasts are
the latest attempt by politicians and their parties to directly beam
their message to their supporters without having to go through the
traditional media. The Republican Party, which has a well-oiled
communications machine, has recently started several podcasts
including interviews with party figures such as party chair Ken
Mehlman and former White House Secretary Ari Fleischer.
==
MAJOR ADVERTISERS are also turning to podcasting to promote their products:
From "Mad Ave.'s Rush to Podcasts," By David Kiley. BusinessWeek
Online. MAY 25, 2005
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2005/tc20050525_8984_tc_211.htm
"Most major advertisers -- General Motors (GM ), Ford (F ), Procter &
Gamble (PG ), Unilever, Warner Brothers (TWX ), and Heineken among
them -- are either already advertising in podcasts or at least
dithering over the right creative approach before jumping in.
"Podcasting is one of the developments, along with online digital
music services like iTunes and Rhapsody, that allow a consumer to be
their own programmer. That will obsolete terrestrial radio for many
advertisers," says Rishad Tobaccowala, chief innovation officer at
Publicis Groupe Media (PUB ).
"By getting in early on a new technology like podcasting, an
advertiser can be seen as cool and fueling a nascent medium among
early adopters -- typically the most influential people in their
social circles. For Euro RSCG 4D that meant getting client Volvo to
fork over $60,000 to sponsor autoblog.com for six months and
underwrite the launch of the autoblog podcast."
"The podcast is a compilation of what the blog host thinks are the
best items, such as interviews with car company executives,
aftermarket tuners, and the like. "For very little money we get
enormous bang," says Anna Papadopoulos, media director at Euro RSCG
4D. Four months into the deal, the podcast has been downloaded 20,000
times. Ford Motor's Swedish unit is using the same strategy by
sponsoring the engadget.com podcast, an extension of the blog that
covers all aspects of gaming, home entertainment, and home computing.
"Thought you could escape infomercials in cyberspace? Sorry. Some
companies have discovered that podcasts allow them to make
infomercials available anywhere, anytime. General Motors distributes
one on its own corporate blog (fastlane.com). In the style of talk
radio, the 12-minute show is described as "FastLane Radio." One
podcast was an exchange between host Deb Ochs, a GM public relations
employee and Clay Dean, GM's director of design for small and midsize
vehicles, about the development of the new Pontiac Solstice."
Read further....
=
From "Podcasting is to Radio spots as infomercials are to TV spots."
Mark Ramsey. http://workingpathways.com/workbetter/archive/podcasting-is-ron-popeil-for-the-radio/
"I?ve used the informercial comparison before, I?m glad others see it
also. The traditional model of commerical spots interrupting a
regularly scheduled program falls apart in podcasting. Podcasts can
shrink and expand to whatever length makes sense and economics of it
mean businesses can publish them in-house faster and easier than
waiting to get on a networks schedule."
"A good podcast is about one idea, like a good sentence. Traditional
interruption-based advertising duct-tapes on a second idea. Earlier,
this would be the only way to distribute the commercial message -
outside of an infomercial. With podcasting businesses go direct to
customers - plus now the commerical message won?t be interupted by the
regularly scheduled program."
==
INDIVIDUALS use podcasts to promote their own interests. An interest
in sports led the following two individuals to develop their own
podcast related to general sports news.
From "What is ?The Skinny on Sports??"
http://skinnyonsports.podshow.com/what-is-the-skinny-on-sports/
"Building on the recent success of blogging comes Podcasting - a way
of delivering audio from a variety of different sources to your iPod
or similar audio device. Using programs such as iPodder listeners can
subscribe to Podcasts and updates are downloaded at user specified
intervals."
"When checking out the iPodder.org directory, we noticed that there
were no Podcasts targeting the sports audience. (There are some for
specific sports, but not sports in general.) With that, The Skinny on
Sports was born."
"The Skinny on Sports is a Podcast that is approximately 10 minutes in
length that looks at some of the key issues in the sports world at the
given time. Given the short time, the show moves quickly and aims to
provide and promote discussion on the latest issues at hand."
=
Sports talk podcasts
MercuryNews.com | 02/26/2005 "Sports-talk providers get in on Podcast
game." http://larrymagid.typepad.com/larrynews/2005/02/
"Have you ever wished your favorite sports radio show was talking
about basketball instead of baseball, or hockey instead of football?
Sam Curtis Coutin feels your pain. That's one reason the San Francisco
consultant is taking advantage of a phenomenon called podcasting to
launch a network of specialized sports talk shows."
(If you want to read the full article, you will have to follow the
link from the above reference and sign-up on the Mercury News website)
==
To get an idea of some of the popular podcasts, click on the topic
links on the following website: http://www.podcastdirectory.com/genre/
==
Okay, hitcho - are you ready to get started on putting together your
own horseracing news podcast?
Sincerely,
umiat
|
