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Did it work? It was obviously better that the racing went ahead instead of not at all. Some of the racing was good and from a personal point of view I had a winning week but the absence of a crowd meant the whole thing was a bit dull.
I think you could sense it yesterday in particular. Dettori had three winners on the big stage but could not really celebrate properly. If the usual crowd had been there he would have milked it for all he was worth!
We need the crowds back as soon as possible.
It wasn’t until they got to the winners enclosure that I even remembered that there wasn’t a crowd.
It had no impact at all, which I was a bit surprised with.
My take is that horse racing is not diminished in any way by the absence of a crowd.
Definitely a plus at Royal Ascot as we did not have to endure all the fluff and nonsense about fashion, food and celebrities.
Agreed, itv coverage much more watchable without the tedious fashion stuff etc, and the racing itself was first class, lack of crowds obviously a benefit for the 2 years olds calmness, and maybe also helped Battaash! The tv viewing figures were pretty healthy too.
Whether we like it or not, Royal Ascot IS partly about the fashion and the royal procession.
Maybe the lack of a crowd at a Flat meeting is not so serious because we all know the Flat is as much a business as a sport, at least in Group races.
But can you imagine Cheltenham behind closed doors? A Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle winner coming back into the famous winners enclosure to silence? I think people would notice that. And it might happen if we get the feared second wave in the winter.
I saw an interview by Rishi Persad with Josephine Gordon on RTV last week. They came very close to insinuating that racing was better without crowds.
I really think racing folk should be careful about what they say. If people are made to feel as if they are not wanted they might just stay away and spend their leisure pound elsewhere.
At the Guineas meeting, Lydia Hislop asked Ryan Moore what it was like winning the big race without a crowd there. Moore replied in his taciturn way “It’s not ideal, is it?” He is not wrong!
I did miss the Royal Procession it was a shame the Queen missed celebrating her winner Tactical on course, but I didn’t miss Gok Wan or the two ITV presenters that frequent the Royal Enclosure and the Heston Blumenthal Michelin star eating places sampling the dishes washing it down with pink champers…it all meant that we got to see more of the horses in the paddock and going down and I thought the presentation under the circumstances was excellent.
JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...i must admit i did miss the pomp and ceremony more than i thought i would, but didnt miss the endless wittering on about food and fashion that itv normally come up with, i mostly watched SSR anyway, better coverage.
it wa a bit flat when winners were coming in but presenters etc did their best to bring what atmosphere there was into our living rooms.
as for the puting side, i am only a small stakes punter on the whole but i had my best ever ascot! had 6 winners at 20-1 and above! around another 10 more at shorter prices. happy days!
Jac
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