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Thanks Ian, and you’re so right about keeping the ITV7 within the
races being shown on the box. I’ve spent ages going through them,
got my bets and competitions on and then turn to the ITV 7 to find
they’ve thrown in some obscure race from Bangor (no offence Bangor)
and I think awww sh*t, then I’ve got to go back and go through a
race I probably would never had a look at. It was a joy at Ascot
when they had all 7 races from the card, so much better.You’re right about the money too. What the hell am I going to do
with 30 Million on the Euro Lottery?, apart from fend off friends
I haven’t heard from in 30 years. Fifty grand would do me just nicely
While I agree that being “educated” in a conspicuous manner is unlikely to win many new people over to any leisure pursuit, racing strikes me as a sport that you get much more out of when your understanding of it is broadened.
I’m sure this is true for all sports to some extent, but I suspect racing is a sport where the benefits of expanded knowledge are comparatively high.
It definitely requires effort to understand much beyond the basic concept of trying to be first part the post. Also most people will be starting from a considerably lower knowledge base than with the likes of, say, football or cricket.
I’m sure we’ve all seen various marketing and media attempts to “explain the jargon” of racing or similar over the years. While I’m not sure these always hit the mark, I do understand why this theme arises time and again.
“racing strikes me as a sport that you get much more out of when your understanding of it is broadened.”
You’re not wrong, Marlingford, but the idea of mingling with the drunk Peaky Blinders wannabe crowd, and their equally-sozzled other halves, at any race meeting, armed only with the opening line: “I’m sure you’d get more out of this is your understanding of racing was broadened” strikes me as the short straw mission of all time!
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Haha of course Ian! There’s a time and place for sure, and that’s clearly not it.
But there are plenty of less Bacchanalian settings. As Archipenko alludes to above, situations where there has already been the first flicker of interest may be particularly fruitful.
VERY fair comment!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Let’s face it, how many of us stalwarts would be attracted to the sport these days?
Far too much racing, most of the best racing shifted to a Saturday, overwatering, difficulty in getting a bet on unless a serial loser, affordabilty checks, crap pop music accompanying the horses. Expected to pay excessive entrance charges to watch mediocre 6 race cards along with boring music acts. etc
All run by a totally inept BHA.Has anyone sighted Jenas at the races these last 12 months?
“Let’s face it, how many of us stalwarts would be attracted to the sport these days?”
The easiest way to answer that is to say how many times I actually go racing nowadays.
I can go racing any day of the week I like.
But I don’t.
Epsom Spring meeting, Sandown Park Classic Trial Day, Sandown Park Brigadier Gerard Stakes evening card.
Apart from a handful of Points, that’s been my absolute lot so far in 2023 and I haven’t actually got anything in my diary for the rest of the year.
I went to Ascot Champions Day two years ago and the sight of scuffles breaking out on Ascot High Street after racing helped me decide never to return.
I still love the game, but I seldom go any more and I don’t think I’d ever have been a regular racegoer if it had been like it is today back in the late 1970s when I first got interested.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Interesting reading this thread in light of my visit to Sandown yesterday. Last went there in 2016 for the Gold Cup (also Sprinter Sacre’s last race). Had a great time. Seems to have been a definite change in target audience since then and it definitely isn’t racing fans. Largely 20 something coke-heads and alcoholics, along with a range of villains (saw one bloke arrested in the first 15 minutes).
I couldn’t find anywhere selling the official racecard within the course, which was a real shame as it’s one of the most interesting I’ve seen, filled with information which could well spark interest in the casual racegoer. I fortunately picked up one that had been abandoned – never did see any on sale. My friend only got one by going out and getting one from the information desk. Theoretically he could have been refused entry as his ticket had already been scanned but the bloke checking let him through. Timeform racecard & Racing Post on sale as soon as you got in, but not the actual racecard – why?
ASLEF work to rule meant I got there at around 11.30 (as I’d planned for more disruption than I experienced) so had plenty of time to investigate the entire site before the hoards descended. Literally one Racing Post page pinned up at the William Hill bookie with the day’s runners but, obviously, couldn’t get near as everyone was after it. Also a Tote desk (though no runners displayed at that time). Other than that, main hall consisted almost entirely of bars. Similar story with the paddock area (though Pimms and Prosecco rather than lager – Champagne in the Premier enclosure). £7.50 for a pint in a flimsy plastic cup (the sustainability initiatives employed widely by other sporting venues appear to have passed the Jockey Club by). Decent enough pint of Doombar to be fair.
