When I look at France Galop I get the impression that it is a more friendly promotion (eg video of a family Sunday outing). Am I being unfair to the BHA? The BHA site has a lot of info but, to me, just doesn't seem so inviting. Any views?
I think there were less than 1000 people at Auteuil today to watch the French Champion Hurdle. That's not screaming excellent marketing to me.
Most of my friends who have been to French racing other than the Arc say it's fantastic - certainly it's a damn sight cheaper than English racing. I think a massive problem about attending the big meetings now is the rise of the "look at me and pay me attention whilst I act like a complete moron and do my damndest to ruin your day just for the hell of it" brigade. It's a constant amazement to me that these people are able to get away with it - they'd be chucked out of most other venues for their behaviour. Interestingly though I've only found it to be especially bad at tracks in the south east - been to the Ebor festival twice and the st leger and they were absolutely fine - the crowd couldn't have been friendlier.
Ma home turf of Aintree gets a bad rep which is unfair, few idiots in fairness but I think there everywhere but it doesn't warrant a page in the daily mail ridiculing it. To be honest the weekend meetings all seem very well attended over here, obviously not so much through the week other than the big hitting festivals, but all in all I think they do OK.
I've been to Aintree twice now (Thursday of the National meeting both times) and I must say it's a fabulous day out. We go in the Queen Mother Stand which is a really good deal, great view, great facilities and a good crowd. Probably wouldn't fancy it on National day though.
Prix de Diane Longines 2013 [video=youtube;qLECLjKQ8Kw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qLECLjKQ8Kw[/video]
Yup Oddy Thursday is by far the best day of the meeting, the friday has its critics which I can understand as I have to witness it but all in all it's not too bad, get a pint and a bet without much fuss Never been the saturday meself but I agree with you it's not something highup on my to do list
The one word answer to the question would probably be “yes”; but it is not very successful. Thanks to the Pari Mutuel monopoly and the French putting millions of Euros on at their local tabac (corner shop) each morning on their way to work, French racing is always going to be richer than British racing. All the family friendly publicity does not draw big attendances. Arc day is the sole exception thanks to the annual invasion of Brits and Irish. Some days at Deauville (the seaside resort full of casinos in Normandy) are reasonably attended; however, the French just do not go to the cheapest admission top quality racing in Europe – even on days when it is free to get in! The BHA would be in an impossible situation trying to promote family friendly racing here because even a wet Wednesday at Plumpton or Pontefract costs more than double what it costs for Arc day at Longchamp (Eight Euros, France’s most expensive race day).
I don't know whether this is geuniely true but a friend of mine who works in the betting industry was saying that there's a big trotting race in France which attracts more money on the PMU than the Arc. That's extraordinary really. Mind, I find it embarrassing that the National is our biggest betting race........
Last time I looked, Cheltenham was in Gloucestershire, the most English of counties. And as a trip to Prestbury Park is as close as you'll ever come to heaven on earth, it pretty much promotes itself. That said, outside of the Festival and the Paddy Power Gold Cup the attendance is pretty modest. Not modest by French standards, that would mean empty.
