Which side are you on? Racing Victoria or Racing New South Wales? 30 minutes, or 40?
Racing Victoria and the Melbourne Racing Club decided to go it alone for the second Saturday in a row, scheduling their races only 30 minutes apart, taking clock ownership of the hour and half hour slots.
With the Caulfield races disrupting the normal schedule, the gaps between Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide races were all over the place, but they were roughly around the traditional 40-minute mark.
I was at Caulfield on Saturday to experience the 30-minute gap first hand. I applaud any initiative to try something different in racing, and the Melbourne Racing Club is to be applauded for leading the way in this country with progressive thinking. I’m proud to be a member. But personally, the 30-minute gap between races didn’t work for me.
It may well be that is in the best interests of the sport overall, and if it turns out to be the case, I’ll have to suck it up.
It must be said that the 30-minute gap test was a compromised experience given there was no buy-in from the other three states, so it’s hard to gain a true measure of what a real day would feel like.
Going to the races, which I do probably 10-12 times a year, is very much a social experience for me. I enjoy a drink and a chat, as well as doing last-minute race analysis, putting on quaddies and a couple of Big 6’s.
As a general rule, I’ll have a bet on every race in Melbourne, probably five or six races in Sydney, and maybe one or two in Adelaide or Brisbane. Going from inside between Caulfield races, outside to watch the race, getting a drink at the bar, a few toilet stops, a conversation with mates or running into an old friend – time gets pretty tight at 40-minute gaps, let alone 30.
And on the weekend you had instances where there was only a few minutes between racing in Melbourne and Sydney. Sometimes seconds. I didn’t even get my regulation quaddie on in time. Because of those extra shaved minutes? It didn’t help.
One of the arguments from 30-minute supporters is pointing to Friday night racing, be it at Moonee Valley or Cranbourne in Victoria, or Canterbury in New South Wales.
The difference is that there is only one other thoroughbred meeting on, and sometimes none. Also, the fields are generally smaller, and the quality inferior, so there is less form study to be done, and you can often put a quick line through a good portion of the field.
The success of T20 cricket has been the driving factor for other sports to investigate shorter versions of their own. The problem with the 30 minute gap is that it’s not actually enough of a drastic change.
A game of T20 takes 9% of the time of a Test match. It is 40% of the time of a one-day international. There’s a huge difference.
By taking 10 minutes off the gap between Saturday races, you’re shaving 80 minutes from a 380 minute day, from first race to last. The day becomes 80% of its usual length. It’s not enough of a difference to attract a “time poor” new audience.
If racing wants to trial a proper shortened version, it would schedule a day of five races 30 minutes apart. That’s a two hour day instead of five hours. Now you’re talking a measurable difference.
But of course that won’t happen, because the other measurable difference would be the most costly, to turnover and revenue. We can kiss that goodbye as an idea.
The aim of the Victorian racing clubs is to get more people back to the track. Of course, the challenge lies in the fact that Melbourne doesn’t get voted the world’s most liveable city because there’s nothing to do on the weekend.
Some people love their footy, but still only go five or six times a year. So how are you going to get casual racing fans to the track more often? Or the party crowd more than once in carnival time? It seems like an impossible task.
But Racing Victoria is to be commended for being agents of change. For thinking outside the square, and trying something new. Perhaps my experience is in the minority, and if so, that’s okay. I’m happy to be outvoted.
In fact, it’s a no-brainer that all non-Saturday meetings should have 30 minutes gaps. And all non-metropolitan Saturday meetings too, for that matter. But for where the biggest crowds go, and for the races that drive the most turnover, 40 minutes should remain.
My fear is that 30-minutes gaps between Saturday city races will alienate the currently faithful racing fans, but not bring in any new ones. The worst of both worlds.
Razzar
Guest
The 1.30 start coiuld be a deterrent to actually go to say caufield. Last Saturday 13th. My local the Atherton rd tab was absolutely packed. Only 4 or so train stops form Caufield. So is the stupid 1.30 start turning off punters venturing Heath-bound?
andrew
Guest
word is the trial may continue. if its not bad enough we are running the aust giuneas on the same day as the randwick guineas they might even jump less than 5 mins apart.
Razzar
Guest
If the 4 major States did agree to half hour splits. Sydney is likely to clash with provincial Victoria. Adelaide could clash with Gold Coast . And Newcastle Or Kembla is likely to clash with Melbourne. Things never run so smoothly to avoid this on A Saturday. Maybe if we change the length of the minute, maybe out to 90 seconds. Hey that might help?
MJ
Guest
Should be 30 minutes with the schedule every half hour looking as follows.... 00: Melbourne/Sydney (alternating Saturdays) 05: Perth (Gold Coast/NSW/Vic provincial can take this slot until they start) 10: Brisbane 15: Melbourne/Sydney 20: Adelaide 25: Provincial (Gold Coast/NSW/Vic alternating every Saturday) Any other meeting can be shunted to Sky 2 where they realistically belong (if anyone sees the need to bet on a meeting in some location in NSW that only gets coverage because Sky wants to stick it up Victoria they really must be desperate to get out of trouble). As for the jocks/trainers, if many can dash from Gatton or another meeting in the Darling Downs in time for a Toowoomba twilight meeting then being presed for time isn't an issue. Revenues being down isn't an excuse either, most of the revenue is lost to corporates and Betfair rather than being placed on the tote. The only issue I can see with this is that it may need revision for Group 1 races which are probably the only races that deserve a longer buildup.
