The Racing Post and ITV partly responsible for low attendances?

[Quartu SE]

I am sure there are multiple agencies within the industry who have had a negative effect but these two have more exposure to the world at large than any other entity.Ever since the pair of them started the bullsh!t about becoming "Inclusive" and pushing their agenda's down our throats the backbone i.e the older punters have been pushed aside and ignored.It has been proven that their strategies do not work and never will,the failed "Racing For Change" proved that and yet they still try and re-vamp the concept.

Lately the courses seem to have realised the mistakes made by getting into bed with both and acknowledge the older racegoers are the hardcore and bread and butter of their product.ITV are the worst of the two but not by much e.g "The paddock expert" who is as much use as tits on a bull but ticks a box for them,ditto the Mulrennan lady e.g The horse is sweating badly,looks to be limping on her off fore but nothing negative?

Only a couple of small examples but it seems to me the people on there are patronising and insulting the majority of us simply to tick boxes?

The Racing Post has gone so far downhill it is barely recognisable,the "Industry Paper" that seems to be so overstaffed with "Experts" that you would think the bookies should all be skint.Again they have gone the way of ITV in pushing "Inclusivity" and certain individuals using the paper for their own agenda?

Half of them cannot spell or use basic grammar to back up their "expertise" and there race card summaries are lazy and incompetent compared with even a decade ago,they are a joke in terms of being a punters reference.Just one example of such is the write up for The Green Man 1730 hrs Leicester i.e Raced too freely on reappearance,last seasons RPRs bring him into it.

The fact that the horse did not run last year and had been gelded since his last run never got a mention,not only would I not trust and RPR I certainly would not trust a word these people say without double checking but they are supposed to be the go to source.

Is it only me who is disgruntled and disaffected when the obvious is so "Obvious"

[Quartu SE]

1 minute ago, Quartu SE said:

I am sure there are multiple agencies within the industry who have had a negative effect but these two have more exposure to the world at large than any other entity.Ever since the pair of them started the bullsh!t about becoming "Inclusive" and pushing their agenda's down our throats the backbone i.e the older punters have been pushed aside and ignored.It has been proven that their strategies do not work and never will,the failed "Racing For Change" proved that and yet they still try and re-vamp the concept.

Lately the courses seem to have realised the mistakes made by getting into bed with both and acknowledge the older racegoers are the hardcore and bread and butter of their product.ITV are the worst of the two but not by much e.g "The paddock expert" who is as much use as tits on a bull but ticks a box for them,ditto the Mulrennan lady e.g The horse is sweating badly,looks to be limping on her off fore but nothing negative?

Only a couple of small examples but it seems to me the people on there are patronising and insulting the majority of us simply to tick boxes?

The Racing Post has gone so far downhill it is barely recognisable,the "Industry Paper" that seems to be so overstaffed with "Experts" that you would think the bookies should all be skint.Again they have gone the way of ITV in pushing "Inclusivity" and certain individuals using the paper for their own agenda?

Half of them cannot spell or use basic grammar to back up their "expertise" and there race card summaries are lazy and incompetent compared with even a decade ago,they are a joke in terms of being a punters reference.Just one example of such is the write up for The Green Man 1730 hrs Leicester i.e Raced too freely on reappearance,last seasons RPRs bring him into it.

The fact that the horse did not run last year and had been gelded since his last run never got a mention,not only would I not trust and RPR I certainly would not trust a word these people say without double checking but they are supposed to be the go to source.

Is it only me who is disgruntled and disaffected when the obvious is so "Obvious"

And yes I did not proof read before posting so" there" should be their,apologies.

[Alastair]

I think the current problem with low attendances is down partly to people getting out of the habit of going racing after lockdown but more to do with entrance fees and the cost of food and drink on course which make it too expensive a day out at the moment for people facing rising prices.

[Bang on]

@Quartu SE The Green Man

My R.P. says "His early RPR's bring him into it, but he was down the field in a 7f newmarkethandicap on his return from a break, having raced freely(gelded beforehand); all runs so far over 7f.

However, I do agree that the 'expert opinion' needs to be just that and not just someone who ticks a box. They do seem to ignore the hardcore racing fan in favour of 'inclusivity'. How is racing not inclusive? I much prefer At the races when Jason Weaver or someone similar is talking about their 'paddock pick'. Many of the others are simply after timers telling you how they looked so good in the paddock after it has won.

