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I’m by no means a fan of flat racing but the other day I was surprised to learn it’s the Derby this Saturday. I’ve seen virtually no advertising of the race especially when there’s no other major sporting events happening this weekend. I also have no idea who’s running.
Is it just me or does anyone else think racing has yet again shot itself in the foot by failing to advertise one of the biggest events in the sport?
no other major sporting events happening this weekend.
You’re not a United fan are you Phil…?
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We’re all going to MadridAlso Cricket World Cup hosted in England
Agree the Derby should have more coverage though…
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Doesn’t seem right to have The Oaks being run in May..couldn’t the meeting be held next weekend??
Would have given a longer gap betweenThe Dante and The Derby.
I haven’t seen one betting shop advertising The Derby in their windows.Saturday is great day of sport. Champions League final, Derby, Premiership rugby final and the Anthony Joshua fight. Cricket World Cup ongoing as well although no England game that day as they played today.
True, moving a week later would’ve given a longer gap between Dante and Derby, but a far shorter gap between Epsom and Royal Ascot. King Ed, Ribblesdale, Hardwicke would all be poorer for it. Possibly the 1m2f Group 3 too. I don’t see that the Dante Derby gap is too short anyway.
Did see an advert on Youtube, none elsewhere. Aren’t ITV advertising it? I wouldn’t know. Maybe there should be more advertising by the authorities instead of relying on ITV, but the Derby will never get the interest of Joe Public like the Grad National. Racing is a niche sport anyway. “When I were a lad” there was only one live football match televised a year, only one F1 race etc… Doesn’t mean we should give up, but these days fact is racing has many more rivals for Joe’s sporting interest.
Value Is EverythingShould never have been moved from the traditional Wednesday.
The whole country used to know it was Derby Day- half the workforce would throw a sickie. Now, it’s just another race on a Saturday.
Sympathetic with your view; I’d like it to be on a Wednesday, Gladiteur; but do wonder if am being a little selfish. You and I can watch it on a wednesday; most (honest) horse racing fans can’t. Expect you can remember too, when the Wednesday Derby Day was a public/bank holiday. If only Mr Corbyn wanted the first Wednesday in June to be one of his new Bank hodidays. Might even get me voting Labour! Nah, only joking. I wouldn’t be that stupid!
Value Is EverythingAiden O’Brien as half the field and no one bats an eyelid, yet Gigginstown have half the runners in a race and every man and his dog are up in arms complaining. Why? What is the difference. No wonder O’Leary is calling it a day when no one seems to like what he does yet O’Brien does the same and he is almost applauded for it.
Anyway it makes the race boring in my eyes.I’m not sure you can say nobody is batting an eyelid. There is a thread specifically discussing this, and how boring it makes it. Many mentions in other conversations too.
A couple of observations – Sir Dragonet (Camelot – Sadlers Wells). All others have are by Galileo or by a stallion by Galileo – all runners are Sadlers Wells line.
A couple of observations – Sir Dragonet (Camelot – Sadlers Wells). All others have are by Galileo or by a stallion by Galileo – all runners are Sadlers Wells line.
This is what is worrying. Just go back thirty of so years and there was much more diversity in the breed, go back fifty years (no I can’t believe it’s that long)it was Blakeney, from the Byerley Turk line. Now it is all the Darley male line and the majority of horses have multiple crosses of Northern Dancer and his sons. The thoroughbred has been inbred more or less than the start but now there are no other any crosses or diversity. This years winner is almost a clone of Sadlers Wells/Northern Dancer; there are so many horses identical now, white on faces, white socks, bright bays, some with silver tails. It isn’t just the same silks, when did you last see a top class runner on the flat that was a brown, or even a dark bay or a black? Sadlers Wells was a true breeding horse so there are less chesnuts too.
What with the ITV coverage….I went out to do the garden.Gigginstown could run eight in the Gold Cup and few would care.Taking away opportunities in races that are over subscribed particularly the Grand National is what peeves a lot of us. At least the Ballydoyle lot don`t all run in the same colours
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