How to promote the sport of horse racing (3) · 20.08.09
To counter the largely negative tone of my last two posts regarding recent initiatives at Hastings, here are some modest proposals for promoting the sport that I hope will be received in the positive manner in which they are intended:
- handicapping seminars for “newbies”, preferably scheduled about an hour prior to first post — similar to what they do at Del Mar
- on race day mornings, open the clubhouse and/or the grandstand for punters to watch early morning workouts — maybe even serve a buffet breakfast — similar to Daybreak at Del Mar
- revive the Discovery Paddock programme;
- schedule public workouts for prominent horses between races — have Dan Jukich or Mike Heads interview each trainer and have them explain what they expect from the work and how it’s intended to prepare the horse for its next race;
- mail-outs to local university fraternities, sororities, and other student social clubs — those groups are always looking for new things to do for their members;
- place advertisements in newspapers and on bus shelters, buses, billboards, etc. touting THE RACING, not just the slots (I have only ever seen the latter);
- in all promotions, emphasize that track admission at Hastings is free, pay parking gets you vouchers for food and a programme, and there’s always the chance to win big bucks — Sweet Jebus, the ad copy practically writes itself!
Yes, all of the above cost money — but as they say, you have to spend money to make money — and the alternative is a shrinking fan-base and a stagnating sport.
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What do you think?
« How to promote the sport of horse racing (2) Looking up? »
Paul Ryneveld proposed tours of the racing office where “fans” will be “owners of a day” and learn to enter horses and view what goes on in that vital aspect of racing. Step in the right direction and he was very open about MANY of these ideas.
— Dr. Timothy Yatcak · Aug 20, 10:44 AM · #
One MAJOR thing that most handicapping seminars fail to establish is VALUE. If the crowd all picks the same horse, KEEP YOU WALLET CLOSED or, hook that one up as a key in exotics bets.
The wagering side of the equation is NEVER investigated and many cash lots of tickets yet lose money.
— Dr. Timothy Yatcak · Aug 20, 10:49 AM · #