[Bang on]

11 minutes ago, Alastair said:

I think the current problem with low attendances is down partly to people getting out of the habit of going racing after lockdown but more to do with entrance fees and the cost of food and drink on course which make it too expensive a day out at the moment for people facing rising prices.

@Alastair I agree,

Not to mention the fact that many racecourses now no longer accept CASH.... Cash has always been King on the racecourse.

[LEE-GRAYS]

To much racing to many small fields

[richard-westwood]

I really think racing has,a serious problem ....some of my hard-core friends have simply stopped betting because as they put it the fields are s**t and there's no way abyones gonna go racing spending their hard earned money for 4 races of 6 runners ...  they need to sort out the runner situation .....then have a tenner to get in with a program fest ...  get people back racing  and the ball will roll down that hill ......if they don't then heads have got to roll 

[Quartu SE]

Fair comments from Alistair and Bang On,maybe I should have mentioned the race summary was the online card,that said there is no excuse as this is probably where the majority look?

As for the prices Alistair,this is nothing new,long been an issue in UK charging for second class product and facilities and trying to subsidise it with second rate concerts by Z list performers e.g Newmarket on Fridays? It may help cover expenses but it does nothing for the actual horse racing product.A simple fact is that they have driven hardened racegoers away through a combination of factors and spent a fortune trying to attract groups of minorities who could not give a stuff about a punt and seeing horses race.

[calva decoy]

Too much racing , especially this time of the year , too much low grade racing & it's a rip off for food & drinks .

We went to Craven meeting , two pints Guinness £13.90 & 33cl Shiraz £8 ( which she chose but didn't like ) fish & chips used to be £8.50 whereas fish , chips & mushy peas was £12 .50 .

Fair play things have gone up price wise since Covid but the Jockey Club are taking the p*ss at Newmarket .

We went to Nottingham in May & that wasn't so bad , paid £5.50 for pint of Aspells Cider but didn't eat anything , the taxi from the train station cost normally about £6.50 , we got charged £9.50 , when racing is mentioned , it's a license to rip off the attendees because most people are thought to be minted cash wise & humble warehouse workers don't attend race meets ! 

Even York this year put an extra £5 on Dante early bird tickets , usually £18 now £23 hence why we paid £12 for Nottingham week or so later the principle of not feeling like being ripped off ! 

Rant over ? ?

[Yalwen]

I couldn’t agree more with your views Quartu. Watching any of the sports presenters on any of the TV programmes is like being addressed by unqualified Social working geography teachers. Comparisons with these people and the real ‘experts’ of recent years is impossible. The great voices and knowledge of people such as O’Sullivan, Francome, Lord Oaksey, McCririck were voices of wisdom, information and authority. Todays so called ‘presenters’ comprise box-tickers and loud mouthed buffoons with, of course, the important inclusivity agenda regardless of the ability of those ‘included’. I’ve taken to recording the races, fast forwarding through the drivel and, apart from the actual commentary, the mute button is pressed. 

[Darran]

Can we all be very careful about what we write on here please. I’ve taken the decision to delete one post because quite frankly it was bang out of order and untrue.  

[tonythepaint]

Everything is a rip off at the moment. Been looking to take the family to a meeting this summer. As we live in Kent we're a bit restricted for courses. Lingfield want a staggering £25 for a run of the mill meeting. Eventually found Brighton are charging £15 for a meeting in August so that's where were going. The racing won't be great but it'll be a day out. Used to go racing a lot but not any more. Until these courses sort out their prices I won't be going back on a regular basis.

[calva decoy]

1 hour ago, tonythepaint said:

Everything is a rip off at the moment. Been looking to take the family to a meeting this summer. As we live in Kent we're a bit restricted for courses. Lingfield want a staggering £25 for a run of the mill meeting. Eventually found Brighton are charging £15 for a meeting in August so that's where were going. The racing won't be great but it'll be a day out. Used to go racing a lot but not any more. Until these courses sort out their prices I won't be going back on a regular basis.

Are you a signed up member of Rewards4Racing ?

I was fortunate that when lockdown was over had about £70 in my account so you don't pay the admission fees & all jockey club , some private like York & I think some ARC courses are on board now .

 

I've got about £27 atm in mine so I can have couple of days out at the end of summer , it's worth if you go racing signing up to especially if you shop on the internet & is affiliated to 4 bookmaker firms with you getting cash in your account for purchases / bets etc ...

[Trotter]

This current trend for describing people or minorities you don't like as box-ticking is so lazy !

