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Looks like the Epsom Derby may lose it’s guaranteed terrestrial TV coverage from 2012. Bit of a worrying development imo. Even more worrying is Simon Bazelgette’s (he of Soverign Series fame
) attitude to the news, or is there something I am missing?More here…..
Apologies for this is a long post but it is the Jockey Clubs response in full, which I think puts the comment above into some context.
The Jockey Club expressed its surprise today that the Listed Events Review Panel in its report published today stated its view that The Investec Derby is no longer an “event of special national resonance”.The history and heritage of the Investec Derby, its TV audience (which regularly exceeds 3m in recent years), and the fact that it has arguably the largest single day attendance of any British sports event, demonstrate its importance to British national life.
A briefing on the importance of the Investec Derby was given to the Panel, and is summarised below.
The main thrust of the Jockey Club’s submission to the Panel was that the List was an anachronism in a multichannel world, having been devised when most homes in the country could only receive four or five analogue terrestrial channels. After the analogue switch off in 2012, the whole country will be able to receive a significantly higher number of channels, and the majority already subscribe to some form of subscription TV.
In this environment, not only is there no need for a List, but it also significantly restricts the commercial flexibility of sports to maximise the balance between audience size and financial returns for reinvestment in the sport.
The two listed events owned by the Jockey Club (the Investec Derby and the John Smiths Grand National) are licensed to the BBC until 2012. The BBC has been a strong partner for the Jockey Club for many years and remains so. However, the Jockey Club has concerns over future rights payments for these events if there cannot be any competition from non-terrestrial bidders. The ability to reinvest in the sport is reduced without the competitive tension provided by an open market.
Simon Bazalgette, Group Chief Executive of the Jockey Club said: “It is clear to us that the Investec Derby remains an event of national resonance, no matter what the Panel says. It has higher TV audiences than many other sports events and has probably the highest one day attendance of any British sports event. We will continue to build the brands of these key events in conjunction with our commercial partners, Investec and John Smiths respectively, and with our terrestrial TV partner, the BBC.”
The Derby; its position and appeal today
According to DCMS’s Sport Broadcasting Policy ‘A listed event is one which is generally felt to have special national resonance. It should contain an element which serves to unite the nation, a shared point on the national calendar, not solely of interest to those who follow the sport in question.’
Not only is the Derby at Epsom an event which remains the pinnacle for both participants and followers of the sport, it continues to transcend its racing audience and resonate with a wider public both in Britain and abroad.
“The Derby is not only the greatest and most prestigious horse race in the world; it is a British institution with a hold on the public well beyond the world of racing.” Journalist and Broadcaster, Alastair Burnett
“There is something special about Derby day. It is, and always has been, a day for everyone, and it does not matter what clothes you are dressed in, from morning suits to t-shirts and shorts.” Derby winning trainer, Peter Walwyn
Epsom Downs on Derby day attracts a crowd of between 100,000 and 120,000, making it among the highest attended one day sporting events in the UK with an appeal which stretches far beyond the racing community.
“There are lots of other races around the world, like the Kentucky Derby, which is also a great race – but there’s nothing like the Derby.” Dual Derby winning trainer, Aidan O’Brien
“The tradition and history behind the Derby, as with the Grand National, are so powerful that I get a cold shiver down my spine every time I go to Epsom, one of the foremost shrines of racing.” Derby winning trainer, Peter Walwyn
An average of 3m viewers watched the BBC coverage of the last two runnings of the Derby (with a 25% share of the audience), the race is also shown in a further 200 countries around the world. After the Grand National, it generates more betting turnover than any other race with an estimated £200m in Britain alone.
“Some have said the Derby is not the race it once was – believe me, it is the race that every jockey wants to win.” Three time Derby winning jockey, Johnny Murtagh
“The Derby is still the most important race in the world and any jockey would give his right arm to win it. My dream was to win the race, but then when I’d won it I wanted to win it again and again.” Three time Derby winning jockey, Pat Eddery
Every sport has its pinnacle of achievement for the participants, in tennis it might be winning Wimbledon, in golf the British Open; in Flat racing the Derby remains the race that Owners, Breeders, Trainers and Jockeys from around the world want to win.
“Only heaven left.” Telegram to the 5th Earl of Roseberry following his success with Ladas in the 1894 Derby.
“When Galileo won last year, I said things couldn’t get any better, but this is just amazing.” Michael Tabor, co-owner following High Chaparrel’s success in 2002.
No other horse race, Flat or Jump, in Britain or abroad, can match the Derby’s combination of history and heritage together with its enduring relevance to the sport today.
“The Thoroughbred exists because its selection has depended not on experts, technicians or zoologists, but one piece of wood: the winning post of the Epsom Derby. It is the Derby which has made the Thoroughbred what it is today.” Legendary Italian Breeder Federico Tesio
“It is the championship for three year olds. The winner has to have speed to get out of trouble, but he must also stay one and half miles. He has to be able to run uphill, downhill and keep well balanced around Tattenham Corner. He must possess all the qualities that make him a great horse.” Winning jockey, Frankie Dettori
Flat racing is inextricably linked to the breeding industry. The one and half miles of the Derby provides the ultimate test of the Thoroughbred and is the reason why Derby winners today remain the most sought after stallions.
