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Channel4 Racing was fine until they brought in the self-obsessed Balding to run it. She’s killed the atmosphere, and of course it’s also not the same since Francome and McRirick left, the former jumping ship and the latter made to walk the gang plank. The one thing those two both had in common was that they were maverick characters, and you can’t have that on the new conformist format.
I don’t think you can blame Claire Balding. I think that it’s those analysts from Timeform, much as I love Timeform, I don’t think they are suitable for fronting a racing TV programme. They make it so boring and they are on far too much. To be fair, Claire isn’t on the screen much.
I also agree that Mick Fitzgerald isn’t the best; who would be better?
I think we were spoiled with all the excellent presenters from the past, John Oaksey and Jimmy Lindley were both good, but a jockey Willie Carson an example as well as Mick Fitzgerald, isn’t always an expert or possess relevant knowledge."…John Oaksey and Jimmy Lindley were both good….
I think you’re looking back to a golden age that never really existed!
Jimmy Lindley was a master of banality, remember his stock line about a jockey – "…no finer rider when he gets the chance"? He must have said that hundreds of times. (To his credit, he’s even admitted himself that he didn’t think he was much cop!).
John Oaksey, for all his brilliant work for the Injured Jockeys fund, was never much of a broadcaster imo. He came across to me as being full of easy charm, but seriously vague on detail.
I agree the coverage is poor. I think Channel 4 are trying to do two things at once and in so doing are succeeding with neither.
Firstly they are trying to put on a programme that racing lovers will like without focussing on what racing lovers like – horses.
Secondly they are trying to attract new viewers to the sport and think the best way of doing this is by spending more time talking to characters within the sport. There is only one flaw with that policy – there are not many characters within the sport.
Of course the irony is that they are trying to pander to people who don’t care and aren’t even watching.
So what can be done? If you look at most of the sports that have continued to thrive they all have one thing in common – narrative. It is all about the context these sports are played in.
Take darts. Who would have thought it would have taken off like it has? It used to be a once a year sport but then they created the Premier League and now it is one of the most watched sports on Sky. Would we watch Taylor v Barneveld if it was a one-off friendly? Would any of us watch Costa Rica verses Uruguay if it wasn’t a World Cup match? Would 120,000 Americans flock to Belmont to see California Chrome if there wasn’t a Triple Crown?
Racing somehow needs a narrative that will capture the public imagination. The Champions Series is aimed at doing that but do any of you know the current state of play in that? I know I don’t.
We enthusiasts all love the one-off races. We know what they mean to us and to the horses and connections but I wouldn’t even try to explain to a non-enthusiast why the Prince of Wales is an important race in the calendar. I think we need competitions/leagues that run for the season, are simple to follow and have decent prizes at stake. Or how about a competition that is like The 10 to Follow but for much bigger prizes that the public can follow through the season? Look at how much we spend on the blinking Lottery each week; people love a little bet. How much better if there is actually some skill involved and you can follow your selections each week?
Something really must be done if the sport is not to die when we do. How many under 30’s take part in this forum I wonder?
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
- Total Posts 764
Racing somehow needs a narrative that will capture the public imagination. The Champions Series is aimed at doing that but do any of you know the current state of play in that? I know I don’t.
We enthusiasts all love the one-off races. We know what they mean to us and to the horses and connections but I wouldn’t even try to explain to a non-enthusiast why the Prince of Wales is an important race in the calendar. I think we need competitions/leagues that run for the season, are simple to follow and have decent prizes at stake. Or how about a competition that is like The 10 to Follow but for much bigger prizes that the public can follow through the season? Look at how much we spend on the blinking Lottery each week; people love a little bet. How much better if there is actually some skill involved and you can follow your selections each week?
Something really must be done if the sport is not to die when we do. How many under 30’s take part in this forum I wonder?
Joni I’m 22 and really couldn’t agree more on the matter. The races need to mean something and like you said, if I showed one of my mates the Kings Stand Stakes they’d have no idea why it’s any more important than any of the other races over the same distance. This means people don’t see a reason to suddenly start following or watching the sport.
I really don’t know what the answer is but for me there needs to be some re-formatting if younger generations are to start getting into it. People need a reason to watch the races.
Ok I’m about to go "full-retard" with this one so please excuse the left-field ideas –
– How about 1v1 knockout races in the format of a tournament? Winner goes through to the next race, just like a tennis tournament……..You could even do top 3 go through to the next round if you wanted bigger fields in this tournament.
– A league, there could be 20 races throughout the season in which points can be won (10 for 1st place, 7 for 2nd etc, like Formula 1). You wouldn’t have to enter your horse into every race but maybe some races could be worth more points.
