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Ah, I see
If Sky are throwing money at it then I’m surprised they are not going for the G1’s as the viewing figures you’d imagine would be much higher for say Royal Ascot than it would be for Thursday night handicap racing championship live.Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Applying the team sport concept to racing has been a disaster – I doubt whether there is a single genuine racing fan who got hooked by the Shergar Cup, never mind that nonsense when Haydock Park had the riders in the colours of Footy teams.These ideas reach out to the ‘here for the day’ audiences who when they go home will have all their bets on Footy, Cricket, Golf or other sports.I think the fact that many see racing as something in a time warp is actually a massive plus in the days of quick fixes, MTV style narrative, and change for changes sake. You can look at a horse who wins the Gns and Derby then runs in the Eclipse knowing that horse would have done this in the 1880’s. The boneheads are doing their best to mess up the calendar with more changes in the past 20 years then the preceding 75 years, but the shape is still there …. for now. Interest in racing has to be slowly nurtured, then a Captain Christy, Bula, Red Rum, Night Nurse, or Pearlyman may just grab hold of you are in that bubble for the rest of your life.
Very few of those who think it’s a very bad idea seem to be able to say why.
Some don’t even seem to have read what’s proposed.Typical of this stuck in the past forum.
Why is it a good idea…..?
Read what’s proposed, nearly made me sick. Geared around F1 style comp trainer and jockey the centre piece what a load of b0ll0cks, if that’s the future, I’m happy to say goodbye to it.Charles Darwin to conquer the World
You seem desperate for change ginge.
What is so wrong with what we have got.?Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Great post Cancello
Istabraq
The Fly
RoosterB
Hardy By Name
IncaSir Peter O’Sullevan….”The mares beginning to get up”
Baracouda vs Iris’s Gift…..2003/2004
Two of the finest horse races you could ever wish to see.
The tear in Francois Doumen eye as the mighty Couda was beaten.CHAMPIONSHIP RACING…….Priceless.
In comparison with the Shergar Cup, it was interesting to see the Racing Post describe retiring jockey Sammy Jo Bell as a “Shergar Cup Sensation”
Closer inspection shows that she had TWO winners at the annual Britainareplayingtheirjokerwereinthepointsarthurwheresyourdipstickfest.
Trying to hype something up won’t make it a good concept.
I like Horse Racing as it is, and the dilution of quality is only beneficial to greedy bookmakers who are like Oliver Twist in their avarice for a sprinkling of cocaine on top of the cherry, which tops the icing on the cream filled cake riddled with chocolate raisins.
No dross please we’re skittish.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
I’m happy to give it a try, can’t really do any harm and may as well try something a bit different to lure potential future fans of the sport in, more money in the sport/higher viewing figures is always a good thing. If it fails it fails but can’t knock them for trying.
I’m with you Ben. It’s no surprise that most on here aren’t in favour – we love racing as it is and don’t need any expensive gimmicks. But this initiative is not about attracting us it’s about attracting a wider audience and spreading racing’s appeal. I doubt also, Nath, it’s about getting people to the track; more about a TV audience. I have long argued that racing lacks the narrative that other sports have managed to find. Nobody would watch Darts until the Premier League, T20 brought a new audience to cricket and even Boxing now has a tournament in each category. Purist might not like it – give me Test Cricket any day of the week – but it has helped boost those sports. Whether this will be the right format for that time will tell. I probably won’t like it personally (I can’t stand the Shergar Cup) but, like I said, it is not about me. We could be in some serious trouble soon with the new FOTB legislation bound to affect prize-money. Racing needs to be able to compete with the other sports to stop it becoming a minority sport. Things like this might just help.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Agree Joni I’m not a fan of the shergar cup either but like you said with the potential new limits on the FOBTs racing will need to find some extra money from somewhere and at least with this they are planning for the future rather than just trying to attain a quick fix
I suppose it would mean that, in theory, there would be a guaranteed number of runners in each race on the card which would be a positive, particularly for those with little interest in the actual racing but enjoy the spectacle and want an each-way bet. I imagine that it would be heavily marketed too, though I’m struggling to think of any significant groups to whom it would appeal. I doubt whether the majority of the population know any jockeys (apart from Dettori perhaps) and I’m sure that few could name one trainer so not sure that the idea of supporting teams has legs. I can’t see hoards flocking to support “Brand Qipco”, or whatever either. What is clear is that the presence of a top horse will attract big crowds, even if it’s only being given a racecourse gallop. Free entrance days are also well-attended, regardless of the quality of racing.
Good luck to them. I hope they can make it work in some way but, if racing really wants to attract new fans, it needs to look at why people don’t go and particularly what puts the first-time racegoer going again. Cost is definitely one reason and I suspect poor facilities, price and quality of refreshments and ease of travel may be others.
