Yes, we knew that Arena was putting that in, Kathy, and I did see Kate Hills trying to convince ATR what a whizzbang system it would be! It's being installed (we were told today at our pre-season briefing at Brighton) at Brighton by Northern Racing, as they say it's been successful at Newcastle, Uttoxeter and somewhere I've just forgotten! However, the scary thing is that all the money-takers, who it will affect, aren't being given more than a quick session before gates open on the 29th, rather than the half-day training they'd been led to expect.
We were told to be patient and expect teething problems... no, surely not! Racecourses run like well-oiled machines, every meeting! Ascot has installed the same things, so has revamped Donny.
The main idea is to stop customers arriving and saying they've forgotten to bring the 50 prepaid tickets they've booked with them, and can they please have replacements? The course/s have always kindly obliged their valued customers, who have repaid them by bogging off into the car parks to flog off the original 50 tickets at a tenner apiece... nice... It is also supposed to cut down on the amount of staff checking, clipping badges, monitoring gates, etc., but whether it will prove much more efficient will remain to be seen. It should give a tally of paying customers on course for H&S reasons in the case of a security evacuation, though it still won't account for children (free entry), staff, caterers, the stewards, the jockeys..... :suspect:
Main change this season at Brighton, apart from the electronic entry system, will be to the parade ring. The area for the incoming win/place horses has been enlarged to allow for safer manoeuvring in that area. The restaurant has now incorporated the really nice Balcony Bar, which looks right out over the course and the downs and sea beyond, making the dining a less indoor-only experience. A couple of new flowerbeds, and it looks pretty nice and ready to go.
Does living that long run in your family?
