Very cool. I got to see a lot of HANSEL that year because he was stabled at Arlington Park that summer.
That TV show you mention seemed to have a big impact on people. Does Post Time ring a bell? I think that's the show you watched. It was on briefly, but I watched it every Saturday morning out here.
Buddy and I had a similar experience:
I told my buddy about this guy with Thoro-Graph who loved LURE in the BC Mile (Gulfstream?). Explained why and my buddy wasn't sold. He calls me after the race and I could tell he's amazed at what just happened. He's been a sheet player ever since. I made a poster out of the sheet and stuck it on the wall I was so impressed.
That little TV Show made a big impression on people.