Horse racing's "new frontier of Internet wagering and
24-hour cable networks" -- including the Television Games
Network (TVG), the Racing Network (TRN) and Youbet.com --
was examined by Bill Christine of the L.A. TIMES, who wrote
that "because of the size of the potential market, there
ultimately could be room for TVG, TRN and other alphabet-
soup outfits that may come along." But TRN President Bill
Hogwood says that his service and TVG "are apples and
oranges." Hogwood: "TVG is trying to appeal to new players.
They're coming off like the MTV of racing. I wish them
well, and I really don't think we're competitive. Our
service is associated with the experienced players, and we
don't include wagering." Christine wrote that TVG will
"frustrate the viewer who can't get enough betting action,"
since it carries "only selected race coverage rather than
full cards." TVG VP/Communications Rick Baedeker: "We will
not be a simulcast show. This is a 24-hour network to
attract new fans. If we had become a simulcast show, we
would have suckered our (financial) partners."
Additionally, TVG has played "hardball with its competition,
insisting that its partner tracks sign exclusive
agreements." Santa Anita President Lonny Powell said his
track is "looking at TVG, but we're not interested in going
exclusive with them. It's always possible that we might
want to create our own arena with the tracks we have in our
family" (L.A. TIMES, 9/28).
