When I got into racing we didn't have a TV and I listened to the Grand National on the wireless. I got into it by being taken to see live racing by my dad (with Ribot being the first great I witnessed live). I then used to pick out horses for may dad to back on Saturdays. I was so obsessed with horse racing at an early age, I made my own racetrack, cut up dowels for horses, bits of card (with colours and numbers) slotted in and then did make believe races with my own commentary. The horses made progress by me moving them round the track. I was a nut case even then.
There are at least two types of racing fan. 1. Those that watch and enjoy racing because it is a good sport to bet on. 2. Those that watch and enjoy racing because it is a brilliant, fantastic and exciting sport. I am very much in the second category. I do bet, but rarely, and only on the top races usually. However, i was a massive fan of racing from a very early age and didn't bet until very recently. I'm 21 now and have followed racing since i was about 4, dancing around in a wig my Grandmother had, and huge glasses, pretending to be John McCririck. I only started betting in the last 2 or 3 years (when i was about 18, and would still follow racing avidly whether betting were involved or not. The betting is something i enjoy but is a sideshow to my enjoyment of the sport itself. I wish the racing authorities would put some effort into promoting the sport as a sport, and not as a medium for betting or a way to see a good band!
I think this new Champions Day is a step in that direction 5 top races all being promoted as Cup finals. It will take time but the public could get interested in this. Certainly a better idea than the Shergar Cup!
