Other Stuff

27th October 2022

If you're a regular reader of our blogs you'll know that we're not the biggest fans of the whole 'premier' or 'standard' ticket issue. For us, there should be just one reasonably priced entrance fee which allows racegoers access to all areas of the racecourse. In some cases 'premier' can be an additional £10 from the standard ticket price (ie Sandown Park) and all that it buys you is access to some extra snazzy bars and restaurants. It's not as though the food and drink in them is any cheaper! Ok, sometimes there's a racecard thrown in and sometimes it gives you exclusive access to parts of the racecourse that a standard ticket doesn't. For instance Sandown Park and Goodwood restrict standard ticket holders from accessing the whole of the parade ring circumference. It also prevents them from getting near the finish line. That, in particular, is one of our major gripes. Most 'regular' racegoers are there for the racing. They're not there to mix with the 'beer-swigging tight trousers, no socks brigade' in the bars of the premier enclosure, they go to watch the races and see the horses. Yet they are being penalised in favour of those who have no interest in the horses or the races and very rarely leave the bar! How is that fair? If a racegoer does want to get all togged up in smart clothes and spend the entire meeting in the fancy bars then that's fine, they pay their entrance fee and can spend the time there how they like but 'true' racing enthusiasts should also have access to all areas of the racecourse...in particular up by the finish line and be able to choose, unhindered, where they watch a race. There are, of course, racecourses who have premier / standard enclosures where the regular, standard ticket buying racegoer is not penalised and can still watch the race on the rails at the finish line (ie Beverley and Uttoxeter) and that's absolutely fine. There's obviously a market for premier enclosures as they always seem to be busy. We just think it's a way for racecourses to charge a bit more money for entry. Perhaps it's also to deter people who turn up in a vest and shorts or a tracksuit (we actually saw somebody in a bloody shell suit at Aintree!) from entering these areas? Sounds logical but surely if you turned up dressed like that you couldn't seriously believe that you'd be allowed entry in to the more salubrious areas? 

Having said all of that, we are going to sample a bit of 'premier enclosure like' when we return to Beverley racecourse as Sally Iggulden, the Chief Executive and head honcho there, was very good at selling the whole idea of it and insists that it's worth the extra £8. We shall see.

29th May 2022

Our Selections:

Cheg

I've made my selections based on the trainer of the horse (in this case Sir Michael Stoute, Charlie Appleby and Aidan o' Brien), the owners silks and, of course, their form going in to the race. I've also chucked in a bit of my gut feeling. Here's my first three home:

1) Desert Crown (1st)

2) Walk of Stars (17th)

3) Star of India (13th)

Good luck if you're having a bet, you're going to need it!

Leg

I'll get straight to the point. I think Desert Crown will win.* He was mightily impressive at York in only his second race. He's still unexposed having raced only twice and Sir Michael Stoute has hinted that there's more to come and he gave the impression that he's very excited about him. 

Nahanni although 25/1 at time of writing, is a horse that we saw win at Epsom a few weeks ago, holding off all challengers. One of those was United Nations who has won since (beating Walk of Stars) and is now a general 16/1. Admittedly that race was two furlongs less than the Derby but he has run over that distance three times and won twice, having finished second on his debut. Many of the horses he has beaten have won since or finished second, and his record reads 2111. His trainer, Charlie Appleby, says that he shows nothing at home so he doesn't know just how good he might be...and he won the Derby last year with his second string (Adayar). I think he definitely has a chance and I did back him after his last run.

Changingoftheguard is another horse I like. His recent win over the distance in the Chester Vase impressed me, beating the then highly thought of New London by 6 1/2 lengths. As with Nahanni he won't be the trainers first choice, that being Stone Age who Ryan Moore will probably ride, but we've seen Aidan o' Brien's less fancied horses winning the biggest races on umpteen occasions. I just don't fancy Stone Age. Personally I don't think he's beaten much and was beaten by El Bodegon last year. That horse has since been well and truly put in his place by Desert Crown. So my selections are:

1) Desert Crown (1st)

2) Nahanni (each way) (7th)

3) Changingoftheguard (5th)

* My one caveat to this though is the possible supplementation of Godolphins Nations Pride by Charlie Appleby. He has openly said that, if he were to run, he'd rate him as his best bet. Like Nahanni he's unbeaten since his debut and has been very impressive when winning, although he's not raced over the distance yet. They wouldn't stump up the large supplementary fee if they didn't think he had a solid chance either. If they do put him in I think he'd be right there in the mix. Plus, with it being the Platinum Jubilee weekend, National Pride would be an appropriate winner.

PS: Not exactly original, but I think Emily Upjohn will obliterate the field in the Oaks. In fact, I think she'll also win the Prix de L'Arc de Triomph in October. No betting Firm will give me a double on this though 😫

Look Back

A thrilling renewal with an impressive winner in Desert Crown, cruising past the field with ease to wrap up the race with two furlongs to go. We both picked him as our likely winner and I think he'll go on to prove to be a very good horse. Westover....had he had an unhindered run would have been far closer, and it could be argued may even have won. However, I think the jockey had eased the winner down having seen how far clear he was on the big screen. Hopefully they'll re-oppose in the Irish Derby and we'll get to find out.

