Following on from the comments made by someone (was it Melendez?) regarding the 'gojumpracing' BHA promotion, and the observation that the discounted offers were being applied to major meetings (who wouldn't necessarily be experiencing attendance issues anyway) to the possible detriment of smaller local tracks; I felt there was something in this.
Big meetings can be a little bit daunting to the uninitiated, they can also bring out some less desirable elements too. On top of this, big tracks rarely have the intimacy of a smaller track. I think if I were going to introduce someone to racing and was allowed my pick, I'd probably nominate a nice Summers evening at Salisbury. There is, as was pointed out, the other issue about supporting smaller in tracks who are likely to be in greater need, and as a learning curve towards understanding how a meeting operates, the big festivals or weekend feature cards might not necessarily be the best vehicle to stimulate interest off. In event, once familiar with the smaller tracks it is only a matter of time before a convert starts to salivate at the prospect of moving up a league anyway.
So by way of curiousity and market research, where did you first attend and lose your racing virginity?
If memory serves me right, it might have been Leicester, midweek in my case. I'd kept a passing interest in racing and could read the form on a card to a level, and wasn't averse to odd gamble on info received, or the usual races in the calender, but I think this was the first time I ever went to a race track as a spectator. I seem to remember that my first bet won (Petruska 4/1) and I won with High Tatra (11/1) on the same card. I'm pretty certain I had a third winner too, so I suppose it was inevitably downhill from that moment onwards.
I also remember going with about half a dozen work colleagues, although I don't recall that anyone was particularly knowledgable or acting as a guide, so to speak. It must be unusual for someone to attend their first meeting on their own, and so any introductory offers must surely target groups, or known race goers who can promote the idea amongst friends and introduce groups?. Did anyone first attend a race meeting on their own as a matter of interest? There was certainly a social element to my first meet as I recall, but my own interest wasn't confined to the alcohol as I did have some background knowledge of the sport too.
I'd just be curious to know what spread we get in terms of geographical location, and quality of meeting, as I suspect that Melendez (if indeed it was he?) might very well be right
Big meetings can be a little bit daunting to the uninitiated, they can also bring out some less desirable elements too. On top of this, big tracks rarely have the intimacy of a smaller track. I think if I were going to introduce someone to racing and was allowed my pick, I'd probably nominate a nice Summers evening at Salisbury. There is, as was pointed out, the other issue about supporting smaller in tracks who are likely to be in greater need, and as a learning curve towards understanding how a meeting operates, the big festivals or weekend feature cards might not necessarily be the best vehicle to stimulate interest off. In event, once familiar with the smaller tracks it is only a matter of time before a convert starts to salivate at the prospect of moving up a league anyway.
So by way of curiousity and market research, where did you first attend and lose your racing virginity?
If memory serves me right, it might have been Leicester, midweek in my case. I'd kept a passing interest in racing and could read the form on a card to a level, and wasn't averse to odd gamble on info received, or the usual races in the calender, but I think this was the first time I ever went to a race track as a spectator. I seem to remember that my first bet won (Petruska 4/1) and I won with High Tatra (11/1) on the same card. I'm pretty certain I had a third winner too, so I suppose it was inevitably downhill from that moment onwards.
I also remember going with about half a dozen work colleagues, although I don't recall that anyone was particularly knowledgable or acting as a guide, so to speak. It must be unusual for someone to attend their first meeting on their own, and so any introductory offers must surely target groups, or known race goers who can promote the idea amongst friends and introduce groups?. Did anyone first attend a race meeting on their own as a matter of interest? There was certainly a social element to my first meet as I recall, but my own interest wasn't confined to the alcohol as I did have some background knowledge of the sport too.
I'd just be curious to know what spread we get in terms of geographical location, and quality of meeting, as I suspect that Melendez (if indeed it was he?) might very well be right
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although I'm surprised more people haven't followed Tracksides example and answer both questions
. It also depends of course on what stories people want to divulge regarding their first racecourse experience as to whether there's an anecdote or two flying around but the information its turning up I actually think is quite interesting, in that it appears to be backing up Melendez's (or whoever it was?) assertion. If we can get over 30 answers (I believe the sample becomes statistcally 'significant' for stats purposes at this point? - don't ask why - I don't know) I suspect there's a few other questions that would be interesting about month of the year, number of people in party, who introduced you, jumps or flat etc