Stripped back to its basics its another 48 decent quality horse races to bet on of a Thursday summer evening that do not currently exist already I suppose.
You’d wonder though, how it might dilute the already existing big handicaps at the July, Glorious and Ebor festiv als, as the thing is mooted to be run from July to September. There’s only so many decent flat handicappers to go round.
You could also feasibly have a scenario where three of the eight racedays would be “engines” only, as the majority of flat racing’s “people” would be popping corks elsewhere, namely Goodwood, Newmarket and York.
You’d also wonder how much the so called “casual viewer” would be interested in spending another two and half hours of their summer day watching more horse racing, having spent their entire Thursday afternoon watching the ITV coverage of the aforementioned festivals as well.
Would ITV really put six horse racing handicaps on its main channel at prime time, given the preference they generally have for the Saturday afternoon matinee over horse racing at present? Difficult to imagine it would. Competition for network coverage from World Cups, European Championships, Olympic Games etc… most summers would also have to be factored in.
To the best of my knowledge Louis Vuitton, Bentley, Tag, Rolex,etc.. currently dont sponsor any British horse racing, never mind handicappers running on ITV4. Tough sell imo…
I’m all for innovation and progress in horseracing, but this enduring hard on some of racing’s managers have for remodeling it into Formula One is beyond me.
Nice post, Cav, raising a few of the questions the sport’s press should have put to the organisers rather than just publishing the press release.
As Cav says, how many would want to have Lobster in the afternoon and then sit down in the evening to gorge on value fish fingers?
I feel that people who watch racing and can appreciate the difference between class horses and run of the mill handicappers, are much more likely to grasp the narrative of a season, with Classics, Group 1 meetings and 2YO horses making they way to become the following year’s Classic contenders. They will form a better informed and perhaps become a life long follower with a love for truly great champions.
Those watching endless mediocre content are probably going to have a much more ephemeral interest in the Sport and be bored rather quickly by the same ‘ol same’ ol.
I am happy to be selfish and see it for what it really is, more cannon fodder races that benefit the bookies. There is nothing altruistic behind this plan. It’s all about money. Plain and simple.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
As far as “F1” is concerned, as far as I can see it’s doing three things:
1) Teams racing against each other, with the points totalling up in to a Championship.
2) In horse racing every horse has a unique name, therefore it’s impossible to call “teams” after just one horse. ie A team competition needs to be about the trainer, jockey and owner – just as F1… not so much about the horse.
Teams are: Trainer/s (Engines/Constructor – Mercedes, Ferrari etc) and jockeys (Driver – Hamilton, Vettel etc), in 12 teams named after brands (Team Owner/Entrant – Red Bull, Martini etc)…3) And the only other thing similar to F1 is:
The scoring system, ie similar to:Winner of a race gets 28 points
2nd 18 points
3rd 15
4th 12
5th 10
6th 8
7th 6
8th 4
9th 2
10th 1They’re not going to put the bloody horse in a car and race it around tarmac.
Value Is EverythingYou seem desperate for change ginge.
What is so wrong with what we have got.?Read Joni’s post, Nathan. As often the case, he puts things more eloquently. Am not “desperate for change”, won’t be that interested in the competition anyway, just think it’s worth trying in order to reach another audience. In my opinion nothing/little is wrong with Racing how it is now, however I am already hooked on Racing. With the percentage of gambling going to horse racing diminishing and other gambling issues such as the levy and FOBT’s closing bookmaker’s shops – I don’t think we can afford to be so dismissive, although of course it’ll need some thought/tweeking – Cav’s made some excellent points and posed interesting questions.
Value Is Everythingand you think that’s a good idea……..
Your timeline on the subject goes
1. Ginger don’t like the idea
2. Gosden shows support to it
3. Ginger now likes itas far as viewing figures go, it won’t last. I’m already planning on joining the Thursday night watch paint dry club.
Like Steve says it’s all about money and if Sky get the gig they will soon work out that the G1 horses is where the viewing figures and money is at and will go after that possibly, I doubt it but if they do and turn that into the circus that this idea looks like I bet your value to the last pound you won’t like it or perhaps making a mockery of our top horses is moving with the times and you’d like that as this forum is in the past, perhaps 100’s of years of history should get brushed up on so Murdoch and co can make a extra few pound.Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Your timeline on the subject goes
1. Ginger don’t like the idea
2. Gosden shows support to it
3. Ginger now likes itYou seem desperate to twist things, Nathan. Read my posts again. To put it in to your language: I “don’t like the idea” as far as my own personal enjoyment goes – am not going to be that interested. But Racing is for more people than just me and if (that’s “IF”) it helps reach another audience then yes, I “like it” for that reason. It is possible to be both.
Value Is Everything
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