'We are so worried about reputation that we gravitate towards the bland'
Lee Mottershead asks what racing can do to attract more fans and punters
Horseracing is a vast industry, one upon which countless livelihoods depend, but it can only flourish as an industry if it performs well as a sport. To be commercially viable, that sport needs fans, racegoers, viewers and punters. Racing needs to be popular – and certainly more popular than it was in 2022.
Among last year's most alarming statistics were those linked to racecourse attendances in Britain.
According to official figures, crowd numbers from January to the end of November tumbled by 13.9 per cent compared to the final pre-pandemic year of 2019. Numbers achieved over the festive period bucked that trend, but even so it looks like attendances will dip below five million for the first time in decades. Clearly, there is an imperative for the sport to connect with more people.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on 4 January 2023inA Year To Save Racing
Last updated 18:00, 4 January 2023
Copy