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The restoration of old race names has to be a major priority. I’d List them – in the sense of protect them.
Thirded! And Drone’s suggestion of adding the sponsors name in brackets at the end is exactly the solution I’d choose. After all, it’s precisely how they do it in the USA – shameful to think that the Yanks have cherished their sense of history and continuity better than we have.
Oh … and by the way, I hear a rumour that Brian and Ben are gearing up for a Civil Partnership. Sweet.
We’re still pissed about the “Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands”. Having nearly every race named for a sponsor would drive folks mad.
That’s not to say we value continuity all that much-the Manhattan Handicap, for example, has been run since the 1800s at distances from 6f to 12f, on dirt and turf. The Firenze was renamed the Lady’s Secret, then recently renamed the Zenyatta. Whirlaway’s race was renamed for Mineshaft, the Sir Barton was renamed the Barbaro (rumor has it they’ll change it back), the La Troienne was renamed the Eight Belles.
How do the Casinos get clients to come in?Free busing to the casino. No admission fees.Cheap but good food.Wheels turning,slots ringing, Keno(bingo) cards even in the restaurant while eating.Busloads of senior citizens allowed in free Busloads of old women allowed in free(they love to gamble).
Now how about, not free admission, but a refund token(equal to the entry fee) to be used for betting purposes once inside.How about hot coffee free on cold national hunt days?Inside warm accommodation for all.Ladies and all under 21 allowed in free.Large closeup view of the parade rings in all parts of the enclosures.Interviews with winning trainers on the screen immediately after the race.Races from other tracks shown every quarter hour on large screens,betting on all races allowed.Close ups of all races enhances the excitement.Until the punters are placed second only to the owners will racing lag behind.Interviews with connections. Thumbs Up
But "Let women and under 21’s in free"!
NO!
Sexist and ageist. Fact is if this were to be the case then all other racegoers will have to pay more. In effect paying their entrance fee for them. Imagine the outrage if it was the other way around. Gentlemen and say 25 to 45 free. Under 18’s, sure let them in free. Many courses have a policy of a less expensive membership for under 25’s, which is fine. Encourage the young to go racing, but NOT for free. No problem with senior citizens going racing for a nominal fee, as they deserve it.
If they let ladies in free, then I will either take the course to court or go racing in a xxxxxxx dress!
Value Is EverythingI have to laugh at these nutcases and their efforts to ruin the sport yet again. It’s staggering.
*Trial of decimal odds at several race meetings over one weekend in spring 2010.
Great and how does that help exactly? I forgot, millions of people are going to tune in and start to bet on racing because they can work out 2.5 X 2 = 5 instead of the odds being in the 5/2 format. Why not try to get the government to help with one of their silly diploma scheme’s for those who can calculate 2.1 X 8?
*Funded media training for jockeys and trainers, together with an appearance fee budget set aside for non-racing media work.
I can’t wait for Barney Curley to have a go at this. In other words we want robots who say what people want to hear, or do we just want Ryan Moore to give a half decent interview? Hear’s a message for you lunatics – don’t bother funding it.
*All jockeys and trainers to be listed on race cards by their first names and surnames.
How exciting. Anyone think McCoy will request being known as “Anthony?” You know when a player scores a goal in football and you check the scores on Sky Text, the player’s name is given as their surname unless there are two players with the same surname in the team. But this will be revolutionary with a jockeys first name being printed. Do they expect the public to go up to some jockeys and go, “are you Richard,” just before a race? Maybe if Federer wins Wimbledon next year the Umpire will call Game, Set, Match “Roger” instead of GSM Federer.
*The outcome of photo finishes to be displayed on screen at the same moment as the judge’s announcement. Saddlecloth numbers will be larger to improve visibility.
In greyhound racing they have set trap colours; does that improve it’s popularity? I heard Athletics are thinking of adopting a system where Usain Bolt wears flashing lights in the shape of numbers on it rather than the standard athletes bib in major championships.
