Where's the Competition? Saving Horse Racing

I happened to stumble upon a Netflix series called "Physical: Asia" and decided to give it a shot. Needless to say, I became completely obsessed and hooked after the very first episode. But why???

I'm certainly not the type to watch a show dubbed over in English with closed captions. I never had any desire to watch sweaty athletes from foreign countries compete in crazy strength tests. I had no idea who these people were and why on earth I was actually watching it.

I am an "over 50" woman and this type of show was so far removed from my typical "Pride and Prejudice" or "Girl with a Pearl Earring" type of TV viewing. Honestly, I started to laugh at myself after realizing that 5 episodes later and I was still seated in the same spot on my sofa, ready for the 6th episode. I could not tear myself away from it.

It had occurred to me after binge-watching the entire 12 episodes throughout that night that somehow, some way, the format and competitive nature of this "sporting event" had managed to hold my attention and captivate me in ways that I cannot explain. I wanted more.

I had found that this started with two seasons of the show called "Physical: 100". Oh yes, I have since watched both of those as well. Obsessed with this exciting and magnificent series and it was the cast of characters and the raw competition that had me hooked.

This was not a show filled with obscure reality TV seekers, these competitors were the real deal. Highly successful athletes who trained extensively in their given arenas.

For instance, Yun Sung-Bin from Korea, known as the Iron Man, won a gold medal in the Men's Skeleton in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Raw athleticism and commitment to being the best in his chosen field. Competitive and obviously making a name for himself along the way to even be chosen for these Netflix shows.

This guy alone was absolutely captivating and so competitive in both the Physical: 100 Season One series and in the newest edition, Physical: Asia. I couldn't help but root like a schoolgirl for his success in both shows.

The entire production, the competitors, the urgency and the excitement has me a fan for life in something that I would have never given the time of day otherwise.

It had nothing to do with tweets, the internet, or even word of mouth. It had nothing to do with my "normal" day to day interests. Quite frankly, I didn't even watch the Olympics, and I barely watch other sports outside of horse racing.

This show was the epitome of competition and it took the viewer along with it, eager to find out who ultimately took home the prize as the last team standing. It was mesmerizing on a completely different level. I didn't know a thing about a Korean athlete named Yun Sung-bin or any of the other competitors for that matter, but by the end of the series, I was floored by their persistent talent. They gained a fan overnight.

In a little over 1 hour of watching this, you couldn't tear me away from it and now, I eagerly await Season two.

So what was the draw? What was the hook and how does all of this relate to the state of Horse Racing in an effort to gain more viewership?

First, I was given the opportunity to be "exposed" to it. While surfing the little picture blurbs on the Netflix app, the teaser picture and subsequent mini promo peaked my interest. I hit the Play button and never looked back.

Where does Horse racing ever "get exposed" even with a small teaser blurb outside of specific Horse racing websites that the general public would never search for or even entertain?

Even when it does get its random shot, as was the case with the Netflix poor performing show "Race for the Crown" which is now discontinued, it portrays the sport in such a negative and seedy way that it would never captivate any new fans. The format was all wrong and had nothing to do with drawing the viewer into the competition that is Horse racing. That show revolved around several (repulsive) men attached to the sport and there was nothing even remotely close to the magnificent allure of the competitive side of horse racing and THE HORSE himself.

As it pertains to horse racing, those outside of the sport would probably mention the name Secretariat as the only horse they know by name - a horse who ran on the track over 50 years ago.

Secretariat was plastered all over the place. There were press conferences, there were newspapers, and even Sports Illustrated named him the ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. He was a household name. The only other horse in history to be recognized as Athlete of the Year was Citation back in 1948, over 77 years ago.

Even with four Triple Crown winners since Secretariat, not one horse in any division garnered such publicity and name recognition throughout the general public. Mention the name Wise Dan, Frankel, A.P. Indy, Zenyatta, Equinox, and they remain clueless. How much longer can we rely on Secretariat's name? Time is ticking.

It is the mystique of excellence in the athlete, the raw competitiveness and the magic it produces while witnessing it that should captivate a new fan to any sport. People are not exposed to the athletes in horse racing, so they have no way of experiencing that grip that captures you when they compete down that stretch.

