It’s about time we jazzed up a day at the races - and here’s how
Not enough is being done to cater for our racegoers, the ones who make the effort to get up off their couches
'Boring'. It's the worst word in the dictionary. The Oxford one defines it as 'not interesting; making you feel tired and impatient'. There is no greater insult than calling something boring. I'd rather it be bad than boring.
Yet racing gets tarred with the same 'boring' brush over and over again. A pal of mine brought his teenage son racing recently. He blackmailed him by saying they would go to McDonald's on the way home. I asked him the other day how it went. "The poor fella was bored to tears," he told me, "but he devoured his Big Mac so I'm back in the good books." I couldn't even offer a counter-argument.
Racing has never had more problems to solve than it does right now. Many of them are unsolvable, but some are, and improving the raceday experience is quite an easy fix in comparison to the stinging headaches caused by gambling regulations, equine welfare, superpower stables dominating and prize-money. It is an area that needs affection and there is no reason it can't be given some love right now.
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Published on inDavid Jennings
Last updated
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