What is it about Norfolk and windfarms they seemed to be everywhere on the way to Yarmouth. The road to Yarmouth from Newmarket and most other directions end up at Norwich. Some may say that thankfully the city is then by-passed as you make for Great Yarmouth along the A47. Once in the town the racecourse lies just to the north and is well sign posted. It is close to the north beach area. The railway station is not too far from the racecourse and if you are reasonably fit and have the time you could consider walking it. The first problem I came across was having to pay £2 to park my car. This is a throwback to a bygone era and the first time I have had to pay to park a car at a racecourse in years. However on reflection this is to get some recompense from the freemans brigade as you can watch from comfort of your car at the furlong pole. The next shock was the prospect of paying £17 for a pretty ordinary card of seven races. The third problem was that the facilities were second rate. No decent food to be had, small cramped bar areas, only tea available with processed milk substitute. The facilities under one grandstand were shut. For £20 you get into the premium area but I decided against this. I cannot understand this differential as when you have a look around all you seem to get is access to a smarter stand behind the winning line which probably has better stuff to eat and drink. But all this makes it an expensive day with race card and entry you’ve done in £19. With food and drink you’re talking about nearly £40. Yarmouth is a complete throwback to a time where the paying customer was extorted of the maximum in pursuit of the minimum. In layout the Yarmouth track is a bit like Doncaster as many of its races run up the whole or part of a mile long straight. You see nothing much until about two furlongs out. Luckily on my last visit, I could rely on the excellent Derek Thompson commentary, although his pronunciation of Connacht would have had any Mayoman shaking his head. Even the pompous sounding racecourse announcer got it horribly wrong. Derek called the western province con-natch, the announcer con- nowlt when we all know it’s said con-urt. Now looking back in the nineteen nineties there was little employment of massive TV screens to let spectators see what was happening and it was only at the big meetings that these appeared. But now even at modest tracks such as Folkestone for an ordinary hunter chase evening meeting you are very likely to find these facilities to help customers follow the action. At Yarmouth it was a trip down memory lane had by all as such there was no display to be seen when I visited in 2009 so hopefully the message got over as a screen was in position tonight. If only Harrison Fraser the marketing gurus appointed by the British Horseracing Authority had popped in to Yarmouth they would have seen the life breath of racing being choked out of it. But of course the high proportion of over 55s and the working class and the young families are not on the scanner when the industry’s string pullers are debating where racing’s future fortunes lie. A vision based purely on replacing Brian with Ben. The track itself is a long oval of about a mile and a half circumference. The bends are tight but because the straight is so long the track is a good gallop. However one point worth remembering is that there is a slight camber for the final furlong and this means it provides a good test of how well balanced a horse is and therefore can be a pointer to such as Epsom. The draw seemed to favour low numbers a little bit on the day. This statement is made despite the experts believing there is little bias. I think on reflection very high numbers are at a disadvantaged rather than low numbers being favoured. The track has a straight mile and this is one of the few tracks to boast such an option. Because of the sandy nature of the sub soil the going at Yarmouth is rarely anywhere near soft, rain doesn’t have a major effect during racing and a customary bracing wind assists the drying process. Because of the soil type it also rarely gets too firm. Tonight we had Goof to Firm and I am sure there was little firm in it based on a stroll around before racing.
Racing
The opening maiden stakes for two year olds over seven furlongs was probably the most interesting race of the day. It was won in fine style by the Mark Johnson trained Comical who pulled clear before the final furlong and won comfortably but was punched out to keep up to his work. Sure to stay 1m2 at least with time and looks the sort to shoulder a penalty especially if stepping up to a mile. The runner up Croquembouche was also a positive on his debut. Looked green in preliminaries but stayed on very well without being a real threat. Will stay 1m4 and definitively needs to step up to a mile. The third home was the filly My Guardian Angel showed improved but still modest form whilst Bewilder having shown some early speed weakened to be fourth and may not see seven out at the moment. Of the rest Like Clockwork was coltish beforehand and never a factor, the Godalphin trained Grand Rapids was very green and ran as if inconvenienced by the going and may be suited to a cut.
The seller over seven was a nursery and was won easily by the filly Abercandy who did not attract and bid and none of the competitors were claimed. It was that sort of race. Ciaro Boo (who I have seen run at Thirsk and Redcar this season) ran with little enthusiasm and is best left well clear of. Queen of the Hop was favourite (who I had seen beaten in a Redcar seller by Ciara Boo) had every chance but failed to quicken finishing third. Aljosan was on toes beforehand looking good and showed improved form to finish second in handicap debut. Probably suited by trip but it was a poor event so easy to get a bit carried away.
