Politics & horse racing

[Blackcountry Kid]

While scanning through tomorrows cards came to Doncaster and had to question the course on allowing what to me seems a questionable exercise in party politics and unions.I believe the local Labour run council still own the course but has it run on their behalf by Arc.However using public & community venues to promote a trade union during the current climate of disputes and industrial action places horse racing in the firing line of something has it has no control over and misrepresents the racing industry as a whole.
You may or may not share this view but I believe racing has enough of it’s own problems to solve without becoming embroiled or to be thought of advancing the cause of one side against another.
good luck to all

[apracing]

The meeting has a long history of connection with Unison, going back more than 20 years. The syndicate I was involved with had a runner there in 2001 and there were three Unison named races on that card.

https://www.racingpost.com/results/2001-08-04

Can’t see a problem with it myself, if companies can sponsor races, why not unions?

[Gingertipster]

Am one who often criticises unions for their political actions, but have no problem with anyone sponsoring races. As long as they have not been given preferential treatment by the owners of the course – which I doubt they have.

Value Is Everything

[sporting sam]

If you didn’t get preferential treatment as a sponsor, there wouldn’t be any point being a sponsor. ( but I know what you mean).

[He Didnt Like Ground]

If you look at some of the people who own football teams id say racing bar a certain man in blue is fairly clean , corruption like prostitution has been around since the year dot …..and it ain’t going anywhere

Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026

[IanDavies]

I’d say that historically racing has been more associated with Conservatism – the apparent assumption among so many I’ve met in the game over the years has been that absolutely all of us must, by definition, be Tories because we follow racing – and I don’t recall too much fuss ever being made about that.

Bit of a non issue for me, especially as I sense wider public opinion softening towards striking unions a bit post-Covid because so many are now in the same cost-of-living crisis boat those going on strike are in.

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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Purwell]

As a lifelong Union member, I’m not too happy about funds being used in this way.

I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways

[He Didnt Like Ground]

Didn’t Scargill have a portrait of himself above his desk …..Maggie was lucky with some of the enemies she had

Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026

[BigG]

You see, bloody Tories and Unions down south, throwing away the
tax payers money. I hope it’s all accounted for. Just as an Idea,
if they handed it over to the SNP to run, it would take the pressure
away from the good people and taxpayers down south, and we’d throw in
a motorhome for free.

[Richard88]

Let’s say that unions are stopped from sponsoring races. Who else would be stopped? How do you decide? Who decides? It’s a slippery slope.

[Drone]

Disgraceful:
Unison Supporting Black Workers Handicap
Unison Supporting Your NHS Novice Stakes
Unison Campaigning For Public Services Handicap
Unison Supporting Your Community Handicap

Admirable:
Qatar Goodwood Festival

Funny old world

[IanDavies]

Drone effortlessly smashes the ball clean out of the park with that one – nailed it.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Marlingford]

So many sponsors will be problematic to one group or another, not least bookmakers!

Extending beyond unions, does anyone know if a political party would be allowed to sponsor a race or other sporting event? I presume a race called the “Vote Labour Stakes” would fall foul of political advertising rules, but what if it were just called the “Labour Party Stakes”?

[IanDavies]

My written application to sponsor a race and entitle it the “Thatcher, Thatcher, Milk Snatcher Selling Handicap Hurdle” in the 1970s never even received a reply – I was most put out!

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Tonge]

Marlingford, the Labour Party sponsored an entire meeting at Brighton during Blair’s first conference in 1997. I say “sponsored”. I don’t know what the financial arrangement was and the Daily Mirror was also involved. All the races had the usual sponsors (aside from the Mirror and the “Publican Newspaper Beer Tax Nursery Handicap”!). The meeting was called “Labour’s Rolling Rose Race Day” and had a form to join the Labour Party with a message from Blair on the first page of the programme. I don’t recall anyone having a problem with it at the time, though, in retrospect, it seems a bit full on, even as a Labour supporter. I don’t think it would have been allowed just before an election though as it fall foul of electoral rules.

[Marlingford]

Thanks Tonge, that is really interesting to hear of. I can hardly blame any racecourse for not turning down sponsors, though it does seem surprisingly full on as you say.

As for your sponsorship offer Ian, I suspect an empty hobnobs packet didn’t cut it as a prize

[apracing]

The racecard for Doncaster is pretty full on about the sponsorship, with plenty of UNISON ‘ads’ included as you go through it.

[Author]

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