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Are there any reasons why racing cant start at 12.30 or 1.00, particularly on busy days. National Hunt seems to manage ok in the depths of Winter, why cant Flat racing start earlier?
On Saturday for example we had 7 meetings in the UK and Ireland between 2pm and 5.50pm. It makes following it all almost impossible and gives little or no time to savour pre race build up to the better quality racing at the weekend with races clashing and frequently running into each other. From a TV point of view it can be an exercise in controlled chaos some days. From a betting industry point of view does it harm betting shop turnover? I’d imagine punters in the shops just cant keep up with it all either. Liquidity on the exchanges suffers with money spread all over the place.
Perhaps there are reasons for the relatively late starts, if not then why not start racing earlier.
I would think tradition has a lot to do with it.
I seem to remember, in the relatively recent past, some meetings starting early on Cup Final Day.
Too early a start can mean logistical problems if you are situated some way from the course which you wish to attend.
Colin
I seem to remember, in the relatively recent past, some meetings starting early on Cup Final Day.
You remember correctly – Bangor’s Cup Final Day meeting used to start at around 11:30, and I presume (but can’t remember) that the other courses operating on the day mostly followed suit.
gc
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Early starts certainly suit the lunchtime betting shop crowd. Well, at least the slightly more discerning patrons who prefer to steer clear of bags meetings, virtual racing etc.
Think it always used to be Beverley that day too.
Im not keen on the early starts myself. 2.00 -30 pm is ideal for me
The later start times usually get bigger crowds. We’ve noticed in point to pointing that when you get a Noon start we do badly compared to 1pm or later mostly because people think if they miss the first race they will get back value for money.
Also in terms of the betting shops late starts mean that punters will still be able to get their bets on during their lunch break but that the actual racing will go on that much later to catch the after work crowd. Thats the theory anyway.
it wasn’t that long ago that many lingfield and other winter meets started before 12, doesn’t seem to happen these days, not sure why
Simon,
Lack of funding for divided races means no more eight and nine race cards on the AW, so no need to start so early.
I’m sure the main reason it’s 2 pm and later is to allow time for lunch. In times past that would have been the stewards and the annual members dictating the schedules. Nowadays it’s the corporate boxes.
The later starts also mean slightly less disruption in stables – horses leaving for the races before first lot goes out means more work for those left behind.
AP
I believe the reason is tradition, as was correctly pointed out.
One could not have the patrons of the Sport of Kings being forced to rush their pre-race luncheon, could one?
On the AW, few such niceties apply. Even so, it can still be a very long day for box-drivers and grooms as the recent 10 race card at Wolver proved. Races are tightly stacked, with quantity being the prime concern of the organisers.
All part of the churn, churn, churn, which is something the landed gentry and moneyed classes would prefer to leave to others, I guess.
And very nice too, if one can afford it!That was another guess, btw.
I’ve wondered this myself and the explaination I was given is that the race-times where traditionally set to fit in with the old pub opening-times.
The work-shy, the lazy and the feckless could get a few pints in before spending the afternoon in the bookies.
Right, I’m 20 mins later – I’m off
Pontefract meetings often used to start at 2.45. Was that originally something to do with giving local miners time to get to the course?
So just in order for you to park your arse in front of the telly and listen to all that rubbish spouted by a load of idiots all the racing staff have to get up even earlier than they do now. People that actually want to go to the track have start even earlier with very little time to study form. Never mind we won’t worry about any of this as long as you’re happy
Its to do with the US as they are between 5 and 8 hours behind. With ATR and RUK doing tv deals with US if the races go off at 2.30 it means there is more likely to be a US audience if the races started at 12 noon it would be between about 4am and 7am in US and probably not get a tv audience that a US channel could sustain.
Also betting shops wanting ever more profits will probably have a say in order to achieve the best customer times
Later start times equals bigger crowds.
Also, some of the midweek meetings used to tie in with local half-day closing. Wincanton always used to race on Thursdays (apart from Boxing Day and Easter Monday) because Thursdy was the half-day in that area.
Yes Pontefract do start some meetings at 2.45 due to the old tradition of the early shift workers down the now defunct mining industry being able to have a day out which is nice considering what they were doing in the first place.
I think 1.30 to 2.20 is a good time to start meetings as i like to have lunch and a wander around the course before racing and i do find it difficult having lunch at 11am during the winter months
Im sure M Deering will give us a good insight of Australian start times though as i believe that at Flemington they start at 11am on Cup day and when the Breeders Cup was at Santa Anita due to the difference and to get the audience on the East Coast of USA the first race was at 9.40 am
That may happen again this year, Neil.
Early start at Santa Anita.Whatever the reasons, I have to say that my least favourite timed cards were those of the heinous " Twilight Meetings" at Wolver.
The standard was low, but I felt that it was neither one thing or the other.
My personal preference is for the main race of a meeting to take place at 3pm or 3.30 pm.I don’t suppose it makes much difference, really.
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