Watching one graded stakes race will not capture a new fan, they need to be engaged and engrossed within it in a repetitive way. They need to sit on the edge of their seats watching the best unfold simultaneously.

As a brand new "unfamiliar" and "highly unlikely" fan of a foreign competitive sport show, I can see clearly why Horse racing has lost its allure outside of the obsessive handicappers and struggles to find its way into the hearts of new fans.

The sport itself does not revolve around the athletes any more. The sport has no competitive value. It is spread out to much to hold their interest.

If we look at this year's Breeder's Cup Classic, it was probably the first race held in many years that offered a sense of some sort of true competition. It was exciting based on the cast of characters involved, but still, no one outside of the true handicappers had any sense of it. They were not a part of it in the lead up to the final gate. How boring.

It takes a full year to pronounce the "VICTOR" in our sport with the Breeder's Cup Classic and even then, we may not have the true Champion. Not only does the general public have no idea how these horses even get a shot in a Classic gate, but they have no idea that they are even coming from other countries as well. They know nothing, they see nothing, so how are we to expect them to join us.

Where is the urgency with the Horse Racing boards, the Jockey Club and other affiliates to use serious TV programming to create excitement with the competition and drive consumers to be a part of these magnificent animals?

A strong proposition for our sport - Make for a very captivating series based on REAL COMPETITION.

The Breeders Cup Weekend is a compilation of Win and You're in races throughout the year. Those who study the sport understand this and we watch the races in anticipation for that weekend. In reality, the general public could care less.

The Kentucky Derby is a compilation of the highest points in the Derby Prep series over the months proceeding the race. Many will tune in to watch the Kentucky Derby, but other than that, they have no interest in the preps and are thoroughly absent after the Belmont Stakes.

But what if we took 12 of the very best colts and fillies in the FOUR YEAR OLD DIVISION and had them compete monthly at different tracks across the country and at different distances along the way. These horses can also be from overseas as well. After each race, the one who came in dead last would be eliminated. The following month, the remaining 11 competed again, with the one who came in last, eliminated.

What if this went on until only two horses remained, culminating in a match race between the top two. The true Champion of the best of the best would eventually be crowned.

Imagine the boost to our Sport not only with gaining additional fans, but a boost to the Four Year old division if we had a true competition among 12 of the best horses over a period of time at different tracks across the country, and then it was unveiled all together on TV.

These 12 races could be strung together in a 12 episode series, complete with insane graphics and wild production tricks that would engage both young and old. They could simply binge watch, engage with now familiar names as they root for their favorite along the way.

They could integrate the training and workouts before the races. They could have the trainers and owners trash talking each other like Secretariat and Sham's connections did. They could show off the individual tracks while they are at it. Then the race unfolds, the winner gets paid and the one who came in last gets eliminated. On to the next episode.

This is exactly what tens of thousands of people did with Physical 100 and Physical Asia. Twitter was on fire after the final episode aired and the winner was named. Name recognition, exciting production, the art of competition, be it foreign athletes with dubbed commentary or top notch thoroughbreds. It's all nonstop competition, something that viewers get hooked on, waiting to see the ultimate winner.

It is all about urgency, repetition, and exciting competition to hold their interest. In other words, not strung out arbitrarily where the general public will not follow. They can watch the progression one race after the other AFTER the races are all compiled. It creates its own aura, just like it did for me with Physical Asia.

It would take one year to compile the footage and then the series is unveiled to the public. Horse Racing would then reach the mainstream, possibly even a household name once again. The younger crowd would inevitably engage, especially with the types of graphics and production theatrics like they used in Physical Asia. It would be "COOL." Instead of now where a race is run and forgotten in 10 minutes, the entire 12 race series truly does end with the best horse standing.

Additionally, it could possibly alleviate early retirement of the best horses after the Triple Crown. It could possibly boost the breeding fees for at least the top five. It could extend our sport into mainstream. It would be bigger than the Derby Preps and the Win and You're In races.

The culmination of a match race between the TOP Two left standing is something that our sport craves and needs. It would bring back the competitiveness that made this sport as engrossing as it was in the past.

Urgency and real Global Competition with the HORSE taking center stage. That is how you gather thousands upon thousands of newly engaged fans in this era. A show on Netflix with deep competition that engages the viewer with excitement as they rally around their favorite. May the best horse win.