Emma Banks: 'Racing should concentrate on making people enjoy the sport itself'

Emma Banks, top music agent and owner of Lady Bowthorpe at her home in Clapham, South West London 16.8.21 Pic: Edward Whitaker

Emma Banks: 'My view is racing should be asking, what is actually putting people off the sport and how do we address those things?'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Emma Banks, one of the music industry's most influential agents, has argued racing will be best able to increase its fan base by concentrating attention on the racing itself, as opposed to additional entertainment offered outside of the action on the track.

Lady Bowthorpe's owner, speaking to the Racing Post in an interview that will be published in Sunday's newspaper, has fallen in love with the sport since buying her first thoroughbred in 2014.

Her involvement with racing stretches beyond horses, with a number of her high-profile clients having been regular headline acts at post-racing concerts, the latest being Olly Murs, who recently performed gigs at Newmarket and Newbury.

Banks is a fan of the concerts but does not believe they are necessarily an effective means of creating new followers for the sport.

The relief begins to show as Kieran Shoemark passes the winning post at Goodwood on Lady Bowthorpe

Lady Bowthorpe gives Emma Banks her biggest win as an owner in the Nassau StakesCredit: Mark Cranham

"Racing has to concentrate on making people want to go racing, not just making people want to go out," said Banks.

"My view is racing should be asking, what is actually putting people off the sport and how do we address those things? In my opinion, euthanasia, death, abattoirs and Panorama all put people off racing. The whip puts people off racing. Calling the whip the whip puts people off racing.

"The bigger issue shouldn't be what 'extras' you add to racing to make it more appealing. The bigger issue is how do you make the racing itself more appealing? Racing has to make the racing attractive. Add the other stuff if you want to but, first and foremost, concentrate on the racing."

Banks will be at Deauville on Sunday, when Lady Bowthorpe bids to follow up her Qatar Nassau Stakes success in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet.

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