The class 6 six furlong handicap was won by Captainrisk who had appeared a bit tetchy beforehand. He has come down from 73 to a 57 level so was reasonably in. Won by a comfortable length and clearly suits fast ground and six furlongs having been campaigned over seven or stiff sixes in past year. Clearly able to win off current mark in right conditions but likely to go up and if 64+ I would give him little chance. Second home was the old stager Steel City Boy who despite racing alone on the stand side saw out the trip at speed resolutely and comes out of this race as a positive. He is much better off carrying big weights in class 6 than bottom weights in class 4. So given the right class I think he will go close next run. A very consistent sort. Imjin River finished third today but was not really stoked up being eased down last half furlong when chance of winning had gone and will be better returning to all weather where his 70 OR is not too bad having won off 72. He is a stone better on sand than turf.
The class 5 sprint over the minimum trip was Danzoe completing a double for local trainer Christine Dumett, like his stablemate Captainrisk in the race beforehand was a bit buzzy in the parade. Held up but quickened well inside final furlong to pass four and win easily. Has won off 69 before so OR 62 was not too bad. However is a very tricky ride to get right as needs to be held up and produced with a burst. One to lay as needs too much to go his way and likely to be weighted out of it on reassessment. Runner up Whisky Junction looked in great nick beforehand and is currently on a 5 pound lower mark of 64 than tonight's rating and if taking advantage of this by racing at one of the entries particularly on 21st at Bath where he is a CD. He had visor for first time which may have helped a bit but a move to six furlongs will be to his advantage. Of the rest 13/8 favourite Bobbys Doll looked well beforehand but ran without much oomph racing as if something was amiss, Wreningham pulled hard and showed speed for 4 furlongs but could not quicken and I think he clearly needs a cut.
The class 6 handicap over nine furlongs was a poor race won very easily by 6/4 favourite Dubawi Dancer who is now likely to be given a fair old hike having won twice here off 45 and 52 so expect 60 plus and a stopper so on that basis I would have her as a negative. Sea The Storm was second and although right in the winners pocket they were clear of the field. Suits around a mile and if held on this mark of 52 could run well next effort. Invent ran better than of late but a distant third is hardly time to get too wild particularly as this was a moderate race which really only concerned the first two. Scarborough Lilly looked more eyecatching than is probably the case as was plodding through weakening animals to finish fourth, no chance in foreseeable and although there is a view that could be taken that she needs much further has been well beaten over 1m2 (although did not handle Lingfield’s bends on that occasion)
The class 4 handicap was over 1m2 and represented the feature race of the evening. It was won in very comfortable style by top weight Agent Archie. Bizarrely had come here off some modest efforts in the snow of St Moritz. Is racing off 80 and this was 2 pounds less than last handicap win so was well weighted. Sure to get a bit of an uplift off this run but has previously run up a sequence so if not harshly treated (ie less than 6lbs climb) is the sort to win again soon. Favourite England Rules was not disgraced but probably not ideally suited to 1m2 favouring a mile I would say when finishing fifth. I would like to see him juvenile hurdling this winter as he looks just the sort to do well in that sphere. The Sir Michael Stoute trained Top Diktat ran no sort of race and was eased down when failing to spark when asked two out. Keeps being backed but looks very moderate and rates as a lay if favourite in the hope that will be shorter odds than he deserves.
The final race tonight was a 1m6 race at class 5 level. It was won by big outsider Royal Premier landing a 2500/1 treble for Seb Saunders, you know the former champion jockey! The leading pair were well clear and behind them they finished in a bedraggled and tired procession. As such it is only worth looking at these two. Royal Premier clearly stayed the trip well and kept on gamely. Blinkers first time may well have done the trick as had visor beforehand. He has had a long spell without kit after winning 33/1 in May last year on first time without. I think is just the sort that keeps needing a bit of a change to spark him up a bit. Native Colony was 9/4 favourite and top weighted three year old. Clearly stays this trip is on a good mark of 64 and given not too harshly reassessed I think he can go on and win next run representing a good positive.
English Holiday Resort
Great Yarmouth is first and foremost a seaside resort. It is stuck in close proximity to the Norfolk Broads. When you enter the town there are symbols all around telling the tale of the local economic reliance on the tourism industry. Holiday camps still exist. There are not too many seaside racecourses in Great Britain. Musselburgh, Brighton, Ayr and Redcar come to mind. Some are in tourist hot-spots such as Newton Abbott, Bath, Cartmel, and Stratford. This is strange as you would have though that as a major leisure activity a concentration of courses would have emerged in areas with specific leisure industry concentration. Perhaps the long term decline in holidays by the British seaside has been so great that there is little commercial reason to develop facilities there. However the vitality of the English tourist trade could be set for a major jolt. For decades it has been in steep recession. Brighton has rebranded itself as a savvy London dormitory town. Bath no longer relies on influx of culture vultures and has become one of the centres of our new fifth industry collectively called the knowledge based economy. So what of the others? The change in climate, the relative strength of European currency viz a viz Sterling and the shear hassle of air travel make for a period of opportunity which the tourist industry needs to cotton on to. Each resort needs to consider its branding, its offer, how this is communicated and who it perceives as its target market. Looking at Yarmouth I would say unless it spruces its image up it may quickly fall away. It isn’t the easiest place to get to but if the local airport improved its cover then it may be on a European map. Perhaps Yarmouth ought to consider the way Ryanair has helped open up new destinations as long as the process is economically attractive to them. How will the local racecourse benefit? Yarmouth Races is an attraction in the same way as a funfair, museum or zoo is. This is the opposition that Yarmouth Races competes against. If a family of four on holiday spends £100 before they have a bet, the facilities available to them are poor, they cannot see the racing action fully, some of the course is off limits, the whole event is unintelligible and its participants unknown plus if it rains god help them do you think they are going to come back?
