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I thought of mentioning something I saw on television last night on the “Franco Dettori” thread in the Lounge, which is about racing questions on television quiz shows – but I thought this one might merit a thread on its own.
There was a question about racing on “Only Connect” (one of the question setters is a Waley Cohen, so he often sets a racing question). If anyone has not seen the programme, two teams of three are set fiendish questions and have to find a connection between the clues.
In the second round, the teams are shown clues and have to say what would be last in a sequence of four. In one particular question, the first clue was “Martell”, the second “John Smith’s” and the third was “Crabbies”.
I expect a lot of people in this parish would know the fourth in the sequence is “Randox Health”, with the connection being sponsors of the Grand National. Neither team got it right and looked bemused when the answer was revealed.
I am not particularly bothered about that. It is a niche question, although the programme has questions about far more obscure subjects which teams do answer correctly. It was what happened next that was more interesting.
When Victoria Coren Mitchell asked the teams if they watched the Grand National, all six contestants said they never had. They were all fairly young – some in their 20s and I doubt the oldest were much older than 30. One of the teams comprised three young women who looked like they had barely heard of the most famous horse race run in this country.
OK, it is a very small sample size. But these were six young, intelligent people who obviously enjoy quizzes. They clearly had no interest in one of the most historic sporting events held in the UK.
Are they representative of their age group? If so, is racing becoming an increasingly irrelevant niche product, no longer part of the “national conversation” and destined to decline still further as its supporters die off?
It puts it into perspective when ITV says the entire country is watching the Grand National. It is clear lots of people are not and have no interest whatsoever.
From my side and my partners side of the family there is no one who is remotely interested in horse racing and I suspect the older generations think I have a gambling problem. One lad I work with in his early twenties is forever punting online but when I actually try to talk about racing it is one sided so I suspect he does have a gambling problem.
The Grand National should be on the radar of non racing folk and even if you are not interested then it would be difficult to pass the day of the race without seeing or hearing about it.
Personally I have very little interest in the race and I have been following racing for 30+ years it really doesn’t grab me at all.The more I know the less I understand.
Racing has never really appealed to the youth. Even in my day in the 70’s and 80’s. However, at that time Racing was the number 1 in sports betting and now it’s football. So today’s youth are more likely to stick with football as they get older. Racing will become (if not already is) a niche market.
“Irrelevent”? No.
“Niche”? Yes.Value Is EverythingChris Hughes was on Richard Osman’s House of Games last week and was introduced as “the face of ITV Racing” (which I imagine might have raised the hackles of some of the more regular presenters!). Racing (and horses in general) were referenced several times throughout the week by both Chris and Richard.
Maybe Chris should be the face of ITV racing I quite like him when he pops up.
The more I know the less I understand.
I think the VCM remarks after the question had drawn a blank were along the lines of 1) ever watched it ? 2) ever protested against it ? Grand National completely off limits. Seemed po faced but perhaps fair enough.
The race would not be the lure for me it was when I was young
Racing, some might argue, has always been the province of the Upper and Working Classes who, despite their wealth disparity, have historically always had more in common with each other than the middle classes, who traditionally secretly envied the Upper Classes and despised the Working Classes.
But the world has changed.
Aristocratic wealth has been replaced by commercial wealth acquisition and what used to be the working classes is now a group of people, many of who are socially aspirational.
The rise of the Woke, Guardian-reading (and I don’t mean the few who read Richard Baerlein back in the day) middle classes (and that’s my family background tbh) seems to have led to, if not more Guardian readers, more people for who the Grand National isn’t a once-a-year must bet ritual, racing doesn’t have that dodgy charm it used to hold for past generations and an already niche sport and betting on it is now regarded by many with the same contempt in which they hold alcohol and tobacco addiction and the use of illegal drugs.
Maybe it was never cool to the that racing fan and punter in the group, now it definitely isn’t.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Niche Market, very good
I have just watched it this evening and got that one pretty quickly. I don’t get many five pointers but I’ve managed it two weeks in a row now.
That’s probably the ‘youngest’ episode I’ve seen in terms of the contestants although I think the vast majority would struggle regardless of age. The first three are all alcohol so if you don’t know then you’ll never pull a correct guess out.
I think a key difference nowadays is how people are enclosed in their own “bubbles”. There is so much different media to consume now, yet the choices we are presented with are often quite narrow, and determined by algorithms which have been heavily influenced by what we have shown interest in previously.
Contrast this with the 1980s/90s when I was growing up. Back then, even if you hadn’t demonstrated a previous interest in racing, and had no real connection to it, you were likely to be exposed to it. It featured prominently on 50% of the four TV channels available at the time, and there was extensive coverage in the national newspapers, many of which had huge circulations.
Without this exposure, there is little chance I would have become interested in racing. I am sceptical that I would have become anything like so interested if I were growing up nowadays.
As to what can be done to improve matters, it feels a little like trying to turn the tide. However, I definitely think that utilising the few pro-racing people who have a significant profile in youth markets such as Chris Hughes is a wise move.
Gary Cooper was possibly the finest living actor that ever walked the planet. Even Brando would have cowered behind his holster endeavouring to emulate the rawness of emotion displayed by Cooper as he walked his death down the shuttered street in HIGH NOON – even the crickets were stilled as they watched in awe in the dry heat. The clock acted up impeccably and Jim would have JTS loved it !
Unfortunately times rather up for nag racing as it just cannot compete with footballers wives. All Weather didn’t kill it it was the bloody NOOS – people all of a sudden demanded entertainment on tap; gossip, tittle tattle and the odd fight and racing consequently couldn’t keep up and has gone slowly to the dogs.
All that being said, I can’t get enough of its international draw
– Ten races at Durbanville followed by a slow uninspiring start at five degrees colder Southwell, but it did warm ass eventually, but there are maidens and made ends, and then of course slip over the pond to Finger Lakes for a fine dirt desert.Who on God’s earth would be interested in that ?
The Gee Gees will always be there though !
‘ touching you touching me ‘
IT’S A DIAMOND !
On my way to Goodwood this summer, two young women and a male colleague, who had appointed himself their guide to the day’s racing, were sitting opposite me. The Derby was run at Aintree, he informed them.
“The Derby was run at Aintree, he informed them.’
Maybe we have found the person who writes the articles for the home page?
That’s true Marlingford. With limited viewing options most people watched the big sporting events of the year, regardless of any personal interest in the sport. Grand National, Derby, Wimbledon, FA Cup Final etc. We even watched the Boat Race every year, despite generally agreeing that it was a pretty tedious affair.
Having racing as part of the World of Sport/Grandstand programme also helped. Today you have to make a conscious decision to watch horse-racing and any casual engagement is lost.
At this time, I don’t think so.
About half the country likes a gamble on the horses one way or another.
To me, racetracks looks full, people see it as a day out with improved facilities.
The only thing that couple spoil it now are interventions that are not needed. The BHA’s campaign to get more students in, people who have no money wasn’t thought out.
That’s the only danger I see is the people in power who can change things for change sake, and in the process ruin the product.
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