Racecourses and social media - a sign of the times

[Posts: 10789Joined: 10 Feb 2003, 15:43Location: Scotland]

Opened up Facebook when I got in.

A status update from Newmarket Racecourse - "Win a chance to meet the band members from McFly"

Next one was from Epsom Downs Racecourse - MUST be to do with the Derby. Surely. Another comeptition - ah well the lucky winner must have won free tiockets to next year's Derby or Oaks I guess.

"Congratulation to our winner Bob Grover who has won two tickets to see Razorlight after an evening of racing on 19th July."

Are our racecourses in greater and greater danger of becoming concert venues who occasionally host the odd race meeting?

[Posts: 571Joined: 27 Jul 2011, 18:11]

If it gets bums on seats then does it really matter that much?

Racing is going to come under ever increasing scrutiny over the ensuing decades. The fact that the sport is perceived by a proportion of the public to be one that 'exploits' animals means it falls into the same category as other field sports and will doubtless suffer the same slings and arrows. The bigger a section of the public the sport can engage the better its chance of longevity. Turning snobbish noses up and adopting the stance of purists will just hasten its demise IMHO.

Having said that the racing is almost inevitably of dire quality on the Newmarket nights.

[Posts: 277Joined: 18 Sep 2011, 17:34]

Hardly, given they are still recognized as primarily being race courses. No race or race meeting is going to be undermimed because regularly concerts or other activities are held there at other dates. Such events may encourage people to go racing too, or atleast it allows racing to advertise and increase awareness of their primary function. The reverse won't happen ; people won't stop going racing because of these events.

These other events are likely critical to the financial viability of many racecourses, given many would struggle if their sole operational function was to provide racing. Providing only racing is an incredibly flawed business model for most courses, given you cano only operate a certain number of days a year racing. You wouldn't expect other businesses to limit the availability and profitability of their assets, so why should we expect racing to do the same?

An example would be North American sports arenas used by the NBA/NHL. Building an arena specifically for either sport would be illogical, given it wouldn't be profitable. If however you can get either as a tenant to be integrated within a business model plan that involves many other activities of the building, then the existance of the building becomes financially viable. Having a massive and expensive asset that can only provide one function, or primarily one function, just isn't wise in any financial climate, let alone this one.

[Posts: 277Joined: 18 Sep 2011, 17:34]

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[Posts: 1030Joined: 24 Apr 2011, 00:59]

Having said that the racing is almost inevitably of dire quality on the Newmarket nights.

Well said, most of the folk who turn up at Newmarket Nights aren't interested in the horses at all they are more interested in getting a good position by the stage and hang around there all through the race meeting, neither drinking or backing horses. The rest will arrive around the 3rd race of the evening and be found propping up the bars until the last race finishes and the evening concert begins.

This lack of interest in staging good quality races on the night, puts owners and trainers off wanting to send their horses along and even some bookmakers give it a miss as the majority of those attending aren't interested in backing horses.

The 'Nights' however are usually a resounding success with acts such as Jessie J, Tom Jones, McFly and The Four Seasons. Not sure how much it is to get in as am a Member but it beats most Concert venues hands down.

[Posts: 571Joined: 27 Jul 2011, 18:11]

It is actually quite a decent place from an acoustic point of view. I've been once or twice in the early days, but like quite a few other locals, when a decent act is on I will walk across the heath and take a free seat on the side of Devil's Dyke. We call it the cheap seats.

I shall be taking my place there in August to have a listen to Van Morrison.

Joking aside you'd have to think that an element of the crowd at least may be swayed to come again on a normal racing day. And it obviously pays a few of the bills.

Without the concerts, Antique fairs, business conferences and wedding receptions etc I'm sure the two courses would struggle to keep their fiscal heads above water.

[Posts: 2032Joined: 06 Jun 2011, 14:34Location: Bury St Edmunds]

While the racing on "Newmarket nights" is not generally memorable, it should be remembered that 2 seasons ago Frankel beat Nathaniel with future group winners Genius Beast and Colour Vision also behind. All 4 were making their racecourse debut.

As Wordsworth wrote, "I gazed and gazed but little thought, What wealth the show to me had brought."