Pay attention to the magic formula

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Pay attention to the magic formula

On March 9, 2009, in Horses and Racing, Opinions and Posts, by kath

Racing needs to celebrate and promote the "gritty realism" that today's younger demo has come not only to expect, but also embrace

We need to plant the seeds among the college students and make horseracing a spring-break destination. What's the magic formula to get the 18-24's through the gate? It looks like this:

gritty realism + things that break* + alcohol = RATINGS!!!

Have you seen Jockeys: Win or Die Trying; Animal Planet's foray into the trials and tribulations of jockeys? Its using the formula of "things that break" to attract the younger viewers. There's no fewer than three shots of horses falling on the track during the Oak Tree meeting- as well as the 1998 spill involving Mike Smith.

They've used the formula perfectly.

* things that break includes but is not limited to: arms, records, legs, hearts, sesamoids, horses, collarbones