Most annoying of all was that it was impossible for anyone not adept in a martial art to reach the betting ring from the paddock in time to bet on the race. Picked out Classic in the paddock but couldn’t fight my way through. Could have backed him on the Tote but (for me) part of the fun of being at the races is hunting down the best price from the on-course bookies so got the hump and didn’t bother (I know – nose, face etc). Couldn’t get near them until the last race when I assume a fair percentage of the crowd were lying in a pool of their own vomit somewhere else or in custody. Did manage to battle through to get into the Grandstand for a few races. Security staff seemed disinterested in enforcing the “keep gangways clear” rule, being more keen on keeping plebs from getting into empty seating areas (although we managed to wander into two private functions entirely by accident). After enduring 3 races in the company of coked-up slippered men reeking of “fragrance for men”, we settled for the big screen next to the paddock as that situation wasn’t going to get any less ugly as the day wore on.
Plenty of actual racing fans there of course and nice to see plenty bringing small children to the paddock to see the horses and getting them to pick out the one they wanted to back. Can’t credit the course for that though. Certainly wouldn’t credit them for accessibility either. Disabled area at the paddock is tiny (Plumpton’s is bigger). Reckon you could get 2 wheelchairs in it. Didn’t see any wheelchair users and I’m not surprised. I struggled to negotiate the uneven route from the main hall to the course even on foot.
Sandown has one of the best public views of the winner’s enclosure apart from Cheltenham. Reception for Paddington was fabulous (and credit to the groom who turned him round on request so people could get photos). Given its location and design, never mind the fact that it’s run by the Jockey Club, it ought to be at the forefront of promoting racing to a wider audience. That it is clearly being run purely to maximise short-term profit instead is worrying.
What a compelling, if utterly depressing and all-too-familiar, must-read posting from Tonge.
I empathise with every word.
I actually still love Sandown Park – when it’s all but empty, that is.
The great thing about the usually solitary 5f contest is you can walk over to that little elevated bit at the finish and hardly anyone else will bother.
It’s still idyllic when it’s quiet and walking across the course, looking down at the Pond fence, it’s easy to get transported back in time and think of Arkle in the Gallaher Gold Cup and Flat racing greats like Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Shergar and Dancing Brave.
But those are on the quiet afternoon or evening midweek days.
Not for one second did I even dream of going to the Eclipse yesterday – Solford back in the 80s remains my only trip to it.
Because I knew exactly what it would be like.
And Tonge’s words tell me I wasn’t wrong.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Sad but not altogether surprising to read what Sandown Park is like on a Saturday now. I have only ever been to the Eclipse once (2002, Hawk Wing) but I went to several other Saturdays about 20 years or so ago. I always enjoyed it but I believe there has been a general decline in behaviour since, not just on the racecourse but in society in general.
“Part of the fun of being at the races is hunting down the best price from the on-course bookies”.
I agree that used to be a large part of the fun. But is it now? Most betting rings are dead with almost all the bookmakers offering the same price, which is a worse price than the one you can take on Betfair.
I seldom go racing now. I have been four times this year – and two of those were because they were free via RTV. The only “big” meeting I go to now is the Thursday of the Grand National meeting. That is still OK. But the idea of being in a noisy crowd of boozed up, drugged up people at Haydock or Chester on a Saturday afternoon holds no appeal, nor does the idea of being on public transport with them.
Great post Tonge
my friend invited me to Sandown on Saturday, I was torn as I love the horses
but the 3 hour drive and Saturday crowd was a turn off even with the chance of free tickets from the R4R’s scheme
I said to my friend “make sure you get a photo of Classic”
He messaged me later saying there was no chance of getting a photo, which I thought a bit strange but reading Tonge’s post I can see whyGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Brilliant post Tonge.
I would suggest it as required reading for those in charge at the BHA and the Jockey Club, but fear they still wouldn’t see what the problem was.
“those in charge at the BHA and the Jockey Club”
Their only interest is in maximising revenue. A coachload of lads drinking ten pints each at £7.50 a pop will always take priority over the dedicated racegoer who might have a coffee at most.
I’d rather be at Plumpton on a Monday in the depths of winter than at any of the big Saturday meetings during the summer.
I can only add to the chorus of approval at Tonge’s post. What an absolutely ridiculous situation that you can’t get from the paddock to the betting ring in time. It clearly doesn’t occur to whoever is in charge of such things that this is something that people may wish to do which is inexcusable. It would not be hard to have a path kept clear to facilitate this.
