Will Ireland ever move to the metric?

Nulty

I've just been looking up the measurements of the old times, you know pints and acres and feet. Since Ireland joined the EU we have officially changed our measuring system to metric but we commonly continue to use the imperial system for so many things, not least describing our height and weight. I still think in miles per hour and I'm not that old.

It got me thinking that we recently changed out road speed signs so kph in 2005 and all cars sold here are now in kph as a result. Horse racing is the other major place in this country where the imperial system is still in full flow. In England this year or last they thought it would be a good idea to try using decimalised odds on course and that went down like a lead balloon although the UK still uses the imperial system. It would have been met with the same reaction here I'm sure.

Anyway, with this steady metricisation, will Irish racing ever decide to move on and change weights and distances in horse racing to the same measurements used everywhere else in the world bar the UK and America? Looking at the races in Australia and France gives me a headache when trying to figure out how far 2400m is and how much 52.5kg is. Would it be best in the long run if we just changed? Its pretty clear that America and the UK aren't going to change so maybe its best we just stay the same as them?

admiralofthefleet

it aint broke so dont fix it

Greensout

there is no reason to change as you point out in your post the americans and english show no signs of changing. why would we it makes no sense to change there is no arguement to be made for changing

Lapin

Irish racing is too closely tied to racing in Britain to go metric.

With connections involved on both islands and jockeys back and forward so often (occasionally racing in both countries on the same day), things would be unneccessarily confusing.

Nulty

Just that we're part of the European Union and we have already made an effort to change our road signs etc. England made the effort to change the stall numbering system this year and Ireland followed suit. The decimalization effort like I said was a failure but it was tried. Why not consider changing the measurements to fall in line with widely accepted international standards. Isn't it basically only the US that uses the imperial system? And at that, their own version of it. You say it's not broken, but it's a bit weird that we still use two different measurements isn't it? Is it just tradition that the metric system hasn't been adopted?

If Britain want to internationalize their racing then it's an obvious move to use the metric system cause countries aren't going to go back to the imperial system and that leaves the ball in their court. It probably seems like an effort right now but it makes sense to make the change at some point sooner or later

Nulty

Lapin wrote: »

Irish racing is too closely tied to racing in Britain to go metric.

With connections involved on both islands and jockeys back and forward so often (occasionally racing in both countries on the same day), things would be unneccessarily confusing.

The official measurement system in the UK is metric, no reason why they too shouldn't change.

Lapin

Nulty wrote: »

The official measurement system in the UK is metric, no reason why they too shouldn't change.

Oh I agree. I don't have a problem going metric.

I just don't think its practical for Ireland to change without Britain.
And if Britain did change it would make perfect sense for us to do so too.

Sprouts

No real need is there?I like it the way it is.

ArmaniJeanss

I'd hate to lose the word 'furlong'. Its such a uniquely racing thing at this stage and I've never heard it used outside racing. 'As they approach the furlong pole' evokes an air of impending excitement that 'approaching the 200Metre marker' never will.

Having said that if the people in charge of racing ever feel that the archaic terms, imperial measurements of weight etc are alienating a younger audience then it probably would be a good idea to change.

But changing merely to fall in line with Europe/Japan/HK etc wouldnt be a good idea imo.

Nulty

I agree, I like it the way it is too but can very much see the argument for changing. It does seem like another little thing that makes horse racing harder to understand at first though. Although, like I said everyone I know still uses stones and pounds when describing their weight so that not so out of touch. It only bothers me when I'm trying to work out the race conditions in HK, Aushtralia and others.

UrbanSea

Those French bastards trying to confuse us.