October
JuneFooty mania sidelines racing
I agree in principle with everything Bill Corkrey (22/5) says, but there is more to the story of racing coverage in South Australia.
In 1986 horse racing, along with other sporting codes, was jettisoned from all free-to-air television. The reasons were not poor ratings, but cultural changes within the media at that time. Racing didn’t fit in with these changes.
Over the years racing authorities have battered their heads against a brick wall trying to get exposure from a mainstream media that’s obsessed with AFL football.
I will now document three cases of why we don’t see South Australian racing on free-to-air TV.
Case 1, Adelaide Cup Breakfast with the Stars, 1997, TAB Radio: The entire broadcast from Morphettville was devoted to interviews of Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power footballers. No jockey or trainer interviews.
Case 2, Adelaide Cup day 2003, Channel 10: Telecast was aborted 10 minutes prior to post time as the result of a complaint from a viewer of the American daytime soap The Bold And The Beautiful.
Case 3, Advertiser Newspapers, 1997. Formguide axed as a cost-cutting measure (exception for Saturdays and public holidays). Real reason being that football would be allowed more space.
Over the years I have documented hundreds of these cases, Bill, and their one recurring theme is that the South Australian sports media is anti-racing.
When Sky Channel started in 1987, we jumped on board because when you are drowning you grab the first lifeline thrown to you.
Fairview Park (SA)