Egos, glamour and Hollywood drama are what sell modern sports

"Events have got to be Hollywood and brash and so when you go to work the next day there's a talking point." So said Barry Hearn, Britain's most successful sports promoter, in an interview about how he turned darts from a moribund pub game into a loud, prosperous and growing international sport.

I've been reading a lot about Hearn lately, inspired by the ongoing conversation about whether racing is being sold to the public in the right way. He's a fascinating character – either a visionary who understands people's desires or a capitalist monster who rips the heart out of sports. Whatever you think of him, though, there is little arguing with his success as a promoter, whether in darts, snooker or boxing.

His method for making old sports popular again could be relevant to racing, because judging by recent debate there are many who feel the sport has been led down the wrong path by those who have promoted it as a betting medium at best, and a venue for al fresco boozing, music nights and hen parties at worst.