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My fear is, in the longer term, we may loose this diversity and, heaven forbid, end up like the States where all courses are basically the same and it is racing by numbers.
Don’t worry.
The American racing model is just about the worst in the world and I can’t believe any sane, or even half-sane, racing authority would wish to copy it. The sport in the USA is dying a slow death, deservedly so considering the appalling way it’s been run over the last 30 years.
Cheers Paul. You cannot beat the diversity in the UK. Personally, I can’t wait for harness racing. (Some of us "larger" geezers can learn to be drivers! You can enjoy a roast dinner and still be a jockey in that sport).
Despite the doom and gloom we get overwhelmed with on here, racing of all types is still the best day’s sport you can get. I went to football yesterday, I ended up skint and didn’t really enjoy the game, yet, I paid double what Nottingham and Southwell charge for three hours and more.
I know this is a digression, but to follow Venusian’s point, there is an excellent blog calling for change in US racing on the NTRA website. The responses from American railbirds are good reading.
None, however, mention artificial surfaces as a problem.
The racing surface is not racing’s major problem, imo.
The public have lost confidence and interest in the game.I’m staggered by the number of people dismissing AW racing both overseas and here – either it’s fishing of the highest order or refusal to accept the way it will be. Neither way does it matter as all will be playing the game sooner or later, you cannot ignore progress or evolution.
I’m staggered by the number of people dismissing AW racing both overseas and here – either it’s fishing of the highest order or refusal to accept the way it will be. Neither way does it matter as all will be playing the game sooner or later, you cannot ignore progress or evolution.
Simon, if anyone is the fisherman I think it is you
I might buy shares in one of these AW companies…..i mean with all the courses they are going to be re-laying, and all the Hunter courses all over the country. These guys will be making a fortune! SBerry – AW will be long gone well before people give up on real racing. Now stop being silly and make better use of your time by checking out the "form" of the Class 6’s at the next GL meeting.
I might buy shares in one of these AW companies…..i mean with all the courses they are going to be re-laying, and all the Hunter courses all over the country. These guys will be making a fortune! SBerry – AW will be long gone well before people give up on real racing. Now stop being silly and make better use of your time by checking out the "form" of the Class 6’s at the next GL meeting.
Someone once said that the car would never catch on. You’re going to see a lot of courses laying AW tracks over the next ten years as the business implications of our changing climate hit home.
Someone once said that the car would never catch on. You’re going to see a lot of courses laying AW tracks over the next ten years as the business implications of our changing climate hit home.
Very unlikely in my opinion as Edinburgh were refused permission to build an all weather track and both Newbury and Newmarket shelved plans to build one.
The main problem with artificial racing is that it is not as appealing to view as turf racing. There is something unnatural about watching horses run on sand and this is one reason why the majority of racing enthusiasts prefer the turf.
I do not dislike the all weather racing and enjoy trying to find the winner of some of the class 4 or better hcaps. It serves a useful purpose when we have bad weather and I think that it is good for the racing industry. It has it’s limits though and there does not seem to be much doubt that turf racing is more popular so it should not take over as being the surface that is used for the majority of horse race meetings or be used to provide top class racing. I think that the present balance of turf/aw meetings is about right.
Pete
Tuffers dont be fooled by the climate change lobby…. its just the world doing its normal cycle…
The main problem with artificial racing is that it is not as appealing to view as turf racing. There is something unnatural about watching horses run on sand and this is one reason why the majority of racing enthusiasts prefer the turf.
Professor Potts, late of this forum, made the good point that if the AW surfaces were dyed green from the outset then it wouldn’t have had nearly the number of detractors it had, and still has.
Personally, though AW doesn’t interest me one jot, I’m in the ‘relish the diversity’ camp.
If you don’t like a Code ignore it.
With such a hideously bloated fixture list how any punter can possibly manage to follow, let alone bet, all racing is beyond me anyway.
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