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Having worked in betting shops and attended the races I can only agree that betting shops are regularly full of non whites and racecourses are noticeable by the absence of said people.
I tend to think that horse racing is only interesting to most betting shop punters (all colours) as a betting medium and I think their opinion is “why go to the races and pay when I can see everything from this shop”.
The experience and spectacle of a live race with all its splendour and excitement is both lost and wasted on the vast majority of betting shop punters and that is no slur on non whites because it is my belief that just about all betting shop punters think this!!I think Raymo makes a very fair point. There is a world of difference between going to a betting shop and going to the races.
Also it is very much easier to access a betting shop than a racecourse. Hands up all those who happily go racing by public transport? Not that many I suspect.
Interesting read here:-
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/22/sport/black-jockeys-horse-racing-sports-stars/
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
With hardly any black jockeys, or trainers, there are hardly any “role models” to encourage or enthuse potential racing fans from the ranks of Britain’s black population.
Back in the 1970/80’s I remember black people were under-represetned among football crowds. This was largely to do with the infiltration of those crowds by the far-right, so black people were often too scared to attend games (although firms such as the Zulu Warriors were the exception).
Nowadays black faces are commonplace at football matches and there are any number of black role models among the players’ ranks.
Whilst horse-racing hasn’t been infiltrated by the far-right, on-course it still sometimes feels like the domain of a rural, cliquey middle class audience who’s open mindedness, when it comes to racial integration/equality can still be called into question – Carl Llewellyn’s infamous comment at a Cheltenham preview evening still fresh in the memory.
I don’t know if Ken Pitterson posts on here, but his views would be interesting. He seemed to be unceremoniously sacked by RUK without being given a lot of time to develop his on screen skills. I cannot help but think if any business wants to attract an audience fromm a particular ethnic background, then using black presenters is one way to start to attract that audience.
I grew up in South London and recall with fondness some of the betting shops I frequented in West Indian neighbourhoods. The passion and knowledge were no less visible than in shops in white neighbourhoods. It is an interesting question why this passion is not translated into visits to the racecourses themselves. I suspect it is a case of not feeling as comfortable/welcome among a typical horse racing crowd. This may or may not be justified, and I guess the only way we could start to understand the reasons, a proper study would need to be undertaken. Whether horse racing has the will to undertake such a survey remains open to question. However one could see a campiagn being fronted by Michael Holding, Ken Pitterson, Rishi Persad and Royston French for starters.
Could it just be that going racing is a total rip off?
And if you are not a heavy drinking crowd covered in fake tan you are not welcome, whatever skin colour?The average black man in the UK has far less disposable income and simply can’t afford to go?
Although that Denise Lewis cuts a fine jib in her finery at Royal Ascot.
If anyone remembers Ron Hutchinson’s son Ray – he had a coloured (if that is an acceptable word nowadays – I usually tend not to post on subjects such as this due it being nearly impossible to be PC) jockey back in the 1990’s called Ken Santana, rode a few winners for him.
all sports are a rip off(prices) in Britain)
Take for instances boxing,you can go to Vegas for 5 days,sit ringside for two world title fights and it will cost just as much as a weekend in manchester to watch Frampton quigg(ringside)
That today’s Sunday Forum panel on ATR will be all white.
Can any viewers recall them ever having had a panellist from an ethnic minority? Furthermore, the abysmal Gay Kelleway excepted, they never have any female panellists either. Is there a less inclusive programme on television these days?
Wake up, ATR; we’re living in the 21st Century.
Name some? the only two black people in uk/ire racing i know of is Sean Levey and Kenneth Pettersen on williamhill Radio..
Because they have journalist mainly on the show what women do you know of is a racing journalist im proud of how many women are in racing .. Lydia on Ruk knows more about racing than any man i know and person on this forum and any male racing expert around !!
??? Don’t hold back from what your saying theirs a massive list coming.
In the scheme of things racing is still seen very much as a minority elitest sport and whilst a lot of women are involved in the sport (stable staff/trainers/jockeys/media etc) the ethnic side of things is not so strongly represented (outside of ownership which is often of royal patronage) although you do see some people of Asian descent leading up horses on TV.
So it is hard to be inclusive when the ethnicity talent pool to pick from is shallow to pretty much empty, plus there is also the issue of not being able to use people from rivals channel (Persad, Hislop, Candelora, Spencer, Turner & Balding) and the availability of people to do a Sunday morning show – if you are asking trainers they also work Sundays so that is problematical.
Could well imagine that they would be happy to be more inclusive if the people/opportunities are there for them to do so.
Name some? the only two black people in uk/ire racing i know of is Sean Levey and Kenneth Pettersen on williamhill Radio..
If you can’t name more than two eligible presenters, I suggest you do a bit more research. What about the owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff and bookies’ reps who are either female or from ethnic minorities?
ATR could even do something truly revolutionary and invite a punter onto the show- not necessarily female or BAME every week, I hasten to add- to introduce a wider range of views.
LD73, your point about presenters being contracted to other channels doesn’t prevent the likes of Fitzgerald and Harvey from appearing on both ITV and ATR. Surely it can be negotiated?
Rory Jiwani is full of opinions on twitter, he’s a free agent at the moment, I think he could do well on a show like the Sunday forum.
I Can remember the last time Sheikh Mohammed was seen on tv other than the racing was in 1981 and he came across as a natural in the Only Fools and Horses in my favourite episode Cash and Curry playing Mr Rham the conman. Shame he gave up his acting career.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Gladiateur come on name some people then? I could name lots of women but lets face it your only on about Ethnic majority.
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