New initiatives aimed at racegoers send out a positive message Declining attendance and a changing attitude For decades many of the racecourses in Ireland have had a laissez-faire attitude to attendances. I have sometimes got the impression that there are tracks that would prefer to have no customers at all. This would suit them as they wouldn't have to deal with the public and no need to roster staff to man turnstiles, clean toilets etc, but would still be able to turn a profit from the Media Rights. Media Rights money is a very lucrative source of revenue for the racecourses and they receive this regardless of whether or not any punters turn up at the gate. Attendances have been in decline since the heady days of the Celtic Tiger and the average attendance at race meetings in Ireland has fallen by 14% over the last ten years alone. Promising new initiatives It is therefore very positive to see a host of new initiatives from several of the tracks that are being aimed at attracting racegoers and improving the raceday experience. Two weeks ago Fairyhouse had a Fan Zone where members of the public had the opportunity to meet stars of the sport such as Rachael Blackmore, Paul Townend and Harry Cobden. The Co. Meath venue also encouraged the audience to vote for the best turned out horse in each race via a QR Code. Naas Racecourse recently launched a really nice incentive for racegoers at their upcoming Grade 1 Ballymore Novices Hurdle day on 4th January. One lucky punter in attendance will win a €10,000 prize. "Every adult racegoer attending Naas Racecourse has the chance to enter into a special draw. A sweepstake will take place on the day, with names drawn for each horse in one of the races. The racegoer whose name is paired with the winning horse will walk away with €10,000." Article highlights: Irish racecourse attendance has fallen 14% over the last decade Fairyhouse and Naas have launched innovative fan engagement initiatives Media Rights revenue allows tracks to profit regardless of attendance More widespread implementation of these initiatives could benefit the sport Suggestions for improvement It is great to see racecourses trying different approaches to grow their audience. To my mind the Naas initiative might be even better if 20 people won €500 each instead of one person winning €10,000. That would amplify the spread of goodwill with more people having a great experience at Naas and I'd imagine a lot more of the winnings would be spent at the track. Not surprising these initiatives are centered around big fixtures at each of these racecourses, but there is no reason why a scaled down model couldn't be rolled out for every meeting. Giving the public an opportunity to vote for the best turned out horse is an easy win for every track and is a very nice way to get the audience involved. Meet and greets with the participants is also something that could be done regularly. Maybe a short slot after the feature race each day where the public can get their photo taken with the winning jockey and trainer. The Naas cash giveaway is obviously a big once-off splash, but it could readily be replaced with premium ticket giveaways to bigger race days or festivals at no significant cost to any track. In particular, it would be nice to see those people that turn up in all weathers at midweek fixtures being rewarded for their support. A bizarre running and riding enquiry Lastly, there was a rather bizarre conclusion to a running and riding enquiry last week. We are currently in the thick of the non-trier season and for the stewards it is akin to shooting fish in a barrel. Big field maiden hurdles are a happy hunting ground for the raceday stewards as these races settle like a pint of Guinness with the triers up the front and the rest following on at a respectable distance. At Navan on 17 November the stewards hauled in the connections of 100/1 chance Gunnery Sergeant for not being seen to make maximum effort in a 22-runner Maiden Hurdle. The standard penalties in these cases are: 14 day suspension for the jockey 60 day ban for the horse €3,000 fine for the trainer The trainer usually takes advantage of a loophole, whereby if they express their dissatisfaction with the ride they get off scot free and that is what happened in this case with Gordon Elliott stating that his rider "could have perhaps finished three or four places closer with a more vigorous ride." An unusual appeal outcome The stewards were satisfied that the jockey was guilty of a breach of Rule 212A(ii) in that he "wasn't seen to obtain from his mount timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve the possible place" and suspended him for 14 days. Gunnery Sergeant was "suspended for 60 days as a consequence of the riders actions." Jockey Danny Gilligan accepted that he broke the rules, but last week appealed the severity of his suspension. At the Appeal Hearing new veterinary evidence was introduced which indicated "that Gunnery Sergeant was unfortunately quite a sick horse" when he competed in the Navan race. The morning after the race his trainer's veterinary surgeon carried out a respiratory endoscopy examination on Gunnery Sergeant which revealed "mucus in the lower respiratory tract" and samples taken from the horse revealed "a severe bacterial infection." The Appeals Panel accepted this new evidence and waived the entire 14 days suspension for Gilligan, but strangely upheld the 60 day ban for the horse. So, in the end the horse takes the entire rap for not trying, despite being ill on the day of the race and having no control over his finishing position.
