Matt Dawson is new presenter for Channel Four Racing

(More to racing than meets the eye: Jon Mcririck will present alongside Matt Dawson)

Celebrities are key to Racing's success

What a great idea by Channel Four bosses to introduce ex-rugby player Matt Dawson to the presenting line-up. This afternoon's coverage of the Glorious Goodwood Festival featured Dawson alongside the usual presenters discussing his experiences during his first week in the industry. It was good to hear that racing now has more of an appeal to him than a week or so before Goodwood.

"There are so many things that affect the winner of a race", said Dawson "Before I read the racecard and looked at the form and decided which horse was going to win, but it is about preparations, conditions, how they are in the parade ring".

Dawson has clearly already created positive vibes for horse racing through his addition to the team. Taking celebrities from other sports could be the way to attract younger viewers but imagine the effect someone from the football world would have on younger viewers. Maybe Michael Owen could be approached, with his love for racing this could be an ideal opportunity to attract new audiences.

Ex-snooker player John Parrott is another example of presenters from other sports making the connections for different fans, maybe Ronnie 'The Rocket' O'Sullivan could guest present the Morning Line.

The lack of competition for Channel Four now that the BBC have such limited coverage of the sport suggests they are open to any ideas that may improve audiences of the sport. Of course some of Channel Four Racing's traditional viewers may be pessimistic about new ideas to attract new fans but unfortunately this is what it may take to build larger fan bases.

So, well done Channel Four for making attempts to re-invent the sport and bringing it to a younger audience, what is left to do is the marketing of it at the right times. It helps that the football season is not in the way of a Saturday afternoon just yet. Could it be advertised between episodes of The Simpsons and Hollyoaks midweek? Maybe not just yet. Let's hope Matt Dawson appeals to younger viewers or we may see Homer Simpson costumes in the grandstands.

('DOH' nt' you fancy a day at the races?: Homer may appeal to new fans)

Back Hanagan for Every ride

(Champion?: Hanagan is closer than ever to top jockey)

Paul is Hanagin' on

Maybe a career in tipping racehorses is what I should do, instead of trying to attract potential employers with blogs about racing. After Hanagan's mount Harrison George obliged last week and I had written about it in the last post it is easy to say "I told you so!". But sometimes it isn't so difficult to find that winner this year.

If you had backed all Paul Hanagan's mounts this season from 559 rides so far you would have made a profit of £10.57 for £1 stakes. Not much you might say, but bearing in mind that Ryan Moore and Richard Hughes, the second and third in the championship this year it would have cost £37.94 and £22.16 respectively. The fact that Hanagan appears to like to win on fair priced horses is a good thing for his supporters. Take yesterday for example, while Richard Hughes rode the best horse Hannon has ever trained Canford Cliffs in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in a thrilling event Hanagan was pushing all out on the 10/1 priced Mortitia later in the afternoon.

Interestingly four jockeys, Hanagan, Moore, Hughes and Dettori all have a 20% strike rate this season but Hanagan has had more rides, still, it is the prices that count for the punter. With Hanagan's prize money exceeding £592,ooo and Ryan Moore's amounting to over £2 million it is clear that Hanagan just wants to win, regardless of the prize money, or how important the race may be. Hanagan my still be overlooked somewhat for the major rides in the major races but surely this is all set to change.

With Ryan Moore yet to complete the ban he picked up on Saturday this could leave even more time for Hanagan to surge forward in the championship table. Priced up around 1/2 for the title he will have to maintain the desire to win on every horse he sits on as Ryan Moore creeps ever closer with the winners. The bookmakers suggest Hanagan will win but they are careful to only offer the 6/4 mark for last years champion. However, this week suggest that Richard Hughes is still not out of running with his partnership with Richard Hannon proving deadly so far during this glorious Goodwood meeting.

After the World Cup Horse racing continues to provide a spectacle

(The Italian Job: Frankie Dettori is an ambassador of the sport)

Horse Racing stands proud in the wake of World Cup

Having not updated for a while now it seems fitting to apologise for the somewhat lack of effort in maintaining The Racegoer blog. But excuses could be made following a notable lack of resources on which one can be creative as well as the lack of opportunity in the midst of headlines dominated by the lacklustre performance of 23 Englishmen and their Italian commander.