Horses Noted
Comical (P) down £10
0
Moderate next run but a 82 OR entering nurseries was too high so binned
Croquembouche (P) up £3.20
1 4/11
easy win but rated too high as a consequence for nurseries and was binned
Queen of the Hop (N)up £40
0 0 0 0
Hopeless and easy to lay as I don't think she is much good. I didn't lay her last run as 100/ a grand to pick up a tenner is mad
Steel City Boy (P) down £30
2 0 3
Handicap hardly moves and inch and backed out after three runs. Unlucky with the assessor as he is too consistent forr his own good
Danzoe (N) up £100
0 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 4 4
Hardly moved an inch in the handicap despite being well beaten. Has been an easy to lay runner and now binned as end of the season
Whisky Junction (P) down £30
0 2 3
Didn't run badly for the three runs I backed him in. Not quite up to it off this mark so I have shelved him
Dubawi Dancer (N) up £18
1 4/5 1 evens
Two great wins followed up the win at yarmouth. Was up over a stone on his mark today and was shelved. To be fair he has continued to improve even further but I got out when it was sensible I think.
Native Colony (P) up £9
1 11/10
Followed up with smooth victory in maiden handicap. However up half a stone and therefore binned
Marketing
The results of an in depth study by an expensive market research consultant called Harrison Fraser led to much anguished debate in the days leading up to this meeting at Yarmouth. A leading journalist identified that a prime stakeholder group had not been involved in the study. These were the over 55 year olds and those from working class demographics. The simple pleasure of trying to win one over the old enemy in the easily accessible money market that is horse-racing is well established. It has long been the working class equivalent of the financially well heeled’s stock market. One of the big problems in racing is the lack profile. In the pat jockeys such as Lester Piggot and horses such as Red Rum were well know to the general public. Nyjinski was the popular nickname of the only decent Manchester City player I ever saw, Colin Bell, on the basis that he never stopped running. In truth the personalities around racing have not been well publicised in recent years. Perhaps there isn’t the same pool as there used to be. I cannot understand why Haley Turner was not wheeled out as the front of a push on promoting the sport to women. Her century so soon after being joint apprentice of the year was remarkable. She is articulate and not unattractive but looks one of the girls as they say thus providing a role model for women. In fact the flat racing has seen several more than useful female jockeys and I have written about this in the Nottingham and Chepstow sections. To my eye a woman on a horse no longer constitutes a line through. So Haley has been a missed opportunity. Frankie Dettori is another marketable item and is probably the most charismatic in the game at the moment. At Yarmouth he showed his interaction with the public. Just getting back from winning the opener a girl with her camera phone asked him for a trademark flying dismount. Most jockeys would blank any comment whilst in the middle of post race debrief. But Frankie acknowledged the shout and spoke to the woman saying ‘His only a little baby and I wouldn’t want to frighten him.’ In truth this is what racing needs. It needs a bit of personal touch with the customer. This doesn’t mean complete dialogue but some kind of connection that the paying punter is part of the event. If they feel an empathy to the sport in terms of the participants then perhaps the perceived reason d’être of the sport of winning money could be replaced. The more people go to watch a sport where there is empathy the more repeat customers a sport will have. If attendance begins at £40 for the basics with winning enough to cover the day the measure of a successful day then the sport will generally have more unhappy than happy customers. They will be less likely to return and the law of diminishing returns kicks in.
Windfarms
I heard on the news that in actual fact the population density of windfarms in Norfolk is not the greatest in the United Kingdom. Much to my amazement other places are blighted even more. Poor old Glasgow comes top of this league with the biggest anywhere recently opened. The claim was that this could provide half of the city’s electricity requirements. When I see ‘could’ followed by a double take fact my marketing spin alert gene kicks in. To me ‘could’ means if we all tried hard and with just a little bit of luck the claim may just about be validated. It should mean that the claim given is within the scope of the product when used normally. I can move at over 100 miles per hour provided I don’t mind falling off a very steep cliff. If I bought a lottery ticket I could win millions provided the right numbers are called. Anyone could be educated to doctorate standard if they have the will, money and intelligence. So could is just a useless inspirational term which has no place in scientific or rational process of thought.
Stands at Yarmouth
