Many at Newmarket?

Well it looked there was a bigger crowd than at Chelters

Sadly Cheltenham had its own reason for a poor turnout today

very poor crowds. Really bad yesterday.

No free tickets on RTV or reciprocals..shame

They don't seem to care.

Zodiac was in the box with his gucci sock & tie combo,came on a 19 seater mini bus.

Just as a foot note: owns a 5 acre gaff and a snooker club in Basvegas,eats at  Alecs gaff regulary.

As a sporting venue the Rowley Mile course isn't really very appealing, to me anyway.

If they want more people to go, they shouldn't make it so far away.

Why not slippy? Its a really great venue. Its not the course that's the problem its those that run it.

When I've been there watching with bins, I found it difficult to see what was going on much before 5f out and even then if they were across the track, difficult to work out which side was in front . Maybe I needed Zeiss or Leica instead of a fifty quid pair . Are there any days when it isn't windy?

No. In the flattest county in England it is always windy!

Good news Manoleeds. There are big screens and tellys in all the stands. Bin the bins.

I can watch TV at home ! Now at Hexham or Wetherby you don't really need bins.

as honcho says its those that run it who are the problem and that can be said about all jcr courses ,however the gravy train will never address the problem.

looked empty

but you can wear what you like

Why was their so few at Cheltenham this week ?

Timberman

Annual members was rammed both days the crowd was slightly up Thursday despite awful card,I do think people are getting fed up with jcr racecourses

I didn't think they were jimnast. Thats the quietest I've seen the annual members over a Craven 3 days.

jimnast....I think you are correct about JCR tracks.

Been to Huntingdon and then Notts twice in recent weeks. a real air of decline and a couldn't care less attitude from a lot of the staff at both gaffs. Gives me the feeling JCR have given up the ghost, while at least ARC do make an effort with things.

Perhaps if they took a step back and thought about how to attract racing fans (instead of everyone else) through cheaper admissions they might see a turnaround.

sorry jimnast I thought you were referring to Newmarket.

No worries honcho

The knight

I wrote a long letter to the post last week regarding these bha ideas about smaller courses racing at 10 am and 4 pm in the summer which would wipe them out,I considered it a very fair letter but did criticise jcr in the letter as they were up for it,the letter wasn’t printed as far as I am concerned it’s because of my mild criticism of jcr.

Been to Huntingdon and then Notts twice in recent weeks. a real air of decline and a couldn't care less attitude from a lot of the staff at both gaffs. Gives me the feeling JCR have given up the ghost, while at least ARC do make an effort with things.

Perhaps if they took a step back and thought about how to attract racing fans (instead of everyone else) through cheaper admissions they might see a turnaround.

I go to Nottm pretty often and haven't experienced that. Nottm is great value this year just £7 advance purchase with Racegoers Club. JC courses used to be generally a lot cheaper than others but ARC have reduced prices this year and are better value. I've bought tickets for the first day of the Guineas meeting at Newmarket (Friday) for £10, I don't think you can expect much cheaper than that.

The Pies...i am a season ticket holder at Notts. Cannot dispute the face value of the price but the first two meetings there this year have been dire. Small fields, no atmosphere and a rather hapless staff. Try getting a cafe latte in the team room under the stand!

At the last meeting there i asked the guy who runs the place if they would be finding space to put up boards trbuting the latest classic winners who debuted at the track. He did not know what i meant! Anyone who has benn to Notts and knows even a jot about rac8ng will know what i meant about the boards.

Like many JCR tracks, Notts is in a malise and I can only imagine you have not been there recently if you disagree.

Thanks for the heads up everyone.

2022 Tues 2638 Wed 3589 Thurs 2868

2023 Tues 2043 Wed 2538 Thurs 2950

Big drop over the 3 days

ludlow . independent course , local catering and real ale in bars . free courtesy coach to and from rail station . good prize money for standard of racing  . been going years . never seen crowds as healthy as last couple of seasons . pretty low on the idiot sockless brigade too !

On FRIDAY jc attempting to attract Cheltenham spectators
with A DJ after racing!!!
And a chance to ryde a rocking hoSs wearing
The Kings Silks
YEHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
£15 FOR JUST THE RACING
Sorry Hunters evening

akajak have you got 2019 numbers?

It’s not the value for money,that the media try and make out.

6 hours of elite sport,comparable to other big sporting events,

But it’s not that simple,only 12 mins of actual sport,spend more cos waiting around for each race,90% bet,so admission isn’t the only cost.

