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The Go Racing In Yorkshire looks a great deal Drone so to the discounts you get if you show them your train ticket at the Yorkshire courses (50% I think it is).
Mark
It’s not quite that straightforward. My racing is limited to weekends and holidays. I’ve booked a day off to go to Musselburgh on Monday and, though I don’t know what will be running yet, I shall be going provided the weather permits. For that reason I’m only too happy to book in advance and save myself money, and should the meeting be abandoned I can use the ticket for a future meeting.
Maybe I’m lucky, the standard of Scottish race meetings is generally pretty decent but for those of us working and taking time off for midweek meetings we have to take a chance on quality. Mind you, I’m a perverse sod who looks forward to a 2 mile selling hurdle or a 3 mile 0-90 handicap chase! Ask graysonscolumn, he’ll understand……
Rob
Rob,
Yes I can see for those who have to pick a day in advance to go racing it will be useful. May be me and my friends are not typical (two don’t bet). Then again if you enjoy poor racing……..
Just think it would be better to reduce day of race entrance costs, so all will benefit.
Good luck for Monday.
Mark
Value Is EverythingThe Go Racing In Yorkshire looks a great deal Drone so to the discounts you get if you show them your train ticket at the Yorkshire courses (50% I think it is).
It is indeed, had one for several years. Don’t go racing much now but if IIRC the ‘back a winner by train’ offer is £3 off admission and a £2 Placepot voucher. A welcome gesture nonetheless.
Going racing by rattler adds a certain relaxed lustre to the day: anticipatory outward bound, reflective homeward bound.
Why restrict this to jumps racing and then maybe think about putting up a flat version later, after the all-weather season’s over?
One could alomst be forgiven for believing that the BHA don’t actually want paying customers to go all-weather racing and that they want to keep attendances as low as possible to ensure on-course betting markets there are as weak and artificial as possible.
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Take a break, Glenn, just for one night.
Then again if you enjoy poor racing……..
Mark
That assumes that horses rated 0-90 or in sellers make for poor racing. They may be poor racehorses in comparison to many, but it doesn’t follow that they make up poor races.
Rob
Then again if you enjoy poor racing……..
Mark
That assumes that horses rated 0-90 or in sellers make for poor racing. They may be poor racehorses in comparison to many, but it doesn’t follow that they make up poor races.
Rob
Agree with that entirely Rob. Some of the most enjoyable days racing I’ve had has been at the country tracks with low grade but competitive sport especially over the jumps, though when I lived in Glasgow I was a regular at the Hamilton eveding meetings.
Their is nothing wrong in the slightest in trying to entice new people onto the racecourse and become fans of the sport.
What you need to do though is make sure that the core base of die hard racing enthusiasts are still catered for and not shoved to one side with the thinking that they will still turn up.
Southwell for example may get very low crowds for what is mundane 0-50 and 0-70 handicaps but they STILL turn up which is good for the sport as they are being provided with a days racing and they are equally as important as those who frequent the Cheltenham,Aintree,York,Goodwood,Newmarket and Ascot biggies despite the variety in quality and prices of admission.
Regarding the free beer i do hope that Tea and Coffee is included aswell for those who want something hot especially in the cold winter months.
The Website itself is very good but now it must be put into leaflet form and posted to houses so people know that the sport is out their and maybe TV advertising to show the majesticness of National Hunt Racing.
Regarding the free beer i do hope that Tea and Coffee is included aswell for those who want something hot especially in the cold winter months.
.Free booze will probably follow free fags into illegality before long anyway
Personally I’d welcome a free sausage roll (warm) and a beaker of Bovril or Ovaltine (hot)
Then again if you enjoy poor racing……..
Mark
That assumes that horses rated 0-90 or in sellers make for poor racing. They may be poor racehorses in comparison to many, but it doesn’t follow that they make up poor races.
Rob
For me yes it does follow…
As I do not bet in poor class racing, betting does not come in to my opinion on it. The reason many horses are running in this grade is temperament and of course ability. Therefore in my opinion poor class racing equals poor racing.The trouble is Rob, if so many racegoers are happy to go and see "poor racing" (which is cheaper for courses to put on) courses will not bother to up the quality. Or, more likely, the quality goes down.
Mark
Value Is EverythingI am bemused at the debate around the class of racing – is that not immaterial?
Isn’t competitiveness more important?
Personally I would find a competitive Class 6 seller more enjoyable than a Class 1 mismatch which turns into an uncompetitive procession.
Then again I am one of those who does not need a bet to enjoy a race.
As regards this initiative I cannot believe the criticism being levied – people will use the service. When I used to pay to go racing I frequently used the Go Racing site to book in advance, especially for popular meetings. If this new scheme attracts extra racegoers then great – if you aren’t interested then don’t use it!!!
I am bemused at the debate around the class of racing – is that not immaterial?
Isn’t competitiveness more important?
Personally I would find a competitive Class 6 seller more enjoyable than a Class 1 mismatch which turns into an uncompetitive procession.
Then again I am one of those who does not need a bet to enjoy a race.
As regards this initiative I cannot believe the criticism being levied – people will use the service. When I used to pay to go racing I frequently used the Go Racing site to book in advance, especially for popular meetings. If this new scheme attracts extra racegoers then great – if you aren’t interested then don’t use it!!!
I’d say there are too many class 1’s Paul. Too many opportunities for connections to avoid each others good horses. If there were less class 1’s they would be more competitive.
But given the choice of a competitive selling handicap or uncompetitive class 1 I’d go for the class 1. Because I do not need a bet to enjoy racing. Enjoy the performance for what it is, the SP does not matter.
I agree any initiative to get people to go racing is good thing, I’d just prefer the money to come off the gate price.
Mark
Value Is EverythingWhilst I think this is a decent enough initiative and I will probably use it (The Ascot one in particular), I agree with Ginge’s sentiments. The tracks should play the numbers game and bring down race day prices. Surely a well marketed and well run track would make the most of the additional punters coming through the door.
The tracks should play the numbers game and bring down race day prices. Surely a well marketed and well run track would make the most of the additional punters coming through the door.
I think the answer to your point lies in the last sentence.
Unfortunately not all courses have the marketing or management nouse.
I’ve just been on the gojumpracing website to buy a ticket for Plumpton on the 15th. There is a £2 discount but a £2.50 admin fee.
The bloody ticket is cheaper at the racecourse!!
To echo CR’s revelation I’d have thought the only reasons to book online would be a) discount and b) sold out events.
If the discount is cancelled out by the booking fee then surely you’d buy on the day for all events except for Newmarket nights, Royal Ascot, Cheltenham Festival and the handful of other fixtures which sell out in advance?
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Ticket to the races – £25.
New shoes for the big day – £80.
Stake for the first race – £50.
Realising that the BHA have made another howler – priceless.
You couldn’t make these things up.
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