*Race names to be simplified and racecourse announcements to be modernised.
So does that mean in the UK when the BBC show they Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe it will simply be referred to as the European Championship for horses? I just hope we can simplify it and it’s overall significance. And why stop at race names, lets go the whole way and change horses names. Like the confusion of how to pronounce Kauto Star. Lets have his name changed in future because it’s too complicated.
Seriously, the naivety involved considering we want to keep betting companies onside in this sport is incredible. I’ll let them call races just about anything provided sponsors keep investing. Are we really fussed? I’m not.
*On-course bookmakers encouraged to offer standard each way terms and enhanced customer service via agreed minimum service standards.
And this really helps improve the popularity of the sport. When the “new” people have to work out an each way bet, because after all these will be the same new people who will be only attracted to the sport because of the successful introduction of decimal odds, how will they manage to divide 6.6 by 4? Fractions are too hard but dividing numbers is easy! This is so funny it’s unbelievable. But a sport like Football has managed to increase betting turnover without aiming to do so despite fractional odds. Amazing really.
*Racecourse initiatives to improve the enjoyment and understanding of a day at the races for both new and regular racegoers, linked to a new independent quality assessment scheme.Does that mean we all get to fill out questionnaires? Oh I can’t wait. But this same Racing For Change nonsense are attempting to take out some of the basic understanding of this sport? Oh, I’ve just done some more research on the “Enjoy England” website. I can’t wait for Southwell to be featured as one of the most upbeat, lively and exciting Horse Racing destinations in England with plenty to do like meeting stars like Robert Cooper when you attend.
*The establishment of a new free membership club for younger adults that will offer discounted admission to many racecourses and shares in several racehorses.That will be some club to join. Because by then a Kempton All Weather meeting will be flooded with “new” younger people who love Horse Racing thanks to these initiatives. So much so, anyone who has shares in a horse thanks to this new club will be struggling to get through the gates the place will be so packed, no?
*A new website launched to promote horseracing to new and novice customers.Who would have thought it? We do actually have a website called britishhorseracing.com though. Amazingly the site even has “facebook” and “twitter” links as well. Who would have thought that? What will they call this new site.
Britishhorseracingbutwedontwanttoactuallytellyouaboutthatsocomeandfindoutaboutdecimalodds.com ?!
Or
Youmustbearightmugifyouveclickedonherehopingtofindoutmoreabouthorseracinginbritain.com
Yeah, that sounds better. More to the point I think. And will the word “novice” in race titles be used in race titles with the previous plan of shortening race names? That might confuse the “uneducated” so to speak. Oh yes, I’ve found the quote in the text down below from the original link.
Information for the casual or new racegoer is currently very complicated. Many current race names include detailed descriptions of the race entry conditions – descriptions that have not proved necessary on race cards in other countries. Racecourse announcements will also be simplified and changes introduced by April 2010.Ever thought when they get home from going racing they may want to find out more about stuff like that? Perhaps no one does but they won’t have the option now. What really gets me is that the “casual” racegoer isn’t going to fuss with that anyway. Pick a horse on colours or name are the common systems everyone must now. Why not just print the number of each horse on the racecard and leave it at that? Forget important things like the horses name, age, weight, form figures – just print the numbers because thanks to the new saddlecloths the commentators will be calling the “Red Number One out in front form the Pink Number Ten, and they hit the line for the judge to sort it out, where it will be great to see our new system.” I was hoping for more information in general – not less.
*A central PR campaign from January to promote racing more effectively to a wider audienceHire a top spin doctor while you’re at it. Really do some more to help racing.
This is just a disgrace. If these plans come into place as the apparent saviour of British racing I’ll never watch another race again. It’s nonsense. Why not find ways to improve the sport itself the whole time? Adopting a Barrier trials system similar to parts of Australia for unraced horses over a minimum of 4f would please some for a start. Weighing horses as well might help as well. Or telling punters the correct distances a race was contested over unlike at some courses. All rail re alignments should be stated clearly. But that doesn’t matter.