One Italian should be commended however for the effort he maintains in his and our beloved sport, a sport which will still be building up to the next event and really never fails to be another boring World Cup Saga is one Lanfranco Dettori. At the Curragh tomorrow Frankie climbs aboard Hibaayeb sporting the colours of Godolphin in the Darley Irish Oaks to dispute favouritism with Champion Jockey Ryan Moore aboard Snow Fairy for the home fans and French raider Rosanara ridden by Gerald Mosse. Judging by the performance of the French in the World Cup Rosanara should be left behind leaving Hibaayeb and Snow Fairy to battle it out for the 246,500 Euros. The class of Snow Fairy looks certain to show through having had outings in Listed races and after its success by a neck in the Investec Oaks at Epsom earlier last month under the same jockey it looks the one to beat with Frankie's mount looking to re-enact it's form in the Ribblesdale stakes. The addition of weight to Hibaayeb following that race will tell over the 1 mile 4 furlong event tomorrow but Hibaayeb's confident 3 and a quarter length success suggests an interesting tussle. Otherwise Sir Michael Stoute's runner Eldalil will be hoping to reverse places with Hibaayeb and go one better under Richard Hills.

Back to today Paul Hanagan teams up with trainer Richard Fahey again at Haydock Park in the 8:10 bidding to add to his already impressive haul of 98 winners so far this season. Hanagan's best chance looks to be with Harrison George in the 8:10 and a possible double to take him to the magical hundred could lie with Mighty Clarets an hour later in the 9:10 again for Richard Fahey with the pairing looking good for this years title.

Looking forward to Ascot

(Not so Fab: England rules the media)

Golden Jubilee provides tonic from England hype!


With the media focused on the World Cup at the moment it is difficult for racing to get a look in and any efforts and initiatives pursued by Racing For Change and the British Horse Racing Authority will could be futile during the forthcoming proceedings. With England due to play their first group game this saturday it will be a major ask for anyone to turn there eyes entirely away from the Sport of Kings while Capello and company entertain the nation in one way or another. The cards at York and Sandown suggest good racing but unfortunatley do not provide a good enough switch from world cup football to racing yet instead provide a tonic for those in the population who are already bored with the mention of South Africa.

Instead the racing industry can look forward to Royal Ascot later this monthy, the high profile, high quality Royal meeting this year ensures another thrilling spectacle will take place. Not least of all to anticipate is the Golden Jubilee Stakes where the likes of Paco Boy and Starspangledbanner are entered.

So for those of us out there who cannot muster the same excitement about the England campaign don't worry, because win, lose, draw or penalties, the racing will still be there after the dust has settled, and in the meantime we have Royal Ascot.

Racing For Change Positive Initiative

(Busy: Doncaster Racecourse during free entry week)

Successful Free Racing


Statistics have been released by Racing For Change showing the results of the free racing week. The response appears positive with some 40,000 new spectators going racing. Interestingly however, a list compiled showing the most enjoyable parts of the experience of the races featured 'a fun day out' at the top. This was followed by 'atmosphere' and in third place 'winning' with the actual watching of the races and the horses featuring lower down in list.

Of course another 40,000 spectators at the races during the free week is excellent news and is evidence that the initiatives set by Racing For Change and the British Horse Racing Authority are achieving what they have set out to, and that is to bring racing to newer audience and attract more visitors to this beautiful pastime. Maybe not enough focus is being placed on the actual preparations, the parade ring before a race and the build up to a race. This is evident in the list mentioned above. With 'winning' notching a higher ranking in the list than actually watching the horses run it may suggest people who 'win' at the races are the people more likely to return. That states the obvious of course, who would not return to a place where they have a great day out and take home more money than they left with? But as this is not always the case it is vital in attracting spectators whose focus is not 100 per cent on the betting side of the sport but instead more on the actual event. This is why clear championships should be outlined, clearer seasons marked and adverts featuring jockeys battling it out for the honours should be shown.

