October
JuneArchaic
Thought I would express my dismay at the facilities (or lack of) at Eagle Farm for Stradbroke Day.
My first Stradbroke was the year Toledo won, 1998. As far as I could tell not one thing has changed in the intervening period.
The grass area in front of the main grandstand is now so crammed with umbrellas and temporary bar structures it is impossible to see the horses unless you are in the grandstand itself.
This becomes a problem because there is so little seating available that the stand is full all day. I was forced to stand at the very back of the grandstand to gain a vantage point.
Whilst I am still relatively young the elderly people at the races are not catered for at all.
They are forced to sit in the same spot all day for fear of losing the one spot that has shade and a clear view of the local races.
Once again it is apparent that the only people that we seem to be trying to entice to the races are young people who have no interest in racing at all.
As long as there is alcohol they are happy.
We have lost the people who truly love the sport because we don’t provide the comfortable surroundings they deserve.
Why would I go to the track if I have a large screen TV, internet betting and a comfortable lounge?
Race clubs need to give people a reason to go back to the races on a regular basis.
Some bookmakers on the day were betting at 145 percent. One bookie fielding on the grass area had Crossthestart at $7.50 when he was $14.00 the tote!
Taking advantage of people who either don’t know better or are too drunk to care is pathetic.
The main betting ring was no better.
A 15-minute wait to put a bet on the tote meant some people had no choice.
Punters and horse-racing enthusiasts must be a hardy bunch because we keep turning up despite all this.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the day. But if we all think that this is good enough then the industry is doomed.
There are too many options for people these days to put up with this treatment.
Miami (Qld)