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…. racing cannot organise even the simple things.
First of all it was crass bad planning to schedule the Towcester bumper to start five minutes later than the Hennessy, a race which takes longer than five minutes to run.
However it was announced over the PA the start of the bumper would be held back until after the Hennessy finished.
What happened?
The bumper went off just as the leaders cleared the last in the Hennessy.
Why the hell could they not have held the start of the bumper back for a matter of 30 seconds.
The starter has absolutely no excuse for not knowing about the Hennessy as it was being shown on the big screen with the commentary on the PA and the Towcester start was immediately in front of the stands – so unless the starter was deaf and / or stupid he could not have failed to have been aware.
It is telling that as soon as the field was off the starter sprinted to the car park – presumably to make a swift exit.
Barty was left with something of a dilemma – did he start the commentary or did he allow the Hennessy commentary to finish – we ended up with both being broadcast over the PA.
The words piss-up and brewery spring to mind.
…. racing cannot organise even the simple things.
First of all it was crass bad planning to schedule the Towcester bumper to start five minutes later than the Hennessy, a race which takes longer than five minutes to run.
Are you for real Paul? Who gives two hoots about a crappy bloody bumper at Towcester when there’s an historic race like the Hennessey on,I certainly didn’t watch the bloody bumper after a brilliant race like that,I watched the horses coming back and pondered about which one will win the Cheltenham Gold cup,I wouldn’t have a clue who even ran in the Bloody Bumper never mind who actually won!
I think that is exactly Paul’s point Gord.
ie Those on-course were more interested in the Hennessey… Yet the starter started the bumper before the Hennessey had finished.
Value Is EverythingIt could have been worse, The Hennessey could have been delayed and both races could have kicked off together
@ TAPK..Shipton, the Bumper Winner, was one of my best bets of the day.
Brendan Powell often turns out a good one for these sort of races
, so I was equally interested in both races.
Great Pic of Shipton winning on your website Paul
He was probably spurrred on by the commentary from Newbury thinking Bobs Worth was on on his tail. 
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I think that is exactly Paul’s point Gord.
ie Those on-course were more interested in the Hennessey… Yet the starter started the bumper before the Hennessey had finished.
Precisely – Towcester made a big song and dance about the fact they would be showing the Hennessy on the big screen with commentary over the PA – then they start the bumper before the big race had finished.
At least whoever was in the scanner van at Towcester did leave the pictures of Newbury on the big screen until the first two had crossed the line but the pictures quickly flicked across to the bumper thereafter.
@ TAPK..Shipton, the Bumper Winner, was one of my best bets of the day.
Brendan Powell often turns out a good one for these sort of races
, so I was equally interested in both races.
Great Pic of Shipton winning on your website Paul
He was probably spurrred on by the commentary from Newbury thinking Bobs Worth was on on his tail. Thanks Triptych – yes Shipton was a nice looking horse, certainly the paddock pick beforehand.
Don’t know if it was on ATR but, to add to the farce at the start, the judge called the wrong horse as the winner initially. He initially called No 5, Rock Of Ages as the winner before correcting himself.
They must have an even bigger time delay on the pictures at Towcester, I watched the Hennessy finish and switched over and the bumper was just starting and I heard Barty say the race was off before schedule, which puzzled me, so not much of an overlap if any.
Just be grateful both races weren’t on RUK, as judging from their efforts for The Ebor we would have been treated to the farce of a split screen for the conclusion of the Hennessy.
Maybe the starter was listening to Hunty’s commentary on 5 Live
I completely agree, no-one seems to look at the big picture when timing the races and each racecourse seems ignorant of what is happening outside their little world.
If
all
the days racing were promoted better at each course it might spark a bit wider interest generally.
They must have an even bigger time delay on the pictures at Towcester, I watched the Hennessy finish and switched over and the bumper was just starting and I heard Barty say the race was off before schedule, which puzzled me, so not much of an overlap if any.
I cannot comment on any ATR delay – perhaps they did hold back due to the overlap but I was at Towcester and I can assure you there was an overlap.
Three meeting today and Leicester and Fairyhouse go off at the same time. Seriously, how hard is it to organise and push back Leicester by 5 minutes? Rant over.
I wonder if they could delay races on a bank holiday like Boxing day or New Year Day when the’s loads of meetings
If Towcester were making a virtue out of providing an extra service for their racegoers, it is a blunder to mess it up by failing to co-ordinate the end of the big Newbury race with the start of their own minor race.
Those racegoers who were interested in watching the Newbury race would no doubt also have preferred to watch (and hear) Towcester’s own race in full from the start.
It’s an own goal and a blunder to succeed in upsetting people when presumably they were hoping to get some credit for considering the needs of their own racegoers in also seeing a big televised race.
Fot the sake of a few seconds, or a minute or two, or someone watching the big screen and giving a thumbs-up, signal or telephone call to the starter (if he was otherwise engaged getting the runners sorted out), what should have been a public relations bonus has backfired.
He was probably spurrred on by the commentary from Newbury thinking Bobs Worth was on on his tail. 
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