As for my other selections, I'm reasonably pleased. Nahanni finished 7th having had a poor start. Rated 14th of the 17 runners he ran far better than his official rating, beating the other two better-fancied Goldophin runners and Changinoftheguard finished 5th, the best of the three Aidan o'Brien horses.

I was absolutely gutted to see Emily Upjohn fall out of the stalls in the Oaks on the previous day. Forced to abandon plan A, Frankie Dettori still managed to ease past all bar one of the field and only lose on a head bob. There is no doubt in my mind that she would have won and was an unlucky loser.... and I still think that she'll win the Arc. It buggered up my Emily Upjohn / Desert Crown double though 😒

24th May 2022

There's been a lot of conversation recently, both on television and in the racing press, about the lower attendance figures especially at recent bigger meetings such as Chester and York. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why that is.

Entrance prices: In our experience these have varied. Some racecourses have offered exceptional value (Catterick, Epsom, Salisbury to mention a few) but some have, in our opinion, been too expensive (Warwick, Ludlow, Chepstow). Indeed, a top official even at Chepstow even told us that they'd only had 120 online bookings. At £21 for class 5 / 6 racing what do you expect? There's not even any correlation as to who owns the racecourses. Warwick is Jockey Club, Ludlow Independent and Chepstow ARC. Although we've singled out these three most are at the higher price range than the lower end of the scale.

Food / Drink: A huge factor. At nearly every racecourse we've been to this year the food has been massively overpriced. Going to a posh restaurant would be cheaper! And the food isn't even that great (Taunton and Catterick excluded). With measly portion sizes it certainly does NOT offer value for money. We're finding that £10 seems to be the average price for a cheeseburger .... and for a further ridiculous £4 you can have fries! 

We're not drinkers so, as yet, haven't really paid much attention to the price alcoholic drinks. But I do know that a pint of lager at the Cheltenham Festival cost £8 and was £7 at the Grand National meeting at Aintree. Admittedly those are two of biggest meetings in the racing calendar but is that a reason to fleece the customers? We think not. It's not just the bigger meetings though. I fancied half a lager at Wolverhampton last week and that was over £3. Three sips and it was gone! A pint of Pimms at Windsor on the May Day bank holiday meeting was £12. £45 for a jug. Disgraceful.

I've heard that they're trying to claw money back after Covid. What they're actually doing is driving people away.

Cash?: Another factor surely has to be the lack of acceptance of cash at most meetings. You can't even pay cash for a coffee for Gods sake! A huge number of racegoers (especially during the week) are older, possibly retired people and I know that a LOT of them still prefer to pay in cash, not card. I know there was a switch over to card during the height of Covid but things are practically back to normal now so that can't be used as an excuse. Bring back cash.

The 'no socks and skinny trousers brigade': As keen racegoers and lovers of our great sport for many years one thing that neither of us like is the growing number of groups of lads walking round with pints of beer in their hands. These usually (but not always) tend to be loud and foul-mouthed. They have little interest in the races themselves and, in our opinion, are driving away the true racegoer who are the bread and butter for most racecourses. Yet these people seem to be encouraged with discounted entry prices for younger customers. Yes, short term it will fill the coffers but long term it's a road to disaster. These people will not be going racing on a wet Tuesday in November.

The Cost of Living: it goes without saying. Huge hikes in petrol / diesel costs have surely have a lot of people from going racing. You practically have to be stinking rich to afford a full tank of fuel these days. With utility costs and food prices having gone through the roof too it really is no wonder that people have less disposable income and 'luxury' items such as a day at the races have naturally had to been put on the back burner.

Number of Meetings: It can also be argued that there are far too many race meetings on offer. We're all about choice but, taking a quick look at the racing calendar, at this time of year there's (on average) five meetings in the UK every day. That has surely got to have an affect. And that figure increases during the summer months. 

There are numerous reasons why attendances have dropped. Racecourses really do need to get their act together and address them. A day at the races should be an enjoyable experience, but it's sometimes not. Myself and Cheg prefer the smaller, quieter meetings during the week where you can walk about freely without having to queue everywhere and you can see what we want to see without feeling like a sardine with the huge crowds that are crammed in to meetings like the Cheltenham Festival. I deliberately haven't been to the Festival for about five years now due that very reason (having been MANY times in the past). It's just not fun. And I lost count of how many online posts I read of how many people will not be going again after this years meeting, due to many of the reasons listed above. As I say, short term gains but long term loses.

But we have found that there ARE still racecourses and certain meetings that DO represent good value for money. Our blogs detail some of those. 

If you are a serious racegoer who is a frequent visitor to race meetings I really can't recommend that you join the Racegoers Club enough. Annual membership runs from 1st January until 31st December and costs just £45. For that you get discounted concessions at hundreds of race meetings. Mine has already more than paid for itself and it's still only May! There are even some meetings where you get free entry, and also discounted stable visits. You also get 500 Rewards4racing points (which is something else you really need to sign up to....it's completely free). 

* Update: Sadly The Racegoers Club is to discontinue in 2023 due to low numbers of members renewing after Covid. Another kick in the teeth for the regular racegoer 😢

** Update: there have been offers from outside parties to take over the running of the Racegoers Club so it might be carrying on. Fingers crossed 🤞

*** Update: It appears that the ROA (Racehorse Owners Association) will be taking over the reins of the running of The Racegoers Club. What concessions there'll be next year is yet to be revealed.