Putting On A Show

[IanDavies]

1m, 5f, 1m2f, 1m4f, 5f, 2m

2m150yds Chase, 2m4f Hurdle, 3m Chase, 2m 150yds Hurdle, 2m150yds Chase, 2m4f Hurdle

The above are the sequence of race distances for the first Flat meeting (Beverley April 1977) and the first Jumps meeting (Doncaster 1978) I ever attended.

Note the sequential variety as races (and stalls for the Flat) shifted to a different part of the racecourse for virtually every contest.

Compare and contrast that with modern race cards where all races on a card at any given distance will often be run consecutively to minimise having to shift stuff around.

Reduces the workload for racecourse staff, but I can’t help feeling a bit of the old showmanship has died along the way.

To me, there’s something a bit monotonous about two, maybe even three, consecutive races on a card being run at the exact same distance.

But I’ve never seen this discussed – so maybe it’s just me??!!

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"

[Cork All Star]

When I was at Worcester last year, the chases and hurdle races were run on the same course. It meant the first two races were chases, after which the fences were moved off the course. Then there were two bumpers (the race was oversubscribed and had to be divided). Once they were over, the hurdles were moved into place for the last four races.

It was not very satisfactory, especially with two bumpers in the middle of the card.

[IanDavies]

Worcester is a great case in point, CAS.

Run all the Chases, shift the portable fences off the track, run a bumper or two, then roll on the fixed brush hurdles for the rest of the card.

Every single fixture.

Utterly tedious in my view.

Race cards never used to be structured like that.

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

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