Kempton Can't Give It Away!

Even with free entry on offer to Kempton racegoers on Wednesday evening, the all-weather card only attracted 1,200 people and don't forget that it is half-term!  Teams in the lowest football leagues attract 1,200 people - Torquay get more than that and you have to pay to go to see them!  It just goes to show that racing is not as big as we would like to think - you would have thought that a London track offering free entry would have attracted plenty more people, or am I missing something?  I wonder what sort of attendance they get if they don't give away free admission?!

When I go racing these days, it seems like it's the same old faces - they are just getting older!!  Somehow we have to attract a younger audience, although that sounds like I am talking pop groups at the courses again.  I dread to think what the courses will be like in twenty years time, apparently the appearance of Ant and Dec boosted the crowd...to say that they boosted the crowd tells you all you need to know - give me strength!

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After Tiger Woods lost in the first round of the World Matchplay, bookmakers have opened a book on whether the formal world number one would even be in the top ten by January.  Hills make him a 5/2 shot to be out of the top ten and 2/7 to remain in the world's elite - personally, I think he will stay in the top ten but he is certainly not the Tiger of old - more like a pussy cat if you know what I mean!

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According to today's Racing Post, Brendan Powell does not have any racing heroes although he does think that MCP is a genius.  I wonder what Brendan is after?!  I seem to be a little bit cynical today.

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Below I have another couple of nice photographs from the gallops, including one of Cheltenham Festival hope Ashkazar in action with Woodlark Island.

  
Above left: the horses get ready to commence work, and right: (l-r) Ashkazar and Woodlark Island