I agree that NBC did it right.

It had nothing to do with the producer's decision. NBC didn't know what was going on until after the horse was already put down. They missed the money shot.

Once the race ended the cameras were all focused on the winner. A minute later the announcer realized a horse was down. The cameras then went to the horse and the horse trailers pull up. NBC then interviews the track doctor and the first report on the situation was the horse was euthanized.

Sorry Max, but you're into my profession here. I've directed for NBC Sports and still have a number of friends there. There was a decision in the truck, by the producer, not to show and/or play the graphic video from several isolated as well as live cameras.

DA can tell me if I'm right or wrong, but I bet NBC had a dedicated shot on Eight Belles throughout most, if not all of the race. She was a filly with a good shot to win, and boy does that make great TV.

My thanks to the producer for making that decision. Well done.

Granted there were some horrific breakdowns prior to my watching horse races, but I have never seen a TV crew focus shots on a horse that is down on the track. It's not as though NBC is a trail blazer for not showing this footage, it just does not happen.

And you can bet that a camera stayed with her after the race as well, not only because she was the second place horse, but for the reason you mentioned.

Mandy, I agree with you as well, but in the heat of the moment of live coverage, the producer made a good call.

NBCs coverage was extremely tasteful... top to bottom. Its unfortunate what happened to eight belles but when a horse breaks both front legs, there isn't a whole lot that can be done. I feel bad for the people who are affiliated with Big Brown, what a spoiler.

AOII,

Did you watch the race?


Immediately following the race, the cameras were focused on the Big Brown heading to the victory circle. The viewers actually saw Eight Belles down in the background before the idiots broadcasting the race even said there was a horse down. The broadcasters then said they didn't know the status of the horse and the cameras then went to a trackside reporter with the track vet. The cameras then went back to the horse as horse trailers pulled up. The camera then went back to the vet who said the horse was eithanized. The whole thing only took about a minute or two. The owner of the horse didn't even know the horse was put down. Some jackass producer is now trying to save face.

The fact of the matter is when the event took place NBC's broascast team said on air that they didn't know what happend or the status of the horse. Most people watching probably figured the horse simply came up lame. NBC didn't know the horse was going to be put down until AFTER it was put down so they didn't make a decision to not show the horse being put down. If you belive DAs story then the broadcast team was lying to the viewers when they said they didn't know the status of the horse, which would be stupid.

There were probably dozens of cameras but the production crew are not psychics. They don't always know which camera has the best shot. The unexpected can happen on live TV. Just watch any NFL game. Half the time the the network has to run a replay from another camera to show what happened because they missed the live shot.

Most of that was ignorant and made no sense. And learn how to spell. Thank you.

Yes, and for what it's worth I've watched every Derby since I was a child. I also think it's comparing apples to oranges to compare a horse race to a NFL broadcast, but as I'm not in sports television production I'll leave those comparisons and contrasts to those who are.

Personally, I think any member of the broadcast and production crew who were horse people knew when she went down. Gary Stevens' face said it all to me. If not, then they figured it out pretty quickly when the shades went up, because without saying a word the message is clear to horse people. I have no doubt that NBC had isolation coverage on Eight Belles since she was a "good story" coming into the race. I also have no doubt that they had a camera available to show the injury.

I stand by my opinion that NBC handled it well and accept that we have differing opinions on this topic.

The horse broke down and had to be put to sleep.

End of really friggen story!:rolleyes:

Only one comment. Any journalist worthy of the name will say that he/she doesn't know what happened in an event until an official, in this case one of the track Vets, makes an official or on the record announcement.

The rest of the above isn't worth a comment.