Interest Level

smartaform

Hi Forum,

I was just looking at some HRI figures and of course the 'Racing For Change' proposals and i got to thinking,
What can be done to improve the industry's popularity?
How can we get more people involved in ownership?
If people have previously owned a share/full share in a horse what were the pro's and con's - really what would you like to see improved?

I've grown up around horses and i'm 26 now. My concern is there won't be much of an industry in this country in 5 years time IF something doesn't change soon.

masterK

Interest in the sport has to start with getting people through the gates to attend meetings. The big problem I see is that racing in Ireland is still very much an enthusiasts sports so the big festivals aside you don't really attract a non racing crowd to normal meetings.

The poor state of facilities at pretty much all Irish racecourses is a major stumbling block in attracting newcomers. If you look at the progress that has been made in greyhound industry by introducing attractive venues you will see what can be done.

I was watching ATR a few weeks ago when they did a piece on Wolverhampton racecourse, the facilities are what is a very minor UK course are far superior to our flagship courses at the Curragh and Leopardstown.

smartaform

Surely there is someone in the HRI that is PRO-ACTIVE????

Pt-2-Pt meetings seem to have a much better atmosphere, maybe they ned to look at why?

I also find it strange that even though we are in Ireland we hear about Family Days at the races in the UK here and there, Concerts will be played at Newmarket AND other 'festival days' BUT there is never anything from Ireland. The only time i think anything has been marketed this season is when STS raced at Leopardstown a few weeks back.... Maybe a few 'MILLER RACE NIGHTS' at Leopardstown for the 20 year olds... what about the families on weekends?

wb

I think information about the betting and form end of things is not very accessible for newbies and they must find it off putting.

The language must be complete jargon and there's no-one on hand to explain it to them at a meeting for example. Unless you grew up with it, how would you know even the simple things like what a 'chase' or a 'bumper' is? A newbie at a racecourse has no idea what type of race they are betting on until the horses start running.

Ratings and handicapping can be difficult enough for the seasoned punter, but with symbols and numbers on racecards (with no explanation as to what they are), it's no wonder people are put off!

I recently went racing with a friend who knows nothing about the sport and as I tried to expain it to him, I realised how cryptic is must seem unless you are used to it. It shouldn't have to be like that.

Nulty

I learned about all this stuff on http://www.goracing.ie

If your going to go to a race meeting and actually want to know whats going on then people will do the research but if they dont want to know, then they wont try. I agree that there should be advice and information on track and a genuine live effort to get people back.

kincsem

Forty years ago I went to my first race meeting in the USA. There was a large grandstand with seating for everyone (as far as I could see). Just behind the seating were the tote windows. In the infield they had a large Tote board with the price of every horse constantly changing as bets were placed. You could see all the racing and betting action from the grandstand.

We haven't got that yet in Ireland.

Aidric

I'd agree with whats been posted about facilities. They are actually laughable in comparison to Britain for the most part. Then again we don't have racing at the same frequency as Britain so it would be hard to justify a big cost outlay. Crowd numbers would also be small in comparison.

smartaform

Well maybe a tote-board would be a start.

Something has to be done and facilities need to be improved.. What happened to the Curragh re-development's??? Wasn't that funded by Sheik Mohommed and The Aga Khan?