Why I do not enjoy going to the track

But having said all that, I agree with your experience Garrick et al. and yes, all of us have our own reasons for enjoying it and being involved, some for the horse,some for the punt, some for the social, others for the recognition.

How about putting up a pole next to each table and you can hire a girl to come and dance between races. you will probably lose less money betting on her than on the ponies:)

How about putting up a pole next to each table and you can hire a girl to come and dance between races. you will probably lose less money betting on her than on the ponies:)

Have ladies mud wrestle between races and have bets on that. <

This is a worldwide problem.

Unfortunately, we are living in different times.

Younger people have attention deficit disorder to a greater extent and have no patience to learn how to handicap a race. They want to play games and communicate with the world with their handset, unlike older people, who still read to gain their information and feedback.

Until ALL racing follows the French model, the sport will not rebound in popularity. French racing on TV is beautiful, well presented and the talking heads are knowledgeable.

In America, the visuals are poor and the talking heads so inane that it is not uncommon for viewers to mute the sound.

I still enjoy going to the track, walking to the paddock to see the horses and watching the post parade. On a quality card, racing is still very enjoyable. Racing in Europe is the best, because the quality if jam packed, the ambiance unmatched and the people in the crowd very informed.

But everyday racing at tracks in the U. S., where in 9 races, there are 7 sprints featuring horses of low quality, is for the birds. And I doubt if there is ANYTHING that can improve the experience.

Personally I like being on course because I can get a good look at the horses in the parade ring, not just a brief glimpse, if that, and often not of the top ones in the betting. TT doesn't seem to prioritise this and one gets to see a random sample of what's due to run.

Sadly, with the dwindling of the old-time crowds, there seem to be few of the old-time characters around. I don't find the in-between time boring, as I like to do photography which keeps me pretty busy. But I do miss the chance to chat with some of the real old-timers. The segregation of the gentry in the Ownersandtrainers ring keeps them away from the common herd, so they don't add anything to the race-day experience of small fry like myself and anyone I can arm-twist into coming along with me.

However, one plug for TT ... at least it makes seeing the racing possible for someone like me, who lives at least 6 hours of travel (most of it through the Transkei), away from the nearest course. It gives me and others living in the platteland a chance, even though it is terminally dull. For intelligent comment and real news I go to the racing writers.

Barry Irwin Wrote:

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>
> In America, the visuals are poor and the talking
> heads so inane that it is not uncommon for viewers
> to mute the sound.

Unlike, for example, South Africa....<

I agree about French racing, though. By and large, the best presentation of televised racing that I know of. (I've never watched a racing channel from places like Hong Kong, New Zealand or Japan, so can't comment about them).

On the subject of short attention spans, I wonder why our operators seem increasingly prone to leaving 40 minute gaps between races. This is fine before a big race, but between arbitrary races it surely does nothing except drag everything out for no reason that I can fathom. Are they trying to bore us to death?

Great contribution as always Garrick. I liked your account of how it was in the 70's

A track day for me is something really special. I don't get bored between races. There is just so much to take in and I don't seem to have a enough time between races to take it all in. The half hour between races on T Track though is like watching paint dry! I have to agree with your point on how things play out in your head vs watching the replays at home on T track. (I must add that I was few paces from the commentary box on July day and it looks exactly the same on the replays). At ground level though it is a different story.

As for taking people with to the track, this is one thing I try and avoid at all costs. There is nothing worse than having to make sure that your guest is ok when all you want to do is soak up the atmosphere of the day.

For me track days are sacred and special. They are a limited number of special days reserved for dates in the future. A track day for me is not something I would want to do every weekend. It would lose its gloss and become like the Joburger who dreams of living at the coast and frolicking in the ocean. When that dream becomes a reality, the ocean gets a visit once a year if its lucky. The idea of the event or dream is killed off.

magiclips Wrote:

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> Nicely summed up, Garrick. I can only say for the
> umpteenth time that the UK is a prime example of
> how getting good crowds on course does not
> automatically translate into a financially strong
> racing environment. It's about getting people to
> bet, from where they do it matters not.
>

They do bet. The following from an economic impact study done in 2006 by Deloittes.

Betting on racing
Britain’s total betting turnover ranks second
(behind Japan) in the world’s leading
horserace betting markets – well ahead of a
number of larger markets such as the USA.
British racing is ranked fourth behind Hong
Kong, Australia and Ireland in terms of
average betting turnover per adult. Gross
profits from betting on horseracing have
increased in Britain between 1997 and 2005,
in contrast to most other international markets
where gross profits have been falling.

Tipster ,they don`t bet "properly" ,on track bookies have left in droves complaining about poor turnover and low % .

Online gambling in the UK is massive,which is a problem for horseracing

WOW, I hope the powers at be can read this post! So many good points to act on, and so many positives to take from it.

I personally ABSOLUTELY 100% LOVE going to the track! I could think of nothing better than having a few drinks with buddies on an evening out, taking a few bets and just chilling out! I love the wait between races! It gives us all a chance to look at these amazing animals parade getting ready to go and do what they are born to do. A little bit of banter with the jocks whilst they mount up and go down to the start, hussling the bookies for the best price and so on! IT IS JUST AWESOME and I wouldn't change it for anything!

Going to the track is the best thing..if you get the time

I wish I could go more

On the betting side ..take your main bets before going..then just take a little cash to play what you like the look of..and enjoy the day..have to say the changes made to Turfontein over last few years are great.