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I recall there being a thread some time ago about lager louts ruining racing, especially at the London tracks and at weekends, but this is the most severe incident of which I’ve heard.
While there will always be a minority of troublemakers at any sporting event, this does not portray the sport in a good light at all.
Whilst I didn’t witness any bad behaviour there yesterday, and leaving well before the incident, it was hard not to fail to notice there were a number of stag parties in various fancy dress outfits at the venue yesterday, each to their own and not meaning to be a spoilsport, but not something I personally think goes with NH racing!
… but not something I personally think goes with NH racing!
Sadly, racing (like most things) is about financial profit and nothing else these days. The racecourses would rather have a coach-load of boys out on the lash, and the guaranteed income at the bars, than have a thousand teetotal racing aficionados.
I hardly go to Sandown anymore because of drunken idiots spoiling things so am not surprised there was trouble yesterday. For many years the racecourse employed staff to keep drinkers underneath the grandstands but that’s now long been forgotten.
As has been said many courses make their money out of beer swilling parties than they will from non-drinkers so do they really care if trouble breaks out?
Sadly, racing (like most things) is about financial profit and nothing else these days. The racecourses would rather have a coach-load of boys out on the lash, and the guaranteed income at the bars, than have a thousand teetotal racing aficionados.
Have to agree 100% with you Gladiateur, at Newmarket summer meetings the ‘Jolly Boys(and girls) Outings arrive on coaches and in stretch limos already tanked up and by the end of the day the noise and behaviour in the bar area of the racecourse is unbearable.
Here is another incident around 2008 at Newmarket and also Sandown so it seems nothing has changed:-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing … ience.htmlThe Racing authorities trying to encourage a new generation of racegoers to our courses are not setting a good example to the children they encourage in for free, I’ve seen them being held over the barriers of the paddock to see the horses by their parents and encouraged to shout at jockeys and horses as they pass by.
I have suggested to Newmarket (You tell us and we will listen!!) that the bars be confined to the upper areas of the racecourse so that peoples who actually want to watch horseracing have easy access from the paddock to the racecourse (this is on the Rowley Mile Course) as to make this journey you virtually have to shove your way through groups of lager swigging coach trippers who stay and sway about all day and never see a horse. They put all their bets on at the beginning of the Meeting, watch them on the ‘In House TV’ whilst down pints.
There is nothing wrong with the racecourses trying to bring in extra income with Wedding Parties and Corporate Entertaining as this is controlled but I do feel that the races are not appropriate venues for Stag and Hen do’s where the behaviour will almost always get out of control by the end of the day.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I no longer bother going racing on Fridays or Saturdays. I’m not a piss-head screaming his head off so I’m no longer the demographic that racing wishes to attract nowadays.
Mike
The problems in my experience (Salisbury, Goodwood and Newbury) are (on the whole) nowhere near as bad.
All people need to do is:
Take sandwiches and drink (non-alcoholic) and eat/drink it in the car in the car park. Keep out of the bars! Go from pre-parade ring to paddock to betting ring to grandstand to pre-parade ring… and make a fairly quick exit after the final race. ie Don’t hang around for when the drunks stagger their way out of the track.Yes, there is an occasional incident, but please don’t over-play it. I hate rowdy/drunken behaviour, I am a quiet, non-drinker, but there’s
nothing
to stop me going racing.
Value Is EverythingThe problems in my experience (Salisbury, Goodwood and Newbury) are (on the whole) nowhere near as bad.
All people need to do is:
Take sandwiches and drink (non-alcoholic) and eat/drink it in the car in the car park. Keep out of the bars! Go from pre-parade ring to paddock to betting ring to grandstand to pre-parade ring… and make a fairly quick exit after the final race. ie Don’t hang around for when the drunks stagger their way out of the track.Yes, there is an occasional incident, but please don’t over-play it. I hate rowdy/drunken behaviour, I am a quiet, non-drinker, but there’s
nothing
to stop me going racing.
Ginge I had to smile because that’s exactly how my racing day pans out, but after Grandstand you forgot to add ‘back to betting ring to collect winnings’ 
Being lucky enough to hold a Member’s badge at Newmarket the problem drinkers don’t really intrude on a great day at the races as there are several areas to go and have a quiet coffee and study up on your Placepot etc before racing starts, but would like to see it more controlled for the sake of those who have their enjoyment marred by others selfish behaviour.
Have to agree nothing would keep me away from the races especially my favourite meeting of the year The Guineas Meeting at Newmarket where I’m hoping to see Dawn Approach storming up the Rowley Mile 2 lengths ahead of the field
JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Crisis in public behaviour. You will see more of it.
Ginge, I find your solution perfectly acceptable
if
that’s how you want to go racing. Many people fancy a pint and so on. Why should they have to put up with it?
It’s everywhere now, a kind of free for all selfishness. For example, I was in an expensive pub in a posh-ish part of south-west London a few weeks ago when the rugby was on. The inane screaming and hollering by middle-aged people pissed out of their heads on wine was unbelievable, and I’ve been around a bit. There was no inkling shown that they might be annoying other people, which they were. It’s the new trend: you have to act like an animal, it’s cool.
Ginge I had to smile because that’s exactly how my racing day pans out, but after Grandstand you forgot to add ‘back to betting ring to collect winnings’ 
Jac
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