'It's completely mad' - what racing must change in order to boost its appeal

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Emma Banks, owner of Lady Bowthorpe, put her thumb squarely on one of racing's sore points in a fascinating chat with my colleague Lee Mottershead this weekend. Having pointed out the limitations of the 'concerts after racing' strategy, she went on: "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."

If I've understood her correctly, Banks does not intend to make some familiar technical point for us old lags to argue over for the tenth time this century. Her idea of more attractive racing is not, say, more conditions races and fewer handicaps, or an extra runner per race by the middle of next year to facilitate each-way betting.

She's talking broadly about the appeal of the sport itself and the very basic question of how many people like it. I tensed up as soon as I read the words and I bet you did too because one of the things we long-established racing fans have in common is a shocking lack of faith that anyone else can be expected to love the game as we do.

I struggle to explain why this is so but, after decades hanging around the game, I see it as plagued with self-doubt, which spreads easily to new entrants. That doubt isn't justified because, as we all know, racing is great fun.

Maybe the collective feeling is that modesty is a better route than brash self-publicising. Maybe it's an extension of the self-deprecation which is almost a reflex in winning interviews, the jockey saying they were just a passenger, the trainer insisting victory was achieved in spite of their doltish mistakes.

But self-doubt is less attractive than confidence, so I hope outsiders can't tell what we think of ourselves. There's a serious job still to be done in making sure that racing retains its fan base and Banks's words reminded me of something I heard back in 2014, the year she apparently went racing for the first time.

Music agent Emma Banks: 'Add the other stuff if you want to but, first and foremost, concentrate on the racing'Credit: Edward Whitaker

The Liverpool-born Bernie Mullin, a hugely successful sports marketer in the US, introduced a conference room of racing executives to the term "New York millisecond", a shorter version of the notoriously brief New York minute. He defined it as the maximum length of time he would tolerate between a pause in the action on his basketball court, or ice hockey rink, and something being done to keep the crowd entertained, whether it be music, images on the big screen or cheerleaders bursting forth.

Mullin was impressive and persuasive. The execs loved him. But in Britain, and especially in British racing, we don't really like to make a fuss. I haven't noticed his philosophy being put into practice at any of the tracks I've been to, but by all means get in touch if you have.

In terms of between-races entertainment and information, everything is still put on the shoulders of the raceday announcer, just as it has been for eons. They talk you through their fancies and have a chat with some winning jockeys. It can work well but is a very familiar formula and often lacks bite.

At a minimum, we should be seeing full finishing orders on screens around the track within seconds of every finish. If you're a newbie who bets on a big-field handicap and your horse doesn't win, the chances are you'll be left with no idea where it finished or why. It's completely mad that we allow that to happen and then expect this person to bet on the next race or to form a lasting attachment to the game.

When the hot favourite is stuffed, you and I require no immediate explanation. We saw it miss the break, or meet trouble in running, or had suspected it wouldn't like the ground. But a really big percentage of every raceday crowd has no such insight and we make no effort to enlighten them, unless it be via a stewards' note read out once over the loud speaker.

Once they've paid their money and maybe been given the once-over by a sniffer dog, racegoers are basically left to their own devices. It could be called benign neglect. Yes, I know many of them want to be left alone but surely racing's ambition is not to be the natural home for standoffish misanthropes. What if some in the crowd want to be involved and included and to have their attention directed through the afternoon?

As far as I'm concerned, any track that puts on seven races has done a tremendously worthwhile thing and I'll show up if I can. But, in the cause of growing the audience and securing the future of the game, racecourses should consider how they can put on a show.

Monday's picks

You'd almost take it for granted, watching Nicky Henderson's Royal Ruby win by 23 lengths on his chasing debut last month, that the handicapper wouldn't be able to stop him going in again the next time. I don't think an 11lb rise makes him badly handicapped either but he has run into a hotter race than connections surely expected for a Monday at Stratford.

There are three other last-time winners, including Umndeni, who gets to race off the same mark as the one from which he won a hurdles race by 10 lengths on Saturday. He unseated on his only chasing start, getting very low at the fence in question, but kept his feet and was arguably unlucky that the partnership ended.

But Cape Robin (4.30) looks a greater threat and overpriced at 6-1. He was narrowly beaten in a Ffos Las race in May that worked out extremely well (first and third have both won twice) and then won tidily himself when stepped up to this trip at Worcester.

He's a Robin Des Champs half-brother to Generous Day, who got himself up to a rating of 134 at the same age. Cape Robin is up 10lb but should have more to offer on 112.

Ripon's card tonight sees the return of Out Of Sight (7.25), who became Alex French's first winner as a trainer three weeks ago and can follow up. The form of his handicap defeats had been working out and this step up in trip looks helpful for a horse who ground his way to victory at Lingfield. I'd have him as favourite over Raqisa, so 7-2 is fine.

Members can also read Graeme Rodway's best bets for Monday here

Three things to look out for today...

1) If there's any justice (spoiler: there isn't), Selecto will win at Bath this afternoon. He's the only booked ride for Rose Dawes, the 7lb claimer who was robbed of a victory at Sandown last night when her mount, Whistledown, lost her footing in the final stride. "I'm livid," Dawes said. We've all been there!

2) Few horses returning from a 20-month absence get chalked up at long odds-on but that's how it is with Ballyoisin at Ballinrobe. The JP McManus-owned veteran has won the Fortria Chase twice, with Barry Geraghty aboard the first time – remember him? Ballyoisin, now rated 162, was last seen chasing home Cilaos Emery in the 2019 Hilly Way.

3) Ewan Whillans, who made an unbelievably good start to his training career last week, has his first runner under the rules of Flat racing in Ripon's final race tonight. Lady Artela has shown very little so far and would be a bigger price than the general 16-1 available as I type if bookmakers weren't being a bit careful about Whillans, who scored with his first two runners at 5-1 and 50-1 at Stratford.

One story you must read today

A 'vote of confidence' in racing as York reveals last week's attendance figures

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a three-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday