Athletes and all those involved in sports, not necessarily the usual headline acts, showing their emotions after beating the odds, is very often something needed. It’s something uplifting and gives a sport like horse racing a different face. Offers an emotional attachment that might not be otherwise there. It takes racing away from being all about “the punt” and those going onto Twitter to tell the world about their winnings with the obligatory emojis.
Having said this, it’s knowing how to use these special moments- sparingly. But when some of those “racing and sports” radio stations decide to have these moments on almost constant repeat, well, let’s not forget that saying about flogging a dead horse. Like repeating the punch line to a joke and asking, “Did you get it? Huh? Huh? Huh?”
RSN, the dead people’s station in Melbourne propped up by advertising for funeral homes, doesn’t seem to understand the importance of subtlety and balance.
In recent weeks, some of the station’s various hosts seems so desperate to say something, perhaps because there’s nothing to say, that what comes out is Dumb and Dumber drivel.
A few weeks ago, a mildly entertaining video sent in or uploaded onto Twitter of a ghost race call or whatever it was by two blokes at a bar having a bit of fun was picked up by the station. For Team RSN, this video had “gone viral”. The chuffed duo were interviewed and with even talk about a possible regular slot. Nice gesture. But, really? It was THAT good? Gone viral? Please.
About a week later, a post race interview with trainer Ciaron Maher where, in all the excitement of winning a big race, he thanked everyone including sisters he doesn’t have, had also “gone viral” to some at Team Coco.Puhleeese.
Do these people ever get out? Travel? Don’t answer that.
There was then the time a few days earlier when the recording of a harness driver who, quite rightly, was overcome with emotion after a memorable win. This recording was pummelled into repetitive submission. The dead horse neighed again.
RSN would be far better off improving the quality of, well, everything though one must give props to the excellent continuity announcer John Henry and Andrew Kuuse who keeps the overnight programming alive and ticking.
What really must be ironed out are, for example, things like the technical problems that kept short circuiting the appearance of the very professional and popular Deane Lester during the ‘live’ broadcast of Victoria Derby Day. It was tough listening to take. It was amateur hour.
So are many of the interviews with jockeys and trainers where audiences are often none the wiser about what’s been said as either there’s no budget for mics that work or the technical gremlins are back at work. Or both. All the fawning for “fill ups” doesn’t help. It accentuates the desperation.
And though it’s good to keep things casual and with everyone having a bit of a laugh, where it goes completely off the tracks is when there’s SOOOOO much frankincense and mirth that everything deteriorates into pub-like matey “humour”. It doesn’t take long for everything to dissipates into self-indulgent radio. But maybe research proves this type of programming works for the station’s audience?
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