Who is your typical racing fan? (a survey, if I may)

[BHison]

Age
20

Gender
Male

Location (area/type)
London/Surrey

Occupation / Class
Childcare (primary school)

Political views
They’re all bent corrupt *****, no matter who’s in power out of the top 3 they’ll all do the same

Relationship status
Single

How often do you go racing?
Only been twice (Sandown, when Nathaniel won the Eclipse), and Royal Ascot, would love to go more often though

Favourite racecourse(s)?
Sandown, Cheltenham for the course itself (stunning surroundings) and Ascot as I love the grandstand, it looks sublime.

How would you improve the racegoing experience?
Cheaper admin fee’s for the non-scummy seats

What initially got you into racing?
Watching the Grand National and Derby, I love a good race and that’s exactly what you get in horse racing

Which other sports to you watch?
Football, Rugby, NFL, Boxing, MMA, Tennis, Baseball, Darts, I love sport.

Flat or Jumps?
Flat for when your outsider comes storming through on the home straight, but Jumps for the pure insanity of some of the races (Lexus chase this year, even Long Runs battle this Boxing day was great to watch), the races are longer in Jumps so the tension builds more throughout, and you can’t help but hold your breath over each jump!

Favourite horse(s) of all time?
Frankel, the first top horse I watched on a regular basis, it’s just a coincidence that it happened to be the greatest there ever was. I like Hoof It and Al Ferof too, no idea why.

Racing hero(s)?
Dettori

Do you gamble? (if so to what extent, if not why not)
Yes, probably a bit too much, but I’m getting better, it’s all about experience IMO.

What are your views on promotion of the sport?
I think it’s doing ok, could promote itself a bit more during other sporting events adverts though to get a wider audience.

What are your views on animal welfare?
I’m not going to pretend to know enough about animal welfare in horse racing, I’m sure it could be improved though.

How would you improve the sport in general?
Less sh*tty handicaps.

Finally, is racing bent?
In the sh*tty handicaps.

Anything else?
Can’t think of anything.

[Kopwas]

Age:

53

Gender:

Male

Location (area/type):

Consett, Co. Durham

Occupation / Class:

Teacher

Political views:

Left of centre

Relationship status:

Married

How often do you go racing?:

Handful of times a year

Favourite racecourse(s)?:

York, Newmarket, Hexham

How would you improve the racegoing experience?:

Cheaper entrance

What initially got you into racing?:

Being taken by my father who was not a racing man but took me on our summer holidays. Then living close to the great Arthur Stephenson.

Which other sports to you watch?:

Football, cricket, NFL

Flat or Jumps?:

Flat

Favourite horse(s) of all time?:

Blazing Walker, Frankel

Racing hero(s)?:

Arthur Stephenson

Do you gamble? (if so to what extent, if not why not):

Yes but relatively small stakes

What are your views on promotion of the sport?:

Better than it was but still weak

What are your views on animal welfare?:

Support changes thus far, concerned about direction it is going

How would you improve the sport in general?:

Fewer courses, less racing (eg no racing on a Monday or Tuesday), less Class 6/7 racing (we are catering too much for poor quality)

Finally, is racing bent?:

Not as much as in the past though I’m sure there is still some skullduggery

[jpaul71]

