Anyone caught the first episode? Its a new HBO-series, written by David Milch ("Deadwood") and starring Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina and Nick Nolte. The pilot was directed by Michael Mann.
Usually I wait for a season to end and then burn through all episodes in a week. But I was too curious here with all the names involved. Looks great and the acting is impeccable. The subject matter (horse racing) is a bit foreign to me but I am sure I will warm up to it. Dialogue is full of insider-terms and often mumbled so it takes some effort to follow the story.

I caught this. I didn't love it, but Deadwood didn't grab me right away either. I almost think a show like this would benefit from your (and mine as well) preferred marathon method. I also share your sentiments about de-coding the jargon to get through to the story. At least it's well written jargon with a lot less swearing than I was hoping for, imo.

It's really cool that they go into the whole world horse racing/betting, from top to bottom. Some of the aspects of the world seem pretty far removed from one another, so I'm curious how they'll inevitably collide. The actual racing bits were really the only scenes that kept a pulse to this show and full credit to Miltch and Mann for making that central focal orbit so compelling.

I didn't think Dustin Hoffman got enough screen time for the guy who is supposed to be our anchor...but time will tell.

Props to HBO. They attract talent and use it well.

I'm really hoping this turns out as good as it sounds. I won't be able to see it for a year but that's ok.

I'm liking this show. Slow to start, but not every HBO show hits ya right on the nose right away. Once that 3 million dollar race was underway in the first ep, I was hooked.
I like how the first two episodes ended with Dustin Hoffman and Dennis Farina in the hotel plotting revenge.

This show gets better with each episode.

Agreed. Despite my ambition to wait until the seasons end to watch the whole thing in one run I have already watched five episodes. Its really atmospheric and almost every character oozes total obsession with gambling and horse racing - two worlds that are rather strange to me. The look on the faces when they're winning and how they seem to be more horrified than glad (no more gambling, they've won) - totally spellbinding.

Damn. Three horses is too many I guess.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/hbos-luck-to-shut-down-for-good-following-latest-horse-death/

And during Cheltenham Festival week, too. How ironic.