Plus average midweek cards are like non league footy matches,6 hours got to eat and drink,plus bet.

Casinos give you free or cheap food and drinks,no admission.

But racecourses want to max out every item they sell,admission,food,drink,parking,etc.

Offer something at cost,admission or food,or drink,

Didn't your last sentence contradict your first?

A meal deal at tescos is 3 quid,swandwich,drink,crisp,

Why not give a free meal deal with price of entrance,fair enough,not the big crowd days,but all these midweek meetings,do they really need to sell burgers for 10quid.

Race card is effectively a copy of papers or post,but again 3-5 quid.no new content in there.
Just do a paper printed leaflet of runners,colours and give it away.

Every track just copies each other,max out every purchase,so rather than not eat or buy a race card,people just don’t go,
Which then creates the desire to fleece the few that do,even more.

Should be 20 quid,racecard,parking ,entrance,swandwich,drink.

It’s a day out,so have a day out price,

I’m sure reguarlars probably don’t buy any of these items anyway,so why fleece the few that do,trying a day out,then they don’t come back.

Certain tracks can do this,Chester is small,so can max out customer spend,always be fullish,hence chesterbet.

True. Both make same point,
It’s not value for money,so sell something at cost(trade price).

I could be wrong,not great with words,

sure

2019 Tues 6671 Wed 4738 Thurs 5153

2022 Tues 2638 Wed 3589 Thurs 2868

2023 Tues 2043 Wed 2538 Thurs 2950

pretty grim

thirsk provide free race cards

Here are some attendances . First figure is attendance, second no of bookmakers and third no of runners
Mon    27/03/2023    LINGFIELD PARK    433    11    67    Flat
Mon    27/03/2023    WINCANTON    1,104    14    61    Jump
Mon    27/03/2023    WOLVERHAMPTON    291    3    61    Flat
Tue    28/03/2023    HEXHAM            664    13    32    Jump
Tue    28/03/2023    HUNTINGDON    989    21    51    Jump
Tue    28/03/2023    WOLVERHAMPTON    205    4    75    Flat
Wed    29/03/2023    KEMPTON PARK    591    8    65    Flat
Wed    29/03/2023    LINGFIELD PARK    474    9    61    Flat
Wed    29/03/2023    MARKET RASEN    640    14    39    Jump
Wed    29/03/2023    NEWCASTLE    288    10    60    Jump
Thu    30/03/2023    HEXHAM            552    16    50    Jump
Thu    30/03/2023    TAUNTON            994    15    48    Jump
Thu    30/03/2023    WARWICK          1,249    23    58    Jump
Thu    30/03/2023    WOLVERHAMPTON    264    5    59    Flat
Fri    31/03/2023    LINGFIELD PARK    517    9    57    Flat
Fri    31/03/2023    NEWCASTLE    746    14    66    Flat
Fri    31/03/2023    SOUTHWELL    569    8    88    Flat
Fri    31/03/2023    WETHERBY    1,621    23    68    Jump

my understanding is official attendances do not count owners/ trainers ( obviously) and annual members . even allowing for that those figures are pretty sobering !

They do count owners badges and members - this is what it says under the figures on the HBLB website:

- Attendance = Paying Public, Members and Complimentary Badges.

Afaik, the only ones not included are jockeys, trainers, stable staff and press.

Big crowds at Wolves

As I assumed Akajak, the ridiculous restrictions of covid have turned a lot of people away for good. Obviously we have the added issue of inflation etc but I think most who go racing realise that the bigger tracks are doing little (if anything to address this). Annual members were down for certain and badges at 20% more than pre covid would explain that. It will be interesting this weekend, its a good Guineas (1000 as well) but it is diluted by a third day. The stupid idea that premier racing day will solve this is nonsense, all it will do is reduce attendance at the 2nd tier meetings. Complimentary badges for owners were reduced this season and may have had an impact. It seems a foolish move when gates are so low. To be very honest the Craven meeting was as unexciting as it could have been this year.

Premier racing day will solve this nonsense,all it will do is reduce attendance at the 2nd tier meetings.

Fact

truehoncho, first year for 40 that i didn't rejoin; no consultation with members over cashless etc etc

I know Akajak. Believe me I nearly didn't. They need to get a little more humble. It seems as long as they are keeping those parasites in the jockey club areas happy nothing else matters. They are a bad advertisement for people coming racing for the first time.