"Save the spring"
Horses jump in the 2009 Geelong Cup. (Photo: Ryan Reynolds)
Party or horse racing?
The spring carnival is in serious trouble and something needs to be done fast.
The “boganisation” of racing is happening and it is taking over the sport at a remarkable rate.
Women walking around necking bottles of wine, blokes so drunk they crawl to the toilets. This disgraceful behaviour has never been tolerated at the track, yet in 2009 we look and laugh at these people.
Why? What’s changed?
Talking to a young girl as I waited to put my bet on, she proudly claimed that she is here for the social aspect. She wants to get blind drunk and chat with her friends.
“Can you tell me if there is a race on, because I wouldn’t have a clue,” She said.
“I’ll take a photo and put it one facebook so I can show everyone there actually were horses here.”
A man passes out after the Geelong Cup. Sadly he didn't get to see the horses (Photo: Geelong Advertiser)
While it is great that attendances are up and more people are enjoying the sport we love, we must ask at what the real costs are.
Can we afford to continue to put a dent in the image of racing for a quick buck?
Many people seemed shocked that the Geelong Cup was over so quick, they picked a number threw $20 each way on it turned their back on the race and continued to drink. For others they spent hours looking over the form studying watching replays and then finally made their selection.
“Huh, was that it?” One man said as Leica Ding stormed to the finishing line. The man then disappeared back to the bar.
It just goes to show how wide of an audience these meets draw.
So what really is the Spring Carnival about?
Is it a social thing? Do we go to the races to look good and get blind drunk?
Is it a status thing? Are we going to the races just because it is the “thing to do”?
Or maybe the old bloke who sits at the back of the grand stand is out of date. The horses are really the back drop to bands, dance music and after parties.
The bus load of people heading to a Geelong nightclub would suggest the cup is nothing more than an afternoon of pre-drinks.
The problem is that the industry needs these types of people to make money.
With so much racing many of the smaller clubs rely on their once a year cup day to set them up financially for the following season.
More people, more money, more food, more alcohol = more profit.
Therein lies the problem, 50 year old Bob will pay admission, buy a cheap lunch and spend $100 on the punt.
19 year old Sarah will spend $20 on the punt, buy a heap of fatty food and spend $100 on over priced alcohol so she and her friends can get blind drunk.
If you are running the Geelong Racing Club which person do you want on Geelong Cup day?
The problem is that some people who attend racing are doing it because it is seen as the thing to do.
What happens when they move onto the next big craze? Where will that put our carnival?
With prize money at an all time high, we rely on attendances to continue to rise.
It is time to start planning for the future now otherwise we will be in a pickle in ten years time.
The first thing that needs to be done is tighter control on the service of alcohol. If you are drunk your gone, if your drunk you can’t buy any more alcohol, if you are evicted you get an instant 2 year ban.
Getting rid of this “boganism”, will attract less of the unwanted and encourage more families to come to the races.
Nobody wants to see a loved one taken home in the back of an ambulance because a random bloke couldn’t handle his alcohol.
The other plan that needs to be implemented is to find revenue streams that don’t relate to attendances.
This must come from the taxing of corporate bookmakers. They have had a free ride off the industry and it is now time for them to pull their weight.
The rest I guess will be in the hands of RVL and all other controlling boards to decide on, but as a punter I plead with them to make the spring carnival about the horses and not about the party.
I’m Rizzo and that’s my rant.
Have your say... Comment this blog now!!
Want me to rant on a topic? Email me rizzosbestbets@internode.on.net
Hi Rizzo, that was an interesting rant and spot on mate. Geelong Cup day would be much more attractive to families without the bogan element. I love the races but didnt bother this year.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Rizzo, going to the "big" race days around Victoria now seems more like going to a social event then a race meeting.
ReplyDeleteI'd say the percentage of social racegoers compared to actual punters is growing each year, and all the racing authourities are actually encouraging this growth in the social aspect of racing.
That's why I prefer the smaller race meetings these days, the Sandown Classic day is one of the better days, as are some of the country cups that don't have such a massive social gathering.
It's still not such a problem for punters though, means it is actually getting easier to get your bet on with a bookie or the tote, even at big races.
Excellent post mate... Just found your blog through bigfooty... Keep up the good work :)
ReplyDeleteAgree Rizzo went to cox plate last weekend have sat at the back of the mounting yard with a group of us. Where we have been for the last 5 years. The tables chairs gone the tv screen gone the speaker system could not even hear. We were at a race meeting and could not hear the races. The poor bookie near by had 15 punters over his shoulder. More like a lyonville new years pony meeting than the valley. Even in the betting ring it has hardto hear.
ReplyDeleteA night cox plate with rave party thrown in now that should pack them in.