The Beeswing, Predominate, Virginia Water etc etc, I’ve gone on before about this. They should have been protecte and it isn’t too late.
Can we put The Lupe on there also.
Looking at some of the rabid over-reactions to the somewhat innocuous starter for 10 proposals from Racing For Change, I really do wonder what the reaction would be if RFC actually suggested something radical – would we have the dinosaurs grabbing their pitchforks and barricading themselves inside Southwell?
Looking at some of the rabid over-reactions to the somewhat innocuous starter for 10 proposals from Racing For Change, I really do wonder what the reaction would be if RFC actually suggested something radical – would we have the dinosaurs grabbing their pitchforks and barricading themselves inside Southwell?
"Do you hear the people sing,singing the songs of angry men,this is the music of the people, who will not be slaves again"!
Interesting stuff Aragorn ,,,,,can understand your cynical view, and to be honest I think none of these wooly suggestions will ever materialise ,why …because the factions involved wont agree
I know lots of folks want to see racing improved,and have the best interests of the sport at heart , this RFC group though have in my view only tinkered with the cosmetic aspects , they havent tackled the real issues , they have little or no hope of forcing the changes to happen , so its going to be fun watching the war to follow
I sense though the premierisation aspect will have the racecources licking their lips at the amounts they will be able to charge for admission , and so we will all merrily go down the path of French Racing in Longchamp, where group races are enacted to practically empty grandstands
Wondefull innit
Ricky
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We’re still pissed about the "Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands". Having nearly every race named for a sponsor would drive folks mad.
But dear Miss Woodford, under our current UK system it would be called the "Yum Brands Kentucky Derby". I can’t believe that you’d prefer that!
Your system, however aethetically hideous, is less appalling from the perspective of history and tradition.
We call nearly every race these days the "Betfake Heritage Gold Cup". It’s got silly, and has to stop.
This may have been mentioned, so apologies if it has, but surely their needs to be a clear time when the days big race will take place. Give the public the certainty that if they tune in to TV, radio, internet at a certain time they will see the main event.
This is an established practice (Champions League 7.45pm, Coronation St 7.30pm, News At Ten…well ermm 10pm etc.)
The days big race should always be at say 3.45pm in the summer months and 2.45pm in the winter. The rest of the card works back from there, other secondary meetings work in around it. It would be possible to establish the second feature at 3.05pm/2.05pm and start to build a shape to day that is consistent across the months.Currently, no one would have any idea what time Welsh Champion Hurdle, the Victor Chandler Chase or the Tote Gold Trophy will tale place at unless they look up individual details nearer the time. But if everyone knew for sure that the Tote Gold Trophy was at 2.45pm with the Game Spirit run at 2.05pm then effective advertising, promotion and the chance of casual viewers would all be increased. The opportunity to target half time or before the start of football etc. could be decided pro-actively.
Seems straightforward…I have probably missed something.When I was little (I am 24 now), I used to ride at my local riding stables each Saturday (it, and most others, have shut down now because of insurance issues etc).
That got me into ponies. My parents bought me a subscription to ‘Horse and Pony’ magazine.
One day in said magazine, there was a voucher for 2 for 1 entry to the racing museum in Newmarket. I made my dad take me as it was ‘horsey.’ I took one look at all the horses on Newmarket heath that hot summer’s day (I was 12), and I was hooked.
Every birthday I made my dad take me to Newmarket – we did stable tours, stud tours, racing school, equine swimming pool – the works. I watched all the big races on tv, videoed them all, bought all the books, drew pictures of Derby winners, etc. Pretty much have not changed. Have a big framed picture of Sea the Stars on my wall. My dad now follows racing also, incidently.
