- This topic has 26 replies, 20 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 7 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Both the BBC and Aintree are in favour of a 5.00pm start for the Grand National as they both believe it will be a significant step forward for the race and mean increased viewing figures.<br>What do you think?
I can see it now:
"All of the fences down the back straight will be bypassed due to low sun!"
Surely a 5pm start will only reduce the Sunday papers front page coverage, on probably the only day that racing gets front page coverage for the right reasons….
Good point QZY. It annoys me that the most known about horse each year outside of racing circles is normally a good handicapper. Rather than the real class horses who get nowhere near that coverage in the national press..
I also think it’s a nonsense… Why start at five? They’ll probably chop the better races from the tv coverage so they can further extend their pre-race interview drivel… Rather than doing it where they should be concentrating on the G1 race about to start where we don;t even see the paddock.. What a nonsense
I think the current 4.15 start is a good compromise. The argument that 3.45 was too early was valid in terms of the public, but I think having the feature at 5 would definitely have its down sides, points raised by David, Aragorn and qzy included. It would be unwise to revolve the entire meeting around one race.<br>
(Edited by Friggo at 11:46 am on April 20, 2007)
I think 5 is a good idea, then no cancellation of the Bumper like last Saturday. I wouldn’t worry about coverage in the Sunday Papers as the only picture that hits the front page is carnage at a fence. I think the pre race coverage is more important
The sunday papers can get coverage of 5:15 football matches these days, so I’m not sure if it’s that big a problem any more.
- Total Posts 17716
Quote: from yeats on 7:15 am on April 20, 2007[br]Both the BBC and Aintree are in favour of a 5.00pm start for the Grand National as they both believe it will be a significant step forward for the race and mean increased viewing figures.<br>What do you think?<br>
With a little bit more training, this year’s starter could probably stretch it to that anyway.;) <br>
The only good reason I can see for a 5pm start is to increase betting revenue. The low sun question mark is a paticular concern. Can you imagine the carnage if a low sun became an issue?
Low sun could be a major issue compromising safety so on those grounds alone I would oppose a switch .
I disagree with the comment about getting the other races over with first and then the bumper wouldn’t be cancelled. A Graphic Approach can happen in any race (or anywhere horses and hard objects might into contact , he wasn’t knocked out at a fence) <br>It is to racing’s credit that welfare concerns for GA over-rode any monetary consideration for lost betting revenue on a bumper. Racing put horse welfare first , as it always should and generally manages to <br>The course , the vets , the whole team dealing with him deserve plaudits for their efforts and successful outcome , not moans about cancelling bumpers
If the race starts at five, the only thing in the Sunday papers will be a photograph and the 1-2-3-4. Newspapers don’t care about racing, they care about football, and a later start will give them an extra excuse to drop coverage.
It’s a really terrible idea, and for the BBC to claim that all they want to do is to maximise the audience for the GN is risible.
If they were that bothered, they would have a proper preview program the evening before on BBC1.
They would show the highlights of the meeting before midnight.
On Radio 5 they would build up the race for a week or so before, using informed and competent journalists, sacking the lazy and incompetent Lysaght and Harvey.
Having worked last Grand National day the earlier the better – if they ran it at 10am it wouldn’t be early enough.
Murder – spare a thought for those who work in the industry next time you bet on National day:angry:
Quote: from Irish Stamp on 7:46 pm on April 20, 2007[br]Having worked last Grand National day the earlier the better – if they ran it at 10am it wouldn’t be early enough.
Murder – spare a thought for those who work in the industry next time you bet on National day:angry:
Hear, hear.
But at least we get to go out on the lash afterwards!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.