– Race names that make sense: If I’d never watched racing before and turned it on to hear the commentator say "and they’re off in the derrisford handicap chase stakes at phones 4 u over miles and four furlongs for amateur riders" I’d have no ******* clue what they were talking about and probably change channel.
Don’t knock yourself Ben – good ideas those. Perhaps we could start a business together?!
How about a thread on the forum where people can put forward their ideas and we can vote on the best ones and send them to the BHA for them to ignore?
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
- Total Posts 764
There’s definitely a market for something horse-racing related I just haven’t found what yet, so a 50/50 business sounds good
I like the idea of an ‘suggestions’ section. Maybe any winning ideas could win a prize, for example a ride round Newmarket town center aboard Frankel?
Where the administrators of racing have gone wrong is to assume that millions of extra people are likely to be interested in it as a sport. For casual observers, it’s just a numbers game
TV can make that entertaining to a wider audience but it needs the characters to make it watchable
Look at shows like X Factor – the phoney arguments between the panellists, press stories about rows behind the scenes, etc. The public seem to lap it up even though most of them must know it’s all nonsense
The fact is that in a multi-media age, pictures of horses running on a racetrack aren’t going to attract huge numbers of TV viewers
However a team of presenters who have genuine chemistry, sexy good looks (sorry but that is one of the things that people watch TV for) with spontanoeus and witty banter, the occasional argument etc would stand a chance. Nobody thought that ballroom dancing could attract 10 million viewers but the producers of SCD got it spectacularly right
It wouldn’t be everyone’s idea of a good show but there’s always ATR and RUK for the specialists
Big Mac was regularly criticised on internet forums but he was TV gold (though admittedly his time was nearly up, they needed a replacement but didn’t find one)
Unfortunately, the Channel 4 Racing editorial team haven’t got it right and terrestrial TV coverage of racing outside the big meetings will be finished in just over 2 years. It might have happened anyway but Channel 4’s disastrous failure to capture the imagination of the nation will have played a major part
Dettori now joining C4 for Royal Ascot and beyond
It smacks of panic, can’t see how it can possibly work while Frankie is still riding. He should be concentrating 100% on the horses he is riding.
How embarrassing was that charades on the Morning Line?
Yes Frankie was hot stuff for TV 20 years ago
But now?
And won’t viewers be able to see through it?
The Royal Ascot introductory music this year is so wrong, I’ve no idea what it is but it really grates. The BBC used to get this so right with music like Odissea Veneziana , I’m not a great classical music lover but this was my all time favourite theme (apart from Champions)..really stirs the blood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTqHgwjMQsIThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...People I know that don’t often watch racing are watching it for the fashion this afternoon; racing has to sell a lifestyle to people. We all buy wedding outfits that we never get to wear again other than a trip to the races. I’m having nightmares working out what to wear at Newmarket next week but most women love an excuse to dress up and wear hats.
People I know that don’t often watch racing are watching it for the fashion this afternoon; racing has to sell a lifestyle to people. We all buy wedding outfits that we never get to wear again other than a trip to the races. I’m having nightmares working out what to wear at Newmarket next week but most women love an excuse to dress up and wear hats.
Moe you don’t have to go over the top at Newmarket on a non Group racing day especially, just wear something you feel comfortably in like a summer dress and wedge heels, or trousers.
You can wear smart jeans as long as they’re black no blues allowed in Premier Enclosure.
Hats are optional, I never wear one at Newmarket but some women will be wearing their Royal Ascot outfits, lovely but little over the top for dashing around from paddock to bookies.
Watch the weather because if it rains the July Course can get extremely muddy.
Have a great day.
Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Meanwhile, the woman who brought to an end the BBC interest in racing has been awarded an OBE for ‘services to sports broadcasting’.
I never realised just how vacuous and irritating Gok Wan is…..patent lack of chemistry with Claire especially when he talks over her with the meaningless drivel and cliches he constantly comes out with and a voice in terms of suitability for a broadcaster that makes Mick Fitzgerald sound like Orson Welles ……….awful awful awful…..by far the worst person they have ever brought in to do the fashion ( and there have been some horrors up to now)
I’m pretty sure Clare wasn’t responsible for the BBC pulling out of racing. She didn’t even have a contract with them, having worked as a freelance for several years. Relieved to hear about the dress code; was concerned about turning up without the right gear. I presume Mike has to wear a shirt and tie though [no jokes about wearing trousers as well please]. I’m quite enjoying watching Gok this week. And very happy for The Fugue today, albeit a bit sad for Treve.
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