I now work in Newmarket, in bloodstock/pedigrees. I don’t go racing very often unless I get a free badge – it is so expensive and I hate all the drunks who don’t give a stuff about what I believe is the most important thing – the horses.
If you want to attract young people to racing, get them hooked early. Especially all the pony mad young girls out there. I don’t think there is much point messing about with anything else (except the cost of race meetings perhaps) until you have hooked people into caring about and being interested in the horses. Someone then needs to be conveying all the things that we followers of racing love about the sport – the characters, the history, the triumph, the heartbreak, the challenge, the fact that it is for princes and paupers all wanting to see the same thing – a beautiful, historic, champion thoroughbred.
My favourite tv presenter when I was younger was always Clare Balding, because she always seemed to have the right amount of passion and knowledge combined, and often told the stories behind each horse. Sure, I found it difficult to understand some of the betting terminology, for example, but learnt it because I was interested and wanted to know more.
Obviously in an industry racing to breed, instead of breeding to race, a la flat racing, it is maybe harder to get people hooked on particular horses, but my favourite sport is the flat as I rather like the speed and the excitement of seeing a new crop come in each year. This is perhaps because I am interested in pedigrees and enjoy looking forward to the progeny of my former favourite racers (like Galileo) coming onto the track.
Getting bored of my rant now but I just wish the BHA would stop messing about with trivial things and realise they need to go back to grass roots and re-ignite some flames of passion for their sport.
Valid points stellablue but lets be honest, how many horsey mad young people are there in the UK? If you concentrated on these people then you’d get nowhere as they aren’t the ones with disposable incomes. Yes these kids can pester there dads and mums to take them (as you did) to the racing or stables etc but in todays "broken Britain" I cant see many parents being as co-operative as yours!
On the positive side, those 2 for 1 vouchers in your magazine are an idea that is already in action. The Sun is running an exact such deal in January and February to various tracks all over the land. I wonder how many people actually know these offers exist (apart from Sun Readers)? Have the BHA or the courses advertised this to there customers? Probably not.
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I don’t think StellaBlue is suggesting that horse-mad girls and horse-mad girls alone should be the focus of Racing For Change’s attention, douginho, just that they’re a ready-made interest group who won’t need much encouragement. That said, with such imaginative minds and an already smouldering love of horses, is there not a danger that racing will be breeding a new generation of staff rather than racegoers and owners?
And how many people are there aged between say 5 and 15? That 38k is nothing but a drop in the ocean, less than 1%.
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Even if only 25% of the 38,500 are of a suitably impressionable age, douginho, the benefit to racing is potentially far greater. Unless children between the age of 5 and 15 have suddenly started driving, a trip to the races or a stable visit will require parents, siblings and perhaps even grandparents and the occasional cousin.
I used to be one of those horse-crazy girls. At first I only watched horse racing on TV because you hardly see any other equestrian event on network television. Then I begged my dad to go to a real racetrack, and since my dad had been taken to the track by his grandfather, I suppose he felt nostalgic. I just wanted to see the pretty horses, but eventually I learned about handicapping. If you want to ensure that racing doesn’t die off with the old generation of bettors, you have to introduce it to young people before we are even allowed to wager (age 21 here).
Sorry, I don’t have the time or inclination to read 8 pages of postings but I thought this was a good debunking of RFC by a ‘racing outsider’.
Some doubters may argue that racing has other factors that militate against it attracting youngsters, such as the fact it occurs out of doors and often during daylight, but Racing For Change has done its research and drawn its conclusions. We can only hope that other sports have the sense to follow in its trendy hoofmarks. Football, for example. The average supporter attending Premier League matches these days is aged 44. For many years we have believed that this is because of the rising price of admission. If Racing For Change are to be believed, however, it may simply be that younger people are put off by football’s arcane time‑keeping system, baffled by a game that lasts 90 minutes and is divided into two 45-minute periods when it could, and should, be streamlined into a youth‑friendly 10-by-10-minute format.
Full article here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 … ry-pearson
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