- This topic has 120 replies, 45 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 10 months ago by
.
- Posts
God forbid a flat racecourse would want to hold a fixture on an afternoon when the general public have a day off work.
There used to be 16 meetings on Easter Monday, many of them jumping meetings. I used to think it was great that so many courses raced when, in theory, a lot of people were available to go racing.
Then, of course, the powers-that-be started tinkering with the criteria payments to racecourses so that many of the courses, notably Market Rasen, decided that it was not worth their while racing on Easter Monday because it was not worth it financially, even though they were getting a big crowd and it was the second biggest attendance after Boxing Day.
Absolutely ludicrous.
There were just seven Easter Monday meetings this year.
Market Rasen did make a brief return to Easter Monday for one year after a long gap but it was purely a one-off exchange for another end-of-season fixture.
Why courses would not want to race on a Bank Holiday, even if they were not necessarily getting all the grant payments they would wish, is a mystery to me because you would think that they would easily recoup any lost grant payment in extra paying customers through the gates, not to mention generating good will from their loyal local racegoers.
The crazy thing is that the system of payments to courses often makes it more financially viable to race on a quiet Tuesday when there will be a miniscule crowd than a popular Bank Holiday when thousands more racegoers could be expected. It’s a perverse disincentive that encourages them to race on quiet days that often hardly anyone wants to attend as a racegoer. Betting shop fodder is more important, no doubt.There may have been 13 meetings on Easter Monday but do you really think entire cards consisting of 4-5 runner races, as was quite common at the "lesser" meetings, actually did the sport any good?
You could get an entire Fakenham or Plumpton card on a single page in the Racing Post and there would still be room for adverts!!!
There are two different things here ……….the number of meetings on any given day is one
But the OP isn’t complaining about that – he’s complaining about RUK’s decision to try and show two races at the same time – a ‘big’ race on the flat and and instantly forgettable one over jumps
Why couldn’t someone at RUK just have decided to show the big race at York and inform viewers that a recording of the selling hurdle would be on in a few minutes
There are two different things here ……….the number of meetings on any given day is one
But the OP isn’t complaining about that – he’s complaining about RUK’s decision to try and show two races at the same time – a ‘big’ race on the flat and and instantly forgettable one over jumps
Why couldn’t someone at RUK just have decided to show the big race at York and inform viewers that a recording of the selling hurdle would be on in a few minutes
Correct SA, most have gone off on a tangent but I suppose that’s up to them.
As you say one of the biggest and richest handicaps abused for the sake of a couple of jumps at the start of some minor jumps race run at a snails pace.I see the clown responsible was at it again spoiling the finish of a race at Warwick for the sake of 30 secs of a mediocre jumps race at Bangor.
I am not anti jumps and I would think exactly the same if a big jumps race was similarly abused for the start of a minor flat race.It’s a case of incompetence and lack of common sense, and the betting shop mentality being imposed on viewers on what is supposed to be a dedicated racing channel.
It may be similar this afternoon on RUK :
3-25 Haydock – Betfred Sprint Cup
3-30 Thirsk
3-35 Kempton
Sectional Times During the race on RUK – A total distraction
They are blocking some of the horses out and are just an irritant for me.
I am very interested in sectional times/pace Eddie, but having said that, the more punters understand it – the less of an edge it brings.
May be they could put the sectionals in a different position or show them in analysis.
Value Is EverythingDuring the live race Gingertipster? Do you play in running based on what they put up?
I’ve no problem with them after the race but not during the live race, 3 of the runners in the Juddmonte were blocked out coming round the bend. Is there really a call from viewers for them during the live race?
I want to see horses racing not numbers.
During the live race Gingertipster? Do you play in running based on what they put up?
I probably put an edit in to my post just as you posted that Eddie.
Some might use it for their in play betting, I seldom get involved in that market. It would be a good tool because (going allowed for) a slow pace usually favours prominent runners and an overly strong pace you could almost lay the front runners blind.
But you are right Eddie, it should not obscure runners. May be a line down the bottom of the screen is a better idea.
Value Is EverythingThey should be at the top of the screen.
http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/4923086/Whitney_large_large.png
They shouldn’t be anywhere on the screen in Britain Miss Woodford, they are useless, about half a dozen a meetings a year get covered with sectionals at varying tracks. What’s the point of putting them up for 6 meetings a year?
Where was interpretaion of these sectionals from the experts (Lydia, Steve, Alex, John)? It was non existent, I wonder why?
Maybe Oli Bell will interpret some later in week, he was clamouring for them last week, must be some sort of expert on sectionals.
I ask you? Sectional timings cluttering up the screen during 5 and 6 furlong big field sprint handicaps
Ironically they don’t have them on screen during replay
Utter bollox.
They shouldn’t be anywhere on the screen in Britain Miss Woodford, they are useless, about half a dozen a meetings a year get covered with sectionals at varying tracks. What’s the point of putting them up for 6 meetings a year?
All the meetings should have fractional times. Time for Britain to move into the 19th century.
Sectional timing displayed on screen during jump racing is farcical.
I eventually worked out they were displaying the times between hurdles or fences. What possible use are these to man or beast?
Not only are they a complete waste of time, they are both obtrusive on the screen and a distractionNone of the times as far as I know was interpreted by any of their experts, hopefully this will be rectified tomorrow by Lydia Hislop and/or Steve Mellish if the farce is repeated.
The rest of the coverage in the build up to each race was poor and consisted mainly of Oli Bell doing an imitation of Chapman dashing around the paddock asking boring questions of connections and a video form guide of previous races.
There was little if any of what I feel is the most important part of a build up to race, that is showing the real stars of the show both in paddock and going to post.
Even C4 aren’t thick enough to have sectional times on screen during a 4 runner novice chase.
I thought it was far too ‘interview heavy’………it seems to be a problem at the big meetings when they have 3 or 4 presenters/pundits. They have to find something for them to do
Olly did a perfectly good job but the concept is flawed because nobody they interview ever says anything
Before the race ‘he’s a nice horse’
After the race – ‘we’ll see how he comes out of the race and then think about future plans’
Even C4 aren’t thick enough to have sectional times on screen during a 4 runner novice chase.
but, but, but………..don’t you need to know if they’re buying expensive lengths ?………
I suppose it isn’t that bad if you have a television set the size of a large wall? Sectional times – a useful tool or something for Willo and his disciples to bore the pants off you? I can’t remember ever wasting any energy looking at the time of a race let alone sectional time and surprisingly I can still make a regular profit. Everyone only has a certain amount of time to devote to picking winners and that time can be better used on other much more important factors. Your eyes should tell you pretty much all you need to know about how a race is run. The fact that the chief advocate for sectional times is arguably the poorest tipster in the media is hardly a glowing endorsement is it?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.