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Just need to base the 2023 fixture list on the 1983 fixture list and everything will be a lot better.
Never mind less races, we’re getting more.
Both Ayr and Doncaster in the last seven days split their sprint handicaps into two divisions because they had 18 horses declared despite the fact that the Lincoln and Ayr Gold Cup have more than 18 runners.
I’m guessing that the courses get media rights payments for every race they stage.
In fairness the racing generally is of a very poor standard.I love racing but not at the level it is most weeekdays when most horses are rated below 70. It’s like watching football at premiership at the weekend then midweek being forced to watch Sunday pub level. Turns most people off never mind people who watch the sport. Nobody is going to go to watch dross. If they don’t chnage shortly it will be too late and racing will be doomed. They should learn from history. Putting poor fare on and you will go bust
I don’t get these arguments at all. What’s expected midweek? Daily group ones?
And what happens to all the horses and owners if this lower grade racing is decimated?
I don’t have a problem with low grade racing. Class 6s can be just as exciting as a class 2. However we need bigger field sizes and that can only come about with less races.
Back in 2005 there were 18,000 in attendance at Sandown for the Coral Eclipse:
There was still plenty of racing at that time too, but not as much as today, I’d say.
There are numerous trainers, jockeys and stable staff at the bottom end who would be out of work without Class 6 races and meetings as their owners can’t afford to be involved at a higher level.
The BHA may need to ask itself how much it wants to keep the lowest tier afloat.
Whether it’s a desire to protect industry jobs or generate turnover to boost the Levy there needs to be a business case for continuing to pay the likes of ARC media rights money to stage these low-grade cards.
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I recall that as an exceptional year with a lot of interest in the race. Recall it well
For some daft reason I’ve looked a number of the years either side and attendances varied from just over 10k to 14k
Thanks for the numbers, Clive. I still think that even 10k should be achieved given the tradition and quality of this race in general.
Revisiting the title of this thread “collapse in racecourse attendances”, is there a problem with this at this time? Are courses going to go under if left alone?
I’m taking the arl fella to the afternoon fixture at Bath next Tuesday. A bit of dad and his lad socialising with a couple of beers and a meal in the restaurant.
Looking at the entries there’s only 6 races, 4 of which are grade 6 and at this time have numbers ranging from 7-21 entered.
I absolutely have no issue at all with low grade racing. The handicaps can be fun to try and solve.
What I don’t want to happen is we get there and all 6 races are single digit fields with 3 or 4 of them having short priced favs. I’m hoping the fact they only have 6 races provides an uplift in field sizes.
It’s something that needs doing more, if the tracks are that desperate to keep people there for an extra half hour they’re missing the point. More competitive racing would probably bring more people through the gates. Especially midweek.
Would it kill them to have a grandstand entry ticket for a fiver though? £17 in advance is a lot of money for a bog standard Tuesday afternoon.
If Sandown would have offered free admission on Coral Eclipse day, how many people might have shown up? Maybe 6k, maybe 10k, surely no more than 12k.
What do you think?Why would they do that?
I’m sure I’m not the only racegoer who literally doesn’t spend a single penny once inside a racecourse so they’d get no revenue off me whatsoever.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I would imagine Ian that you’re the exception to the rule though. It’s clear that the reason tracks offer free entry race days once or twice a year is to try and get them to spend money once there.
Most people will have a few drinks at the races. Alcoholic or not but to stand there for 5 hours or more and not spend a penny is an impressive feat of Scroogieness haha.
Tighter than two coats of paint!
Sounds like there is a large crowd at York today.
I saw the suited and dressed up crowd in Liverpool on their way to Chester. Plenty were already on the lager, so goodness knows what state they will be in when they finally enter the course.
“I would imagine Ian that you’re the exception to the rule though”.
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I am (or was when going) another “exception”.
Apart from an occasional icecream on a hot day at Salisbury I never bought a thing on course – not even a race card.
Taking sandwiches and a drink with me to have in the car before going in.
Or – if a little late – in the Winter carry them in in a jacket pocket.
Or in Summer sometimes smuggled them in using my binocular case.Value Is Everything“I would imagine Ian that you’re the exception to the rule though”
Fair comment – I hear the USA model is cheap admission, sell them stuff once inside.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"
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