Everybody ticks boxes ..... look at that Ollie fellow on ITV

White ...... tick
Christian ......... tick
Middle Class ........... tick
Young ........... tick 
Racing Family ......... tick

You get my point ?......... it usually says more about the person picking the boxes than it does about the person ticking them

 

[Zilzalian]

We live in a very lazy society these days we even have our food delivered, too much like hard work going to the races when its easier to sit and watch it on the TV. Will add, the last time i went to cheltenham (festival) by coach, it took 2 hours to get in and getting out was a nightmare. York Ebor meeting- we also went by coach we crawled and i mean crawled once we got near York. 15 of us got out and walked the rest of the way. As for tv coverage i think most of us agree its pathetic and usually involves a lot of ooos and ahhhs and arse licking interviews.

[calva decoy]

Sky Sports Racing debate that's just started on Sky Channel 415 are in a small segment discussing attendances being down , it'll be interesting to see what Boycey & Chapman say & what emails from race fans also say & see if the comments made adhere to what's been said on here .

[tonythepaint]

3 hours ago, calva decoy said:

Are you a signed up member of Rewards4Racing ?

I was fortunate that when lockdown was over had about £70 in my account so you don't pay the admission fees & all jockey club , some private like York & I think some ARC courses are on board now .

 

I've got about £27 atm in mine so I can have couple of days out at the end of summer , it's worth if you go racing signing up to especially if you shop on the internet & is affiliated to 4 bookmaker firms with you getting cash in your account for purchases / bets etc ...

Thanks for the information. I'll look into that.

[calva decoy]

1 hour ago, tonythepaint said:

Thanks for the information. I'll look into that.

No worries , lots of competitions to win Free tickets / points etc... most weeks , just make sure you log into your account every week to accrue your points .

I got a new sofa from Argos , cost £380 & got I think £30 into my Rewards4Racing account so 2 free days racing , it's similar to topcashback but for racing purposes ?

[Zilzalian]

20 hours ago, Quartu SE said:

I am sure there are multiple agencies within the industry who have had a negative effect but these two have more exposure to the world at large than any other entity.Ever since the pair of them started the bullsh!t about becoming "Inclusive" and pushing their agenda's down our throats the backbone i.e the older punters have been pushed aside and ignored.It has been proven that their strategies do not work and never will,the failed "Racing For Change" proved that and yet they still try and re-vamp the concept.

Lately the courses seem to have realised the mistakes made by getting into bed with both and acknowledge the older racegoers are the hardcore and bread and butter of their product.ITV are the worst of the two but not by much e.g "The paddock expert" who is as much use as tits on a bull but ticks a box for them,ditto the Mulrennan lady e.g The horse is sweating badly,looks to be limping on her off fore but nothing negative?

Only a couple of small examples but it seems to me the people on there are patronising and insulting the majority of us simply to tick boxes?

The Racing Post has gone so far downhill it is barely recognisable,the "Industry Paper" that seems to be so overstaffed with "Experts" that you would think the bookies should all be skint.Again they have gone the way of ITV in pushing "Inclusivity" and certain individuals using the paper for their own agenda?

Half of them cannot spell or use basic grammar to back up their "expertise" and there race card summaries are lazy and incompetent compared with even a decade ago,they are a joke in terms of being a punters reference.Just one example of such is the write up for The Green Man 1730 hrs Leicester i.e Raced too freely on reappearance,last seasons RPRs bring him into it.

The fact that the horse did not run last year and had been gelded since his last run never got a mention,not only would I not trust and RPR I certainly would not trust a word these people say without double checking but they are supposed to be the go to source.

Is it only me who is disgruntled and disaffected when the obvious is so "Obvious"

Another example St_Cl today online RP has one race (the 300) Sporting Life has them all and more. RP is half subscription S/L is free. Even the results pop up quicker on the Sporting life, another small diff is that SL has a quick check for Non Runners of the day which is handy.

[Darran]

11 hours ago, calva decoy said:

No worries , lots of competitions to win Free tickets / points etc... most weeks , just make sure you log into your account every week to accrue your points .

I got a new sofa from Argos , cost £380 & got I think £30 into my Rewards4Racing account so 2 free days racing , it's similar to topcashback but for racing purposes ?

Also if you bet via Bet365, Coral, Betfred or Betfair Sportsbook then you get a 1pt for every pound you bet. Certainly recommend signing up if you haven't and you want to go racing.