Goodwood and Galway week is a highlight in the racing calendar, reflecting the casual and accessible charm of this wonderful sport.
These are unique tracks filled with captivating tales of misfortune, yet the overall quality remains quite decent. Spanning five days at Goodwood and seven at Galway, both festivals provide a sense of community and joy, drawing in substantial crowds.
Racecourses across the UK and Ireland can learn from this model. Almost every region boasts a track that plays an essential role in its local community. While racing is the primary focus—hence the name—many tracks also host diverse events like awards nights, farmers’ markets, wedding fairs, family fun days, concerts, and even served as vaccination sites during the pandemic.
Kyprios strides clear to win the Goodwood Cup by four lengths in imperious style
Big Evs grimly holds on to win the Group Two King George Stakes in gutsy fashion
Guineas winner Notable Speech bounced back to form to land the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood
In a time when high streets struggle and community spirit wanes in many areas, racing holds the potential to invigorate if it focuses on inclusivity. Racing faces immense competition from various sports; for instance, Royal Ascot was overshadowed by the European Championships, and Goodwood found itself competing against the Olympics. The Derby coincides with the FA Cup final, further complicating racing’s fight for attention as the football season approaches.
While ITV provides a significant platform for racing in mainstream media, and shows like “Champions: Full Gallop” effectively promote the sport, racing’s attempts to position itself alongside elite sports are increasingly feeling futile. Not every marquee race needs to be treated like a World Cup final, as the search for attention-grabbing narratives gradually detracts from the essence of live sport—the thrill of the race itself.
For most casual fans, the closest exposure to premier sports are these behind-the-scenes documentaries like golf’s “Full Swing,” tennis’ “Break Point,” and Formula One’s “Drive to Survive” on Netflix. Such series offer an abundance of content, and racing doesn’t necessarily need to replicate what’s already popular.
This sport thrives on live spectators. Reasonably priced tickets could unlock immense potential for racecourses. Many fans feel overwhelmed by rising costs associated with major sporting events, while yearning for the chance to experience live action without exorbitant subscriptions. While these documentary series offer fascinating subplots, the primary appeal remains the live action itself—not analysis or side events.
Racing ranks as the second most popular spectator sport in the UK, showcasing its broad appeal. By making attendance more affordable, there exists a significant opportunity to grow the audience. However, the element of betting must not be overlooked.
Having attended Ayr for four consecutive Mondays at a cost of £92 for a mix of low-grade races, there was still the chance to earn money. After scoring a placepot on the final week, I left with a profit after four days of racing at my local track.
Some may complain about paying £23 per ticket for mostly Class 6 racing, yet it encompasses an entire afternoon of live entertainment, complete with close-up views of the horses, varied food and drink options, family-friendly space, and opportunities for kids to engage in activities. With some luck, there’s a chance to win back at least part of the expense. Overall, it’s not too shabby.
To put it in perspective, you’d need to spend at least four times as much monthly for access to services like Discovery+, Sky Sports, and others, not to mention costs for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ for more sports documentaries.
Opera Singer (left) was pitch perfect in claiming the Nassau Stakes for trainer Aidan O’Brien
The realm of elite sports has become an overloaded, flashy TV spectacle. It’s disheartening to see those priced out of attendance turning to alternatives for their live sport fix. Many choose to support their local non-league teams over larger clubs because of the essential backing they need. Racing can adopt a similar approach, embracing a more affordable and welcoming strategy instead of frantically pursuing stardom and competing against sports with such vast resources that they don’t rely on attendance for profitability.
Just as there are dull matches in football, racing will have its share of less thrilling events. Such is the nature of sport, where not everything will be exemplary. Racing needs patrons to show up, and the chance is there if racecourses reconsider their pricing strategies.
KYPRIOS: THE UNDISPUTED STAR AT GOODWOOD
Significant wins at Glorious Goodwood included Notable Speech, Big Evs, Audience, and Opera Singer, but the standout moment was Kyprios’ dominating performance in the Goodwood Cup.
He embodies the spirit that makes one fall in love with racing. The six-year-old, trained by Aidan O’Brien, exuded brilliance, winning with ease by four lengths. ‘He’s so much better than anything else,’ remarked jockey Ryan Moore, a sentiment that applies to him this week at Goodwood.
This victory was so overwhelming that it could have been achieved on any type of ground or distance within the staying category. Questions surrounded Kyprios regarding his fitness, suitability for the track, and whether he was indeed that exceptional, especially given his tendency to show restraint upon taking the lead. However, all uncertainty evaporated on Tuesday, with a performance that not only won but shattered the course record. It was effortlessly impressive.
He’s regarded as the best stayer since Yeats, and he has the potential to match or even surpass him considering his commanding position in the division.
SELECTION OF THE DAY…
PUCHKINE (9-1 betfair) won the Prix Jean Prat decisively, and with today’s drop in distance for the Prix Maurice de Gheest (3.07), it appears favorable for Jean-Claude Rouget’s promising three-year-old. Recent races suggest that low draws have been advantageous for this Group One event in Deauville. Thus, he presents a solid each-way betting opportunity in a competitive field.
