Boxing/St. Stephen's Day Meetings Down Royal N/H 7 Races 11:40-3:08p.m. Newcastle N/H 7 Races 11:45-3:10p.m. Wetherby N/H 7 Races 11:52-3:20p.m. Market Rasen N/H 7 Races 11:55-3:25p.m. Fontwell N/H 7 Races 11:57-3:27p.m. Leopardstown N/H 7 Races 12:00-3:30p.m. Huntingdon N/H 7 Races 12:05-3:32p.m. Kempton Park N/H 7 Races 12:10-3:40p.m. King George Off @ 2:30p.m. Wincanton N/H 7 Races 12:18-3:45p.m. Limerick N/H 7 Races 12:25-3:50p.m. Wolverhampton A/W 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Merry Christmas One & All
Hate to sound like I always do but it’s utter ****e, I know people like going racing but do we need or want 7 jumps meetings in the UK and a flat all weather card? it’s just spreading ****e, the whole sport is a shambles and this shows it once more. Absolute crock of ****e
So right, Nassau, the bookmakers are running the show instead of the proper horseracing authority. Until we finally get rid of these dismal 'accountants' (probably 200-years from now), things will not change. I have never seen horseraicng in general in such a terrible mess, and I go back a fair way in years. Having said that, will probably still have a 'go' at the King George on Boxing Day, Monday. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
According to the Sporting Life fixture list there are 81 football matches taking place in Britain on the 26th. Plenty of crocks of ****e amongst that lot It seems to be the way of the sporting world these days - quantity over quality and keep the cash registers ringing. Although I think sport on Boxing Day is a big tradition in the UK (and former empire countries - Australia have a 5 day test match against South Africa in Melbourne starting on Christmas Day). Having said that, I would expect Kempton, Wetherby and Wincanton to be very well attended - not sure about the others but it would interest me. Are attendances for horse racing fixtures published anywhere?
I found this site and it shows Boxing Day attendances much higher than average - although 2021 may still have been affected by Covid. Looks like Boxing Day is the best day of the year for racecourses. Kempton had 11578 in 2021 - next best was the 27th with 6448 and after that 2876 for a flat meeting in early September. In 1989 over 22000 turned up to see Dessie https://www.hblb.org.uk/attendance
Last years attendance was the lowest in living memory with half the numbers that had been attracted in 1991. That alone should be a massive red flag to the powers that be.
Difference is that those football games wouldn’t go ahead if they didn’t have full teams playing. Comparing products is one thing, but I’d say you are likely to see better sport at any of those football games than at the majority of racecourses this festive period. The day should be based around the King George but with the way the cards are, we might by split screening with Wolverhampton and Huntingdon. As for attendances, I don’t expect we will be seeing any records this year. Every time I’ve been racing I’ve been surprised by the low turnout. I guess New Year’s Day will be busy at HQ, but I’d still expect it to be down on previous years
Only two racecourses have got into 5 figure attendances in the last two months. Cheltenham and Newbury. You get more people at Notts County games in the national league!
The runners are now out for St Stephen's Day. 9 in the King George VI . Whilst Constitution Hill will face 4, I say 4, in the Christmas Hurdle. There are just 5 in both of the other pair of Grade 1's on Kempton's card - Long Walk Hurdle & Kauto Star. Sadly, Wiseguy not going to Wincanton for the Pertemps Qualifier. Oddy, neither are the Greatrex pair that you mentioned re the race either, I'm afraid. A pair that are combo-ing in that heat, though, are Queen Camilla's husband and Lieutenant Henderson!!! Are they masterminding a Peremps plot perhaps?!?
Can I ask if you know anything or have any views re the FOB horse, Go to War. Am only asking as Olly Murphy has done a stable tour in the current edition of 'The Weekender' and he appears very, very positive re one called Fingle Bridge. This one was a very promising 2nd on his bumper debut to this Go To War. Reading between the lines Mr Murphy appears somewhat shocked that Fingle Bridge got beat that day and he himself says that to have won the race Go To War 'could be very smart'.
That Long Walk Hurdle is really interesting. We have the established Stayers in Champ and Paisley Park ready to lock horns again after their thrilling clash at Newbury, the mare Miranda who dotted up on her first attempt at the trip in a listed mares race and two very good 2-mile hurdlers stepping up to this trip for the first time in Not So Sleepy and Goshen. Not So Sleepy is the outsider of the 5 but, if he stays the trip, he can be a danger to all of them. He was just a couple of lengths behind Epatante in the Fighting Fifth and a fine 3rd off a big weight in the Cesarewitch on his last 2 runs.