“The Derby is the Blue Riband of the Turf.” Benjamin Disrael
“There is no such race as the ‘Epsom Derby’. What’s run at Epsom is the ‘Derby’; its imitators are the ones that require geographical qualifiers.” Journalist, Paul Haigh
A measure of its continuing stature is the interest stimulated by Frankie Dettori’s ultimately successful attempt at winning the Derby on his 15th ride on Authorized in 2007. His victory was front and back page news in the Sunday papers. Other than the Grand National, no other race that could have generated that level of coverage.
Bob I know you seem to want to impose your own perverse standards on this forum but this is an open forum.
The original quote in the opening post took Bazelgette’s comments out of context – I simply provided the quotes within the full context for anyone who may be interested.
I’ll be honest. I read the lot. Good post Paul.
You could search for a month and still struggle to find a post of any special forum resonsance by the dour Bob Wharton. Keep it up, Paul.
The Derby shouldn’t be a "Crown Jewel" – very few people from outside the sport have any interest in the race whatsoever. A completely different situation to the Grand National..
The Downs at Epsom are full to bursting of people from ‘outside the sport’ every year.
The Derby is a very special race, of secondary importance only to the Grand National in terms of its potential to draw people into the sport, and racing should do everything possible to preserve that interest and status.
Cormack – that simply isn’t the case imo.
I’m not talking about people who attend the meeting – there are 50,000 people who turn up to some weekend football matches but no-one is suggesting these should be "Crown Jewels" events.
How many non-racing people talk about the Derby in the pub? How many friends ask for a tip in the Derby? How many people would even turn over from the half time analysis in teh football to watch the Derby?
However much we all want it to be, the race isn’t in the same league as the National in terms of public appeal. Indeed it barely registers with the general public.
Thanks, Paul.
I read that as a sales pitch. The Jockey Club happy to claim national significance for The Derby, but at the same fully prepared to take it away from anyone not interested in paying to view it.
Oh well; we’ll still be able to watch curling on terrestrial telly when it’s part of the Winter Olympics….must get our priorities right, I suppose.
Oh well; we’ll still be able to watch curling on terrestrial telly when it’s part of the Winter Olympics….must get our priorities right, I suppose.
Mo – I think you will find the Winter Olympics have lost their status as well as the Derby – which I do think is a great pity – I must confess I prefer them to the Summer Games.
Regarding The Derby I think in terms of the consciousness of the general, i.e. non-racing, public, it is not as big or as significant as it used to be.
Certainly the National catches the public attention more so.
The concept of protected events is, unfortunately, well past its sell-by date, but if you apply the criteria used by the commitee, then they’ve made the correct decision. The Derby is no longer of great consequence to the ordinary man or woman in the street. I believe it’s not even in the top 100 of TV-watched sporting events in the UK.
In spite of their public protestations of shock and surprise, racing’s bigwigs may be secretly pleased as it gives the Racing For Change people far more scope to be bold and radical. Which they need to be.
However…these proposed changes don’t come into effect until 2017 and they have to be ok’d by the government and then passed through parliament. There won’t be enough time for that before the election, and if the Tories win it as predicted, they’ll certainly kick it into the long grass, and may do away completely with the ‘crown jewels’.
Regarding The Derby I think in terms of the consciousness of the general, i.e. non-racing, public, it is not as big or as significant as it used to be.
It’s not even as significant to the racing ‘industry’. Sure, Aidan O’Brien, master trainer, can be relied on for multiple entries in the hope that one will turn out to be a Group 1 winner. However, the race has long-since lost it’s appeal and is a relatively minor event, along with the Diamond Stakes, on the international racing scene. This particular trend will not reverse, given the appetite in this country to stage and fund cards of class 5 & 6 races, interrupted by the occasional ‘class 2’ race that, given the ability of the participants, is nothing of the sort.
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It’s not even as significant to the racing ‘industry’. Sure, Aidan O’Brien, master trainer, can be relied on for multiple entries in the hope that one will turn out to be a Group 1 winner. However, the race has long-since lost it’s
[sic]
appeal and is a relatively minor event, along with the Diamond Stakes, on the international racing scene.
What is your
evidence
for these assertions? Prestige and significance, dear Nogbad, have little to do with monetary value. Statistics show that winner of the Singapore Cup is not going to be anything like as tempting a stud prospect as, say, a winner of the Prince of Wales at Royal Ascot – a race that last year was worth approximately one quarter the prize money of the Singapore event.
The "big four" still target The Derby as one of the season’s major prizes, on a par with the Arc. Which significant owners/trainers/breeders do you claim think otherwise?
The "big four" still target The Derby as one of the season’s major prizes, on a par with the Arc. Which significant owners/trainers/breeders do you claim think otherwise?
Smith, Tabor, Magnier and Mrs Magnier?
The Grand National would soon lose its appeal with the public if the same trainer had around 16 horses in the race every year.
) attitude to the news, or is there something I am missing?
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