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AP,
I understand your point and can see both sides of the Countryside Day arguement. I guess it’ll come down to the view of the racecourse’s own boards which may be split on the issue.
I was in charge of the PR for Whitbread’s racing sponsorship and was integral to their decisions on cancelling both the Murphy’s meeting and the Whitbread Gold Cup meeting.
You are absolutely correct about their worries pertaining to age group – specificially with regard to the viewing audience of Channel 4 racing which was contracted to show Cheltenham and Sandown.
However their cancellation had nothing to do with countryside day at the Murphy’s meeting. In fact they wre happy for the Countryside Alliance to use the Whitbread marquee on Friday to host their own lunch and fund raising auction for only a minimal donation.
The cancellation was more down to new brand managers coming in who wanted to be "trendy" and try to appeal to a younger audience – hence "Sisters of Murphys" etc. They did not feel happy with the incumbent portfolio of sports they were taking on, such a racing, when they wanted to get more into youth orientated sports.
It is interesting to note that both the Stella Artois tennis tournament and the Heineken Rugby survived – although their brand managers were not so aggressive in their "need to modernise".
Adrian
I would guess that that is because Tennis and Rugby do not latch themselves onto supposedly related "activities" which many find offensive
Its rather as if Football latched itself onto hooliganism..:o
Ruck Day down at Stamford bridge which half time demonstrations of well organised kickings
think im exaggerating?
Doubt it…
As a matter of interest, how many racecourses do people think would agree to staging a "Ban Hunting" race/race day or similar? It would be interesting to find out.
I actually went to the Countryside Day (I nealy fruedian miseplt that) at Cheltenham 3 years ago with a friend whos wife hunts…
I was a little suprised at the apathy of the much of the audience to the drivel being poured out…
They just wanted to see the racing :cheesy:
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