Age – 41
Gender – M
Location (area/type) – Manchester unfortunately not great for live racing
Occupation / Class – Recruitment – First lol
Political views – Left
Relationship status – Married with son
How often do you go racing? – not as often as I like 5-6 times a year
Favourite racecourse(s)? – Goodwood, York, Newbury (creche great idea!)
How would you improve the racegoing experience? Better and cheaper restaurant experience for people with kids, better food
What initially got you into racing? My Grandad around the age of 4!
Which other sports to you watch? Football some others like Snooker
Flat or Jumps? Both depends which one is on, I’ve only ever owned flat horses as having lost hunters be devastated to lose one
Favourite horse(s) of all time? – Frankel, Carroll House, Long Run
Racing hero(s)? Paul Nicholls is quite a straight up guy and is a credit to his profession who has taken on the media age, Sir Henry without a doubt!
Do you gamble? (if so to what extent, if not why not) Yes, mostly on Saturdays or when attending race days
What are your views on promotion of the sport? Could always be better, I think it is a hard market with so many other entertainment opportunities and will always struggle against other main stream sports
What are your views on animal welfare? – I love animals, I’m vegetarian so have a strange juxtaposition with horse racing because of that. It’s hard to justify something like the Grand National but race horse are looked after well (at least while they are still racing) and my view is millions of animals are killed on a daily basis under much worse circumstances that a horse going out to do what they love (in the main part)
How would you improve the sport in general? Thats’s tricky so many ways. It needs to get into the mainstream commercial angle more but most people I know only have one relationship with racing and that is at Aintree each April. We have so many actual better races and it is a matter of promoting them to a wider public that is the challenge.
Finally, is racing bent? Yes to some level, it is inherent in the handicapping system but that is part of the game. The day I write the A Heffernan has been banned for 15 years. Ir was much worse years ago where jockeys (oncluding one known ex TV face) would meet up in the backrooms of casinos and decide who would win which race, it’s far more professional, competitive and better policed than those days
Anything else? Yes The Sunday Forum on ATR it’s down to about 45 minutes now – can you talk about racing!! Instead of spending the first 10 minutes talking about rubbish (McCretin moslty)

[Chaser1980]

Age 32

Gender Male

Location (area/type)Deepest Dorset

Occupation / Class Welder

Political views ……..

Relationship status Married

How often do you go racing? 4/5 times a year

Favourite racecourse(s)? Cheltenham and Wincanton

How would you improve the racegoing experience? Cheaper addmission and raise the price of a pint to a tenner to get rid of the growing number of pissed up idiots that are appearing at every weekend meeting

What initially got you into racing? Wacthing the grand national with my dad my first couple of years i backed Docklands Express

Which other sports to you watch? Darts

Flat or Jumps? Jumps

Favourite horse(s) of all time? Moscow Flyer and Amberleigh House

Racing hero(s)? Ginger McCain
Do you gamble? (if so to what extent, if not why not)Yes every saturday without fail during the jumps season

What are your views on promotion of the sport? …….

What are your views on animal welfare? …….

How would you improve the sport in general? ……

Finally, is racing bent? errr yes

Anything else? nope

[Baunemon]

Age

20

Gender

Male

Location (area/type)

Republic of Ireland

Occupation / Class

Veterinary Student from a farming background

Political views

None

Relationship status

In a relationship

How often do you go racing?

Couple of times a year

Favourite racecourse(s)?

Gowran, The Curragh, Fairyhouse, Cheltenham

How would you improve the racegoing experience?

Educate people about what goes on behind the scenes of the sport.

What initially got you into racing and how old were you?

Come from a horsey family. Been riding before I could walk.

Which other sports do you watch?

Hurling, Rugby, Soccer, Showjumping and F1.

Flat or Jumps?

Flat a slight favourite.

Favourite horse(s) of all time?

Limestone Lad, Frankel, Numbersixvalverde, Denman, Workforce, Sea the Stars, Sprinter Sacre.

Racing hero(s)?

M.V. O’Brien

Do you gamble? (if so to what extent, if not why not)

Yes. Have an interest in the mechanics of gambling and also play a bit of poker.

What are your views on promotion of the sport?

More emphasis on it being a sport for all people.

What are your views on animal welfare?

The horse comes first and the sport has a long way to go. Fewer horses to be bred of better quality. Better examination of horses prior to racing. More research into technologies to keep the horse from injury. Decrease the numbers in the Grand National.

How would you improve the sport in general?

Flat horses to run later to give more time to develop and have a longer career. Increase in prize money. Better safety measures put in place to prevent injury to the horse.

Finally, is racing bent?

There’s always a few

Anything else?

Nope

[Author]

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