The latest fad in racing is to run the feature race as the last race of the meeting, an endeavour which has generally been accepted.
However, there comes a time where common sense should be employed – and I think it’s missing on Friday night at Moonee Valley.
The Moir Stakes, a fascinating race featuring the likes of Buffering, Bel Sprinter, Snitzerland, Moment of Change and Epaulette being run at Group 1 level for the first time on Friday night, is the last race on the Moonee Valley card and will be run at 10pm.
That’s right, a Group 1 race is being run at 10pm! Are they serious?
Running a Group 1 race at 10pm at night seems to be sheer lunacy. You want your feature race to be at the prime time for the majority of your audience, and I’m not sure how this could be the case with the Moir Stakes.
When it’s a day meeting, the last race of the card has many positives and only a few drawbacks.
Having experienced Caulfield a few weeks ago, when the Memsie Stakes was the last race on the card, I found it to be an apt way to finish a raceday.
The atmosphere was electric, and although it did seem a bit flat when there was nothing to follow the Memsie, I still felt it was a success.
I was then able to experience the last race phenomenon as an at-home punter with the running of the Underwood Stakes last Saturday.
I actually found it less comfortable off-course, as it feels like there should be more to the day beyond the feature race.
This is most likely an effect of conditioning – we’re used to the feature race being followed by lesser races, and so it feels uncomfortable when that’s not the case.
Still, though, it seemed successful – everything built up to the feature, and the Underwood Stakes was a fitting finale to what was in effect a spring preview card.
The common theme between the Memsie and the Underwood, apart from the obvious fact that both are run at Caulfield, was that the last race fit perfectly into an afternoon. Audiences were optimised, and it was at a perfect time to suit both the racing fan and the casual gambler.
I can’t see how that’s the case at 10pm on a Friday night. Many racing fans will be otherwise occupied – watching other sports, heading out on the town, simply using the chance to unwind after a tough week.
It’s not overly late, but it is late enough to suggest that it will impact on viewers. And really, at this time of year, we should be encouraging every viewer we can get!
The other problem with not running the race at the perfect time to suit the audience, from a wagering perspective, is turnover.
As much as non-punters would like to think otherwise, turnover drives the industry and is a crucial factor in race programming.
Turnover figures will tell the story, and it wouldn’t surprise to see a drop in turnover based on the same race last year.
What do you think? Will you be watching the Moir Stakes at 10pm, or do you have better things to do on a Friday night?
AJ
Guest
I understood that the primary motivation for programming the feature at the end of the day was to panhandle to the asian markets. A race at 10pm here is at 8 in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia etc. That puts it in the middle of the Kranji or Sha Tin card and maximises overseas revenues. It also raises exposure to G1 Australian racing. I heard some VRC rep offer this rationale. Anyway, Friday night was great. The Friday cards can be a little bland from time to time, but with a couple of genuinely strong races it was the perfect way to spend the night - Schooners, Footy & Gallops after work. One down side - My significant returns on Vatican and Blackie were somewhat diminished when my Qld heart (and mild intoxication) overwhelmed me at 9:56pm. If only the Group 1 was earlier and I might have made wiser decisions! hahaha Poor Buffering. Was a tough weekend to make a sustained run - relentless sporting bombardment...Gratefully it finished with a Bigbang.
Justin Cinque
Expert
In comparison, Perth is partying at the news. Prime time!
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Can you imagine what time it will be for punters in New Zealand who want a punt on the major event. 1.00am?
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Andrew, I recall reading an article after So You Think won his first Cox Plate as a 3-y-o in 2009. As the post race celebrations swept into full swing a band started up loudly fretting So You Think. While the attendant calmed the colt down, champion trainer Bart Cummings surveyed the chaotic scenes around him & remarked, "They never think of the horses." They never think of the horses. So there you have it, straight from the mouth of the greatest thoroughbred trainer ever seen in Australia or New Zealand.
Sam Kelly
Guest
If a 10pm finish on a Wednesday isnt a late for State of Origin then how is a 10.02 finish late for racing? Looking forward to seeing the outcome and hope to see you all out there!
rich argh
Guest
Can't wait...What a way to kick off Friday pm Thoroughbred season !
simonjzw
Roar Pro
I agree James. When the feature race is the last race the only people who hang around are the those that backed the winner. Everyone else scarpers off to get out of the carpark early or beat the rush to the first available public transport. There's no opportunity to reflect at the bar - discuss the rides, where to from here etc. The feature race should be no later than the 2nd last race. And if its a night meeting then no later than the prime time window of 8.30am to 9.30am. How many kids would have seen Black Caviar's MV triumph earlier this year if it had been held at 10.00pm?
Haradasun
Roar Rookie
Lunacy. I'm not sure that having the feature race as the last of the day has been accepted at all either.
Drew H
Guest
Remember to declare any late gear changes to the stewards. Blinkers off, winkers on.
dsc
Guest
I've never heard anyone complain about Gr.1 harness races taking place at or around 10pm - what's the difference here? Also, consider that the alternative is to run it during the NRL Prelim. Final (or hope that the could time it to run at half-time).
Mike from tari
Guest
Obviously the Yarra Yabbies don't care about the rest of Australia, the average punters in Qld go to the TAB to have a bet & watch the races,TABs will be closed at that time so the turnover in Qld will be down, the race should be on earlier, I'll be watching the footy.
Sam Kelly
Guest
I'm 23 so I'm many many years away from children. The club is simply trialling this to bring in extra money and you cannot blame them for that. It will only be permanent if it works. As an industry we need to keep trying to find new ways to bring in money and in the past, racing has been resistant to change. I haven't heard anyone talk about a VRC/MVRC merger for years and that's down to their successful promotion of night racing. My mates only bet on a Friday night (apart from Guineas Day - Stakes Day) and this is the demographic (20-30 with lots of disposable income) they are targeting. So give it a go and if it doesn't work then at least we know first hand.
Bondy
Guest
Sam If your content with a 10pm start then why not 10.50 pm or perhaps 11.10 pm why not ??. I think the overall point to the article is why "start " a sporting event closer to midnight than midday. Can you really envisage taking your children to the races at 8.00pm ??? . Just a very weird practice that won't catch on.
Sam Kelly
Guest
I have no issue with the time personally and I'm not too sure what the issue is? The preliminary final between Geelong and Hawthorn ended after 10pm. State of Origin finishes at 10pm on a school night. I think it's great they are trialling it and if the trainers and jockeys don't mind let's get behind it.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Yeah, common sense has been thrown out the window on this one! If they had any sense, they would have programmed it for half-time in the only other major sporting event of the evening - the NRL Preliminary Final. Although Melburnians may not care about it, that sort of programming would have maximised exposure in NSW. I'll be trying to watch though. Depends on what time the footy finishes.
Bondy
Guest
A lot of sports nowadays are catering for themselves first and consumers second and sports will pay the price (tote pools) this has been going on for years. What racing fails to understand is that people dont love horse racing like they love other sports, you put a Grp 1 race on a 10pm and the nation simply does not care. Catering for the afl also has wrecked a decent weekends racing for mine.