- This topic has 11 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Several threads recently started are basically nibbling at the edges of this question so I thought I’d ask it straight out; both what do poeple want to see and what will actually happen.
Some people see racing as a struggle between punters and bookies, a war which neither side can win that will continue indefinitely. Bookmakers try to force the maximum field size to 15, and nget the odd non-runner here and there in an 8 runner race. All weather racing is a delight for bookies becuase punters can’t win there while all the decent meetings are been pruned of the quality racing, these people would argue. If this is the case we can expect more dirt racing, smaller fields, more race meetings with less prize money and quality through the card.
I find this view interesting but would disagree this is where racing is heading. There are already clear murmurs of discontent about dirt racing and some of the new tracks have been on hold. Is dirt/ all weather racing the way forward? Personally i would love to see some good quality dirt racing in the winter, even if its just a couple of meetings a week, as I am sure there are plenty of decent flat horses who would turn up if good money was on offer. I can’t see this happening though, and i actually think dirt racing will slowly be phased out in this country, which i find very sad. Punters no longer seem to have a place for it, and when less than 1000 turn up at Kempton to watch it at the newest race track it must surely be a matter of time before it is rendered surplus to requirements.
What will happen to the rest of the flat season? The trend towards more meetings seems unstoppable and I expect this trend to continue. I was also going to speculate that the quality of racing would fall, but after seeing todays cards I’m not sure if this would be the case. The flat season that i love is evolving and not for the better in my opinion. A range of ability should be on offer on a racecard, but I at least want to see 1 quality race on a card. By limiting the amount of meetings every day to 4 (during the flatseason), with one of these been a jumps meeting, I would hope we would see better racing. Perhaps it is interesting that certain horses are entered up in several races within a couple of days while certain trainers struggle to find their horses a suitable race. Meetings like the Craven and July meeting should have good quality racing, but should not be extended and drawn out like they have done to the Cheltenham festival to try to boost bookie revenue. Unfortunately I see the trend of extending festivals continuing, and the racing suffering as a result.
However i don’t see it as all doom and gloom. Many bookmakers have responded to the pressure of the exchanges by offering more competitive prices with some notable exceptions (William Hills) and I expect this trend to continue as bookmakers are forced to hunt for new customers. I was reading Barry Dennis’s comments in the Zorro thread, and I thought it was revealing that horse racing profit margins are so slender. However with the increase in the amount of racing I would expect turnover continues to rise.
Ultimately, I also see modifications to each way betting, although I don’t know if this will be in the next 5 years. Bookmakers are fed up of each way thieves and will only let you have £100 e/w on certain races with a fancied horse and plenty of each way options (I know this because i work for one), while punters are also unhappy at the abnormally high amount of runners withdrawn in 8 and 16 runner handicaps (the evidence is very damning and would point to more than coincedence). Ultimately surely some sort of comprimise must be reached to try to keep both parties’ happy. Perhaps paying out on 4 places will be abolished and 1/4 the odds will be payed on all races?
The beauty of life is that you can’t predict the future, and i may be barking up the wrong tree entirely. Perhaps the industry will continue without change, but some changes could be made to help both punter and bookmaker.
What does everyone else on here think will happen and more importantly what changes do you want to see?
Personally i would love to see some good quality dirt racing in the winter, even if its just a couple of meetings a week, as I am sure there are plenty of decent flat horses who would turn up if good money was on offer.
The Dubai Carnival fits the bill.
Correct Gareth and wouldn’t it be great if those in charge of Kempton could get the sponsorship to do something similar
<br>I’m sure owners like AP would jump at the chance to race for such amounts
Yer never know it may even become an interest for Ricky Lake and Glenn :biggrin:
<br>
(Edited by empty wallet at 1:02 am on July 25, 2006)
Personally and this is a purely personal and selfish point of view, I’d like to see all weather racing only in the winter incase of abandonments, I’d like to see jump racing return to what it used to be between October and April the break up of Godolphin and the Europeans to turn their backs on the Breeders Cup and Dubai World Cup and such racing. Racing is losing its tradition IMO and I don’t think its for the best.
