racecourses

While racing attendances are on the rise this year (daily attendances at the U. K.'s 60 racecourses rose by an average of 3.5% in the first six months of 2010), the British Horseracing Authority announced the suspension of around 150 fixtures when it published the 2011 fixture list last month following a fall in prize money, television viewing figures and sales prices in recent years.

Jockeying Over Horseracing Funding Jonathan Clegg 2010

A further decline in the levy, which accounts for roughly 40% of all prize money in the sport, would threaten racecourses, fixtures and jobs, according to Simon Bazalgette, chief executive of Jockey Club Racecourses, which operates 14 racetracks, including Newmarket, Aintree and Epsom.

Jockeying Over Horseracing Funding Jonathan Clegg 2010

That some racecourses have chosen to downgrade their race programme, rather than upgrade their prize money, to meet the imposed tariffs has unaccountably come as a surprise to some horsemen despite having been flagged up as an unintended consequence by grizzled BHA race-planners.

Ripping responsibility from the BHA is wilful vandalism | Lydia Hislop 2011

These aren't too bad to begin with, but as things progress, the races – due to the poor handling of the cars, the weird design of some of the racecourses and the increasingly difficult opponents – become irritating wars of attrition.

Rage – review 2011

In response, as a result of informal talks with individual racecourses, the Horsemen's Group is attempting to identify the Can't-Pays from the Won't-Pays.

Ripping responsibility from the BHA is wilful vandalism | Lydia Hislop 2011

For example, when facing falling income last year the BHA announced the withdrawal of 150 fixtures but the racecourses and horsemen agreed to stage them anyway.

Ripping responsibility from the BHA is wilful vandalism | Lydia Hislop 2011

The most alarming proposal could see responsibility for fixtures and race-planning shift towards racecourses and the Horsemen's Group, which comprises the associative bodies for trainers, owners, breeders, jockeys and stable staff.

Ripping responsibility from the BHA is wilful vandalism | Lydia Hislop 2011

If the tariff row is a bloody process that results in the horsemen's needs receiving greater consideration by racecourses in future negotiations, then that is a benefit.

Ripping responsibility from the BHA is wilful vandalism | Lydia Hislop 2011

Tariffs – the blunt and, at times, incoherent mechanism with which the Horsemen's Group is currently trying to impose minimum prize-money levels on racecourses – can be seen as a dress rehearsal for the task of balancing the complexities inherent in compiling a fixture list and race programme that is serviceable for all interested parties.

Ripping responsibility from the BHA is wilful vandalism | Lydia Hislop 2011

The relationship between the racecourses and horsemen does not bode well for the future of racing.

Ripping responsibility from the BHA is wilful vandalism | Lydia Hislop 2011