Is Horse Racing the most polarized sport in the country ?

jetsonx

ok call this a masterpiece of overstatement or understatement if you want

but from my observations - its only lower middle class people who frequent bookmakers shops and the upper middle class who own the horses. The average bookmakers shop in suburban Dublin seems a smelly little hole of a place.

but this does not seem to be the sport of the middle "middleclass" if you know
what I mean.

I know this is changing with online gambling etc but Do you think horse racing
in Ireland does show certain class divides of its followers ? Is it unique in this respect ? Opinions.

wb

Interesting. I can see where you are coming from regarding the betting shop punters, and the owners thing - but I see it in a different light.

For example, last time I was at my local track (Leopardstown) there were both women and men, young and old, buisness type people, people in tophats, groups from work, people on their own, couples, people in jeans and t-shirts, people in working clothes - In fact the crowd was extremely diverse, and everyone seemed to get along just fine in the bar afterwards.

Although I hate stereotypes, I regularly go to G.A.A, Soccer and other events where they seem to have a similar 'type' at them every time. Im not saying that this is good or bad, but it is just an oberservation.

scargill

wbailey wrote:

....people in tophats...

I've never really understood the need to get dressed up to go gambling and drinking !?

Collie D

I've always considered a bookies shop to be a more working class thing to be honest and I wouldn't say it's a polarised sport. Only the GAA attracts more punters to sporting events in this country

scojones

scargill wrote:

I've never really understood the need to get dressed up to go gambling and drinking !?

It's all about show. People like to live the high life for a day, be a poser for a day and live it up.