I was at the Formula 1 this weekend and my experience couldn’t have been more different. It was a proper bucket list event for me and it was fantastic. The 160,000 crowd was very good natured, I was there all weekend, walked around plenty and saw no trouble whatsoever. Food and drink prices were comparable to big race meetings but you were allowed to bring your own within sensible limits and yet nobody seemed too drunk. I’m sure it happens, it’s 160,000 people, there are going to be some idiots, but it certainly isn’t widespread.
There was no issue getting in, getting around or finding a good spot to view the racing, even for latecomers. The whole thing is superbly run and the vast majority are seemingly there for for the actual sport. One which, unlike racing, has successfully marketed itself and grown in popularity. This despite the 1/4 favourite hosing up every week.
I know it’s not directly comparable because we get one F1 race a year on these shores but it does show that large events can take place where people behave themselves.
Jesus Tonge that’s so disappointing to hear, but a great post that spells it
out hook line and sinker. I’ve been round the Scottish tracks and I’m glad to
say that, other than the odd rubbered man, I’ve not seen too much of a problem.
Having said that circumstances dictated that I’ve not been near a racecourse
for a few years.I’ve ventured as far as Hexam and Newcastle a few times again without much of
a problem although they weren’t particularly big meetings and I think perhaps
that’s the way to go. The only major meeting I’ve been down south to was Cheltenham
on Gold Cup day. I know I’ve heard some ropey stories but I’ve always booked
in the Guinness Stand and although busy I haven’t seen trouble there however
I wandered over to the steps area in front of the big stand and it was an eye
opener. Groups of sockless wonders who looked like they were all in the Max Wall
Club and a youg “lady” lying out cold on the steps in a dress that was like a rubber
ring round her middle. Plenty having a laugh and a jeer as they walked past the
fallen maiden.I looked around for a steward and had to find one who didn’t seem overly keen to
go and deal with it. I used my best Paddington Bear Stare and made it clear
that if she choked or was genuinely ill I’d make sure that I’d fire him in.
He headed over with another steward and they got her up. I headed back to the
relative safety of the Guinness Stand (all paid for by rewards4racing.com).
On my way out a scuffle had broken out, although it was all handbags at ten
paces, I doubt any of them were able or knew to throw a decent punchI’ve booked my ticket again and hopefully I’ll make it down next year. I go
early just to marvel at the place before the hordes arrive. I don’t know why
people can’t just take the time to look around and think “Christ, this is
Cheltenham”I met plenty of people, even though I go on my own, who were more than happy
to blether away and similarly completely into horsey talk. It kept me away
from Jack The Lad and his cohorts. I was sat beside a young couple a few years
back (2116) and I had been doing well. They knew it by me shouting them home.
They said they had come for the day, didn’t know much about racing, and asked
if I might give them a tip. I hate doing that, I don’t mind losing my own money
(actually I do) but I had been going on about a horse in here all season,
UnowhatImeanharry, and said it had a good shout in the Albert Bartlet. It won
at 11/1, they got 12s, I think I got more pleasure seeing them so excited they
had won.It was pre-pandemic or rather the last one whilst the virus had got a grip. I got
both barrels from my sons and MrsG for going to that one and of course they were right,
I shouldn’t have gone even though I got away with itI hope next year is free from the type that Tonge described so well, but I very
much doubt it. Anyway, all being well I’m going. I know so much is said about
the year being crammed into the Festival, but it is the highlight of my year.
Good luck anyone else who is going and steer well clear of the Troglodytes.Last time I was around a drunken crowd was on my nostalgic road trip back to Beverley for Beverley Bullit Day in 2021.
During racing, I effortlessly swerved them, changing route while walking and avoiding eye contact always assist in that endeavour.
I had a great day and to top it all walked the course, triggering so many happy memories.
So I was in a particularly good place in my head as I exited the circuit to walk to the perennially cow-infested Westwood car park to drive off.
As I approached the Grandstand there was a young bloke, completely off his face, still hanging around after racing and getting larey with passers by.
He tried it with me.
And, in a rare moment of making the smart decision in my mostly immature life, I thought: “Ian, you’ve had the most wonderful day. Don’t let one brain dead drunk little tool spoil it for you. More to the point, don’t spoil it for yourself, Ian, by reacting or even caring.”
So I ignored the F out of him and simply crossed the road.
Yes, these people are a pain, but quite often they’ve only as much of a pain as we allow them to be.
It’s 2023, the world we once knew has sadly gone, but it’s still possible to enjoy the world we find ourselves in and there’s a lot more living left to do yet.
So no, I very seldom go racing on a Saturday anymore – but never say never.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"
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