Cameron Rose
Expert
A scathing attack there, and perhaps it's justified. I don't have the answers to those questions, and purely as a punter they don't really worry me either. My experience is the one I worry about the most. Given we've got some farcical clashes coming up, Justin Cinque and I have put our heads together to come up with a national racing calendar, which we'll be writing about in a couple of weeks. It doesn't hurt to dream.
Cameron Rose
Expert
A minority I'd imagine Glen. If they love horse racing that much, they've been doing so with 40 minute gaps all this time.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I understand them going out on their own to trial 30 mins since the other clubs wouldn't jump on board.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
The 30 minute window is a good idea. However, arrogance came to the fore. How many clubs in Victoria were consulted? Do the provincial clubs on a Saturday enjoy the clashes with metro meeting and the resulting affect on turnover? Was the company that pours $350 million into Racing Victoria consulted? Did they have ideas to grow turnover? Were race club members and patrons consulted? Did they test to see what impact it will have on turnover, or did they just assume it? Racing Victoria think everybody wants their product. They don't. Punters primary venue of choice is their home state. Racing Victoria is desperately looking to generate viewers to their channel, which is bleeding money. Like a national racing calender, this should have gone to the board of the ARB first. Bring the other states on board, work with them. Trial it midweek, see how it works, what impacts it has on turnover. But no, God's gift to racing think they are above everybody else
glen
Guest
I guess for those people who like horse racing but have no interest in gambling the shorter break would be better. Less idle time doing nothing.
Mike from tari
Guest
I felt sorry for the punters at the pubs & clubs in Qld, at a few times during the day NSW, Vic & Qld races were 5 minutes apart, the line up at the TAB counters meant many people could not get their bets on, there was a lot of animosity towards Vic racing, Saturday will not work with 30 minute racing & Vic Racing should negotiate instead of shoving it down everyone's throat.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
I agree completely and that's what I'd do. However, I wouldn't have the courage to tell the people that run the provincials that's what I'm doing, and that's why I'm not an administrator.
andrew
Guest
nathan - my view is that perhaps we should have 'less' racing on saturday. i think if we just raced in the 5 capitals on sat, that would be fine. you can do 30min gaps and show them all on sky 1. racing vic can show all the extended covereage on their extra channel. i do not think we need all the provincal racing on sat (happy for the picnic meetings to continue, they have nothing to do with tv coverage). and then - on sunday - you can load up the meetings and run whatever you like. there are no important provincal meetings run on saturdays. alll country cups are on sunday (or mid-week). basically, i am saying make saturday the day for low quantity and high quality (you might actually get more turnover) and make sunday the day for high quantity and low quality.
andrew
Guest
will - i think you already this. sit at home and watch sky and self serve from your fridge
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
My ideal day starts at 10am with 54 races at 10 minute intervals ending at 7pm. And no beer queues. And plenty of winners.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
For such a simple concept it really is quite complicated. Really though, it's not as though the main meetings in Sydney and Melbourne ever need to compete, but it's all about the time for broadcasting at lesser meets. 30 mins is fine to space out Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and, later in the day, Perth, if everyone organizes themselves. What it does crowd out are provincial meetings at places like Gold Coast, Newcastle etc. Victoria don't seem to care too much because they can run their second meeting on their own channel, but other states have to get shafted to Sky 2 for it to work in the long term. At this time of year though, it's also complicated by the fact there is usually one or two feature races at Sydney and Melbourne each week that tend to be scheduled at similar times (around 4.30 on Saturday). It wasn't too bad on Saturday, but at this time of year we often get an hour earlier in the day of 2yo racing from both states with little exposed form. I've always felt these sort of days are slow at the start of the day then there's a quick rush of important races toward the end of the day. Maybe the provincials need to have better races early and then accept being put back onto Sky 2 for 900m maidens later in the day. Personally, I preferred the 35 minute gap in the UK to the 40 minute gaps here, but I really don't think it matters that much.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I haven't been to Sydney races for a while, but I do seem to recall it was always hardest on Slipper day. I'll be hitting day 2 of The Championships in a couple of months though, looking forward to that.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Sounds like you're the opposite of Andrew, Bondy. Half the people probably want it to start later (I'm mainly thinking of parents with young kids here), the other half probably want it to end earlier. My ideal day would be nine races, 40 minute gaps, the first at 12.20pm, the last at 5.40pm.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Nice balanced commentary Andrew. I missed out on a couple of TF opportunities. Interstate I generally like to be betting late anyway, so it was more that I didn't bet at all because of the timeframe. I hear your comments about the late start to the day, but I personally like the long day. In terms of betting turnover, you'd think there would be a rise on those first two races because of it, so that's a positive. I doubt they would implement the disjointed 30/40 gaps, that would create a very unhappy base.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Hmmmm... not sure I can even remember the last time you ordered a round at the races!
Bondy
Guest
I have to mention I wish the races actually started a lot earlier than they do its 1.30 pm first race and then they're trying to keep your attention for close to 6.00 pm . I agree somewhat with the theory thrown around of the races starting and ending between 12 -4 pm, that would be great ...