Check the home page, full house?

I see once again we had a full house at the racing in the UK, what are we doing wrong?
Our food is great, its FREE to come racing, it costs plenty to race in the UK and the facilities are not as good as SA.

Maybe this topic is old, but seeing the Edinburgh track is close to home, but the big T is closer.

£20 to get in to Musselburgh last night,food expensive,bars overflowing,but they are allowed to run their own marketing and the fixture will have been on local tv/radio/papers for days,weeks before lastnights meeting.

Hibernia - In my opinion there are quite a number of significant differences :

1.) Musselburgh ( for example ) hosts a fraction of the meetings that the major South African courses stage. Consequently I would guess that a 'local' meeting is actually quite an event in whatever area it takes place.

2.) The nail was hit on the head when reference was made to 'local marketing'. I am pretty sure the owners promote their event as if their livelihoods depending upon it - which it does! Our clubs are rather like the state - It's there. Attend. Or not.

3.) I find the UK very 'horse conscious' comparative to South Africa - where it is merely one of a huge number of competing outdoor activities.

4.) In the UK jockeys are less prone to run off to the stewards at the first sign of rain to ask for an abandonment.

5.) There is comparatively a massive amateur riding body which helps to stimulate interest at many levels other than just professional flat riding.

6.) They have a refreshing variety alternating between flat and National Hunt. I am sure this creates quite a lot of cross pollination insofar as interest is concerned.

7.) They seem to genuinely encourage and foster female riders.

8.) They have proper flat and jump seasons as opposed to our endless rotation of ( largely ) dull bread and butter racing - which can only appeal to owners and other insiders. So fans and 'players' get the opportunity to recharge and ANTICIPATE a new beginning each year. ( Nevertheless there is lesser standard fare
at the all weather tracks all the year around. Note how Tellytrack seldom misses an opportunity to broadcast THAT RUBBISH ).

I am sure there are many other reasons - but horses are in the UK DNA in a way that we would be envious of.

They have 30 fixtures in 2010 don`t know how that compares with the Vaal etc ? You got to remember also that all the 5 tracks in scotland are all just a short drive from each other.

The season doesn`t really end in the uk either Garrick,when the jump season ends the summer jump season starts.

When the flat season ends the winter aw season starts everything just keeps going.

Hibernia -

What I meant was : Although there is always something going on the nature of the racing changes fundamentally between summer and winter. So the top flat horses get a break in winter whilst the top jumpers are generally inactive during much of summer.

Even football has a ( virtually ) complete break for about two months in the UK summer.

I see that there is another meeting at a Scottish track this evening,Hamilton. It would be interesting to see how many turn up because the Scottish football team are in action against Norway at the same time.

That will probably make it busier c+c lol

You are probably right hibby

Beverley: race 3 Peters Follie and race 6 Upton Seas
Yarmouth: race 2 Miss Frangipaine and race 6 Point Of Light
Salisbury: race 1 Dafeef race 2 Frozen Power and race 4 Ave

Ladies day at Beverley today,crowd of over 9000 on a work day.

4 races gone and 2x 50/1 winners

Hamilton

Diamond Laura
Honimiere
Freman
Forest Player