The flat programme needs modifying, I’d like to see it begin sometime in May and end the beginning of November and some if not most of the big races moved to better and more accomodating dates.
Hardly any of that will happen I know, if any of it.
I don’t expect many people to agree but thats just my personal view. ÂÂÂ
(Edited by The Market Man at 5:55 am on July 25, 2006)
<br>TMM,
Nobody is going to keep a flat horse in training all winter on the off chance of getting a race when the NH meetings are abandoned.
AP
Quote: from apracing on 8:11 am on July 25, 2006[br]<br>TMM,
Nobody is going to keep a flat horse in training all winter on the off chance of getting a race when the NH meetings are abandoned.
AP
<br>I meant run the all weather through the winter so that if National Hunt cards are called off there is still racing, I didn’t just mean on days where there is no jumping.
None of it going to happen anyway I’m fully aware of that.
<br>Apologies TMM, I misread your meaning. Obviously that was how it all started out, but when the Savill plan called for three meetings per day, more evening racing and Sundays the expansion was inevitable.
You can only stage so many meetings on a turf track before the surface is ruined and the AW courses were the only option to make up the numbers.
AP
I reckon its impossible to judge what is going to happen right now because the folk in charge haven’t decided yet. I think they will wait and see how the low class numbers racket goes and then decide ..
There will more likely be a surfeit of dross racing once regional racing is assimilated into normal cards.
Due to pressure of space, national newspapers will ditch one or two cards a day leaving anyone interested to find them off the internet or in the one remaining specialist paper, the RP, The Sportsman long having gone bust.
Ryan Moore is stable jockey to Stoute. The title goes to anyone willing to ride at 3 meetings a day , the proposal to limit riders to 1 meeting having been successfully challenged in the courts.
An ageing McCoy remains jumps champion with him still complaining about being unable to have a holiday in case anyone else sneaks an advantage.
Several figures convicted of corruption become eligible for parole and are released to ride with tags on.
Alan Berry trains a winner.
Claire Balding retires and is replaced by Rishi Persad as BBC anchor for their one day’s coverage a year having divested themselves of all other fixtures in order to preview the women’s beach volleyball event for the forthcoming London Olympics.
<br>C4 successfully demand more cash from racing for terrestrial coverage and decide that they need even more presenters as a result. Davina McCall and Ant and Dec are called in.
<br>Kempton AW become even more desperate to attract a crowd with bankruptcy looming. They run themed stag and hen nights and turn the weighing room into a lap dancing club. Jockeys change in portaloos and perform a skinny version of The Chippendales between the 7.28 and 7.58 races .
Quote: from Lingfield on 11:07 pm on July 25, 2006[br]There will more likely be a surfeit of dross racing once regional racing is assimilated into normal cards.
Due to pressure of space, national newspapers will ditch one or two cards a day leaving anyone interested to find them off the internet or in the one remaining specialist paper, the RP, The Sportsman long having gone bust.
Ryan Moore is stable jockey to Stoute. The title goes to anyone willing to ride at 3 meetings a day , the proposal to limit riders to 1 meeting having been successfully challenged in the courts.
An ageing McCoy remains jumps champion with him still complaining about being unable to have a holiday in case anyone else sneaks an advantage.
Several figures convicted of corruption become eligible for parole and are released to ride with tags on.
Alan Berry trains a winner.
Claire Balding retires and is replaced by Rishi Persad as BBC anchor for their one day’s coverage a year having divested themselves of all other fixtures in order to preview the women’s beach volleyball event for the forthcoming London Olympics.
<br>C4 successfully demand more cash from racing for terrestrial coverage and decide that they need even more presenters as a result. Davina McCall and Ant and Dec are called in.
<br>Kempton AW become even more desperate to attract a crowd with bankruptcy looming. They run themed stag and hen nights and turn the weighing room into a lap dancing club. Jockeys change in portaloos and perform a skinny version of The Chippendales between the 7.28 and 7.58 races .
<br>You should be on the stage. That had me in stitches. Depressing thing is half of it pretty much true.
Dunno how many presenters Channel four actually want? As for the Beeb anythings possible.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.