Evening all, just wanted to mention something I noticed on the Sky racing coverage at Uttoxeter yesterday which I suspect may become an increasing challenge to the racing authorities over time. I was watching the penultimate race on the tellybox and could hear a decent swathe of the crowd belting out the modern footballing classic ‘Don’t take me home’. For anyone unaware of this little tune it’s become prevalent at many sporting occasions and is a tuneless dirge of a song that those involved repeat ad nauseam for what seems like forever. I first became aware of it at Edgbaston last summer at the Eng-NZ test match. Repeated throughout the day by 1000s of pissed up folk in the crowd. I also heard it regularly at The Hundred and again in the Euros. Google suggests we have the Welsh to thank for it as it was ‘their’ Euro 2016 song although the internet also mentions that it could have originated in Geordieland. Regardless it’s banal, it’s ****e and it adds nothing to any sporting occasion. Is this the sign of things to come? Is Sir Barney’s beloved Cheltenham roar circa 1.30 on a Tuesday in mid March going to be replaced with this rubbish? Is this the price all venues across the sporting spectrum will be prepared to pay to keep the turnstiles, bars and fried chicken stalls busy? If that’s the case I’m out. Happy new year.
It was heard at Cheltenham yesterday too, as was a certain Neil Diamond song. I went with my old man yesterday, so didn’t do my usual impression of a buzzy bee flying around the course to see the racing from the stands and then to parade ring etc. So for one of the races we stood on the stand overlooking the parade ring, which was so eye opening. The amount of folk walking around the facilities and staying in the bars whilst that race was on had me shocked. If going racing isn’t about watching the races or horses then what is the point? On a completely different note, it was good to see Willie Carson at the races, not seen him in ages and he seemed in great form.
Racing (and cricket for that matter) offer the chance for extended boozing as a backdrop to the sport and it really doesn't come as a surprise that it attracts that sort of crowd. I guess the racecourses are happy as it means they are gaining financially from these people, as opposed to city centre pubs. Years ago, when I used to go to the Cheltenham festival, I used to take a "time out" when it was the cross-country race (which never interested me) and just enjoyed a pint in a bar without hassling to get a bet on, then find a viewing position. If you go to the races, it is perfectly OK IMHO to sit out a couple of races if they don't appeal to you. Racing is, after all, trying to attract a wider spectrum of followers beyond the "purists". As far as the singing goes, I guess this is the so-called "lad culture" which used to only attach itself to football but now seems to be invading other sports too - possibly because of the prohibitive costs around watching football live and the relatively discomfort of the accommodation. Compare that to a day at the cricket or races where (outside the big meetings) you are maybe paying between 15-20 quid entrance and have untold bars and restaurants to indulge in. Interestingly, the "lad culture" in Germany seems to be pretty much restricted to football - certainly judged on the amount of singing in the bar downstairs when Hertha Berlin manage to score a goal (a thankfully rare occurrence). I actually thought "lad culture" was a product of the 80s/90s/noughties and would die out as successive generations of young males discover life outside of the pub. Seems I could be mistaken though.
Worse still, did any of you see the disgraceful scenes at Fairyhouse where some lout actually threw a beer at a passing horse and jockey as they crossed the finishing line.
All true and fair comment Oddy. This ‘lad’ culture presents a challenge to the folk marketing sport though. If their idea of a good day out detracts from the enjoyment of others then there’s a problem. Using my day at the Edgbaston Test last summer as an example I was struck by a few things. How little a lot of the crowd around us knew or cared about what was happening on the pitch and the belligerence of some around us to get everyone else involved in their idea of what constitutes crowd entertainment. Don’t get me wrong Edgbaston has never been a Test venue for the shrinking violet. I’ve had some great days out there in years gone by and some great craic with fellow England and opposition fans. Crucially though everyone in the almost always sellout crowd was interested in the sport being played. I’m not sure there’s a long term future for any sport which over values the belligerent ‘fan’ who has virtually no interest in the actual event.
Just seen this online. They’ve identified the guy so he probably won’t be doing it again anytime soon as he should be prosecuted and banned. Appeared to be among a large group from the footage I saw.
In a sport where sitting on a dead horse gets 6 months, the chap will be unlucky if he gets a five minute ban for that. But then that’s not how it works is it!!
The bane of society are these selfish, inconsiderate people Chan. I probably had a very short spell of being like that myself thirty-odd years ago but thankfully soon grew out of it (about the same time I discovered weed if I remember correctly - another good reason to legalise it). I think part of it is down to this "me, me, me" culture which has partly been fed by social media, partly by the decline of the notion of "common good" - what some people might call "community spirit" or thinking of others. I think it is a trend imported from the USA.
I suppose the ultimate selfishness bordering on the criminal rests with those anti-COVID vaccines protesters who stole stocks to prevent others from benefitting and protecting life. I do partly blame our successive governments by allowing society to open up into a state of “anything goes.” All this does is fuel disrespect, greed, and opportunism. Despite the wonderful scientific and technical advancements, especially in the last two hundred years, we need to ask ourselves…”Are we any better as people?” QED.
I never drink (alcohol) at the races. That's a lie as I was once invited by a mate, who worked for a brewery, to his companies box at Sandown once. It seemed churlish not to have a few brown ales. My favourite track used to be Newbury. A very fair racecourse and often the platform for many good 2yos and 3yo maidens. I went there a lot (even after Joe retired) but slowly it changed. The main thing was that coach parties of drunken idiots started invading the course, and most of them from Wales. Newbury then did something I hated, which was combining the Grandstand and Silver Ring. It would have been better to have made all the large bars stay in the old Silver Ring, but no they just increased the potential space for all these drunkards. Since 1990, I have only been once to Newbury. It isn't the same racecourse.
My favourite racecourse was always Sandown Park; I just loved this natural amphitheater in Esher. It's a long time now since I've been there, but I guess, reading your post, it's probably landed-up in the same situation as Newbury. Hope they have used a bit of commonsense in the location of bars, etc. Have my doubts though. Nothing worse than drunken louts at sporting events, the evil curse for most law-abiding citizens nowadays. You know, in Munich, the problem of drunkenness at the Oktoberfest is usually with visitors, and I remember one year when New Zealand tourists were a right-old problem. They just did not understand how potent a Maß Bier (1-liter jug of beer) is. Anyway, the security people used to wheel the drunks away from the tent, and lay them out on a fairly big grassy slope, stretching up to the road, on the north side of the Oktoberfest grounds. They are then just left there, regardless of the weather, to sober-up for the rest of the night. If that didn't teach them a lesson, nothing ever will.
I've never had an issue with drinkers at Sandown, one of the courses that I really like going to because of the space and set up of the course for spectators. I would much rather go to that course than Newbury for instance.
The cult of individualism , which is a key conservative tenet , encouraged by policies of self interest , this has been absorbed sub consciously if not consciously for decades now , emboldened by drink and relative anonymity it’s no wonder these behaviours develop . You wouldn’t see that where weed was freely available !!
This was on the Racing Post website today - unfortunately in the members section. Could @PNkt maybe take a peek for us?
Can someone remind me of the website to use to archive a webpage behind a paywall? Can’t for the life of me remember which one it was!
I’ve tried a couple of archiving sites but the Paywall keeps blocking them I’ll do screenshots for now and if anyone more tech savvy knows a way round it I’ll repost.
