Sedgefield abandoned

[TakeYourTime]

The meeting at Sedgefield was abandoned today but not until 3 minutes after the first race was due to start! Isn’t it about time basic rules are put in place with regards to how late an inspection can take place?

Racing continues to make an embarrassment of itself with these ludicrous goings-on.

[IanDavies]

Unlike many, I take the view racing is part of the leisure/entertainment industry, serving the off-course market, travelling to the track and finding its Off is a winter occupational hazard of being a trainer or jockey, and courses are duty bound to give racing every chance of going ahead.

However, that said, when over 50% of runners have been withdrawn before the late decision is even made, there comes a point when it becomes a farce.

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

[Red Rum 77]

I have to agree with the opening post. At the moment we’re in lockdown and no one can attend. However suppose it was in normal times and you’ve got the crowds coming. Advanced warning would be appreciated.

You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.

[IanDavies]

I don’t think this would have happened in normal times.

I think they left it late and even put start times back an hour because those present – trainers, jockeys and travelling stable staff – all work in the industry and though it annoys them bottom line is it’s a Winter occupational hazard

But you couldn’t ever treat the paying public like that and I doubt we will see such late abandonments once paying crowds return.

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"

[graysonscolumn]

If as many courses are apparently on the bones of their bottoms as the worst rumours suggest, then the imperative to get a meeting on by whatever means possible and collect the £6k per race in broadcast revenue becomes all the greater.

Not, one would assume, that this was the driver behind either the ARC-owned Sedgefield’s unsuccessful gamble or that of the JC-owned Haydock a week last Saturday, but independent Plumpton will far rather have had the six increments of cash for last Monday’s touch-and-go meeting than not.

There have been the grand total of five surviving turf jumps meetings north of the M62 so far in 2021, and none since Musselburgh on January 22nd. If that was the main motivation behind the Sedgefield officials going right to the wire, I’m not sure I can blame them.

gc

Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.

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