Jockey club to give punters a guiding hand

The UK jockey club have announced an initiative ( racing explained ) to help explain racing . They estimate that 80% of the 6m that go racing in the UK yearly have little or no racing knowledge

they don't. Correct assumption! super initiative and about time it happened. It is difficult to engage with a sport/art/activity if you don't understand at least the basics.

It's true great idea, if Mrs S asks me again what is a swinger and trifecta again I will scream

lol pity Mrs S. Dave, if you're in town for the Cape Summer Season 20th Dec Guineas or the weekend before, plse send Mrs S down to us for the tour with the ambassadors to hear the basics being explained, very interesting learning. I think it should be compulsory to all on course...even the employees!

ps, I trust you have at least explained the win/place and some basic handicapping eg. weights,age and distance?? !!

This is a nice initiative but will not achieve much on its own.

Most of this information is already available but unless there is an interest it may as well be a book in the unused section of the library.

Excuse the analogy, you can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.

The biggest challenge is to create an interest and then retain it for long enough to complete the learning curve after which a player will generally become a long term client.

Once an interest has been established learning becomes an option as a player will have a real desire to get more information.

This is what drives our product research and designs and will prove to be the key to growing the customer base for racing.

LSU, the information is not readily available and not explained very well, to a beginner, it is a minefield. Also consider that not all stakeholders will be owners or punters. There are different levels of engagement from which racing can benefit and build their business to be sustainable.

The challenge is the consistent availability and sustaining interest, agreed. And if children can be reached, so much the better. The bug must bite early on to create a lifelong love for it.

Horse Racing Ireland did something similar a couple of years ago. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and the Jockey Club have taken it up a notch or two.

The Jockey Club has transformed itself in recent years and is responsible for many good initiatives in racing, they are one of the biggest live music promoters in the UK and their racecourses are well run and customer focus is improving all the time.

It's all about patience in racing, its taken the Jockey Club 250 years to get where they are today, maybe we should not be too harsh on the 'It's A Rush' guys, they have only had a few months.

The website is here: www.racingexplained.co.uk and here is a link to one of the many high quality video's on the site:

www.racingexplained.co.uk/a-day-at-the-r...rade-ring-explained/

Nothing is ever perfect and there is always room for improvement, but the Jockey Club have done really well with this and it's a great template for imitators in other territories. All we have to do now is identify which organization in South Africa should pick this up and run with it.

www.theguardian.com/football/spiel-magaz...gue-clubs?CMP=twt_gu

Dave Scott wrote: It's true great idea, if Mrs S asks me again what is a swinger and trifecta again I will scream

Aaah, especially when I take first timers to a meeting. I end up explaining, re-explaining, and then I miss my punt....

But on Summer Cup day I gave Banbury as a tip to a lady at our table. She was thrilled as it was the first time she had ever backed a horse (never mind a winner )

Don and her team are doing a great job at Kenilworth

Don and her team busy at Kenilworth today , good job guys