How would I know what Simon Nott is or isn't aware of, O Great Oracle?? He's just joined and hasn't told us a thing about his background - although I've now received a helpful PM from another member telling me a little of that, and you clearly know him, from your remarks, so just bear with us who don't, okay? If you'd read through your race cards more carefully, you'd find that the very things Simon has mentioned are, in fact, dealt with by any number of courses - Epsom, Sandown, Lingfield and Brighton have a beginner's guide to racing terms. I don't think they're woeful, since they're there to explain things simply and BRIEFLY. Going into vast detail doesn't make them better.
I can see that someone explaining what you're after, Simon, would be of some use to the novice, but who would do it? They'd want to be paid around £250 at least, I'm sure, since no-one works for free at racecourses, and I can't see novices not getting what they want, say, from this:
Sandown Park: How to Read the Racecard and Trackfacts, Helpful Hints: the horse: encouraging signs to look for (in brief); the jockey: his record at SP, see trackfacts; form guide: "form is simply information about a horse's past performance (see How to Read A Racecard above); official BHA rating: three good paragraphs on explaining how this works.
Goodwood: "A Selling Race" - an entire page devoted to explaining this, opposite the page with the Selling Stakes. Plus, How to Read The Racecard in very clear detail.
Cheltenham: How To Read the Racecard; How to bet with a racecourse bookmaker.
Not sure how much more information a novice needs to start off the day, to be honest. I think what you say, Simon, would be nicely put over by someone with a good knowledge of horses and racing jargon from the parade ring, in conjunction with the card.
I don't know why you say form sages give 'meaningless tips' before racing - they're explained to the crowds listening that they fancy this or that horse the most, and punters new and old can take their cue from that. Also, what do you mean by 'surplus tickets'? Sorry, don't understand what's meant by that, other than it makes novices sound unwanted, which they're not.
The only thing is, you do have to remember that a lot of 'novices' will be fairweather attendees, unlikely to turn out for wet Februaries at Plumpton, but most likely to visit for a summer evening-with-music jolly at, say, Windsor or Epsom. They're happy enough to turn out for such events, but becoming an anorak about SPs and jockey stats isn't going to figure in them enjoying their basic racing. But you'd know that, I assume?
Anyway, how did all the millions of racegoers through the ages learn about racing? Most likely from their Dads or through going and asking questions. My own uncle, who wouldn't have known a gaskin from a gasket, had a very good understanding of form and jockey form by nattering with on-course bookies, buying them and the odd jockey a Scotch and generally worming out info on what to bet on more successfully from those quarters. If you set out to become a regular, you buy the RP (previously the Sporting Life as well), arm yourself with TimeForm, and go enough times to make it worthwhile.
I don't think racing needs to worry about dumbing-down because it's already changed completely from its much more stuffy, traditional ways. It's still got a long way to go, though - personally, I'd like to get shot of the 'enclosure system', do one price entry fees with the card chucked in, and let people find their own comfort levels through the food and drink amenities available - not assume that if they use the Silver Ring, they're likely to be a bunch of disreputable pikeys, and to check if the lavatory seats have been nicked by the end of day!
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