Following the questioning of spectators during the free racing week another list was also made suggesting improvements which provides evidence that more information is required in order to attract new viewers. With 57 per cent of people suggesting there was no improvement needed and the next on the list being the amendment to the over pricing of drinks it is clear that this can not be used as informative research on suggested improvements at race courses. The suggestion of more seats and viewing areas is one which could be taken on board by racecourses around the country with easy access to parade rings available. Sometimes by having a cheap area without access to the parade ring such as Uttoxeter as and denying people who can not afford to upgrade to more expensive enclosures this could result in lack of interest.

Ascot racecourse managed to conduct their own survey during the free week and a discovery that many of the spectators came as couples and lived within an hours drive of the course. These are the people who racing should target first, people who live in the immediate and surrounding areas who may spread the word to wider audiences. Maybe another initiative by Racing For Change could be the discount of rail tickets when shown alongside a ticket for the races making travel to course cheaper and more attractive.

Whatever the next incentive is it is sure to attract people, the critics of Racing For Change should look at the publication of the statistics which suggest all is positive in the bid to promote racing and bring it to a new audience.

Flat Jockey's Championship

(Hanagan: This year's Champion Jockey?)

Hanagan fights back gallantly while Ryan Moore goes four winners clear at the top of the jockey's championship

Warrington born Paul Hanagan this week stepped aside made way for Ryan Moore at the head of the Jockey's Championship table. A double at York on Thursday made sure Ryan did not build too much of a lead while a winner aboard Bachelor Knight who returned 5/4 favourite at Ripon yesterday afternoon ensured the Hanagan/Fahey partnership was not finished yet.


When asked how realistic the dream of becoming champion jockey this year was Hanagan said "I don't have any targets really, I just have to take every day as it comes. I've had seasonal aims before but last time I did that I broke my collarbone so you never know what will happen".

Ryan Moore has taken a four winner's lead with 40 for the season over second placed Paul Hanagan on 36 before today's racing with Richard Hughes a closing third on 34. Frankie Dettori (23 winners) and Keiron Fallon (24 winners) have yet to show how great their respective challenges will be this year with ex champion Jamie Spencer (24 winners) also with a chance.


Hanagan goes to Wolverhampton this afternoon and it looks like Jigajig in the Over 1000 Free Bets at Big Tips.co.uk Handicap at 3:40 trained by Kevin Ryan offers the best chance of adding to his tally for the season while Richard Hughes heads to Windsor for the evening meeting where a potential short priced double with Cape To Rio in the Weatherbys Bank Conditions Stakes at 6:40 and Silver Wind in the Sportingbet.com Claiming Stakes at 7:10 looking like the two rides enabling Hughes to draw level on total winners with Hanagan.

(Partners: Paul Hanagan and Richard Fahey are a major threat this season)

(Kelleway: An ambassador for Racing For Change)

"Come Racing, Have fun, that's what racing is all about!"


Today's opening race at York's Dante meeting was won by Primo Lady returning at an uneasy 7/1 after drifting from 9/2 in the markets before the off. Trainer Gay Kelleway was ecstatic after the win "We're all going for a few drink now" she said after being mobbed by the syndicate of male owners. Purchased for a mere £5,000 Primo Lady is the pinnacle of what participant race going is all about. Kelleway said "Come racing, buy a cheap horse, have fun, that's what racing is all about!". Clearly Gay is an ambassador for the sport with her comments aimed towards potential racing enthusiasts. After Primo Lady's victory she could not have been more helpful in pushing the sport. This is what is needed from everyone.


Talking on Wednesday with Paul Hanagan he said all the jockeys are pleased with the initiatives put in place by Racing For Change. They all want to help and so do the backroom staff. It is a shame that it is taking so long to attract these new crowds. Maybe it is the lack of advertising, today before the channel four racing programme started it was introduced by the same person who introduces Big Brother, this is who racing needs to attract the younger crowds. But it needs to be advertised during Hollyoaks on a Sunday morning, or during the Simpson's, but of course this means paying the fee's of prime time advertising.

York published an interview in Wednesday's racecard where it was suggested he was not as much of a celebrity as Frankie Dettori or Keiron Fallon, but by leading the jockey's championship at moment he soon could be. It may be useful for racing to look towards the jockeys in a bid to push the sport, there could be more brief interviews before and after racing, a look into the weighing room, the exitement in the parade ring before a race and a clear tussle for the title of champion jockey advertised all season.


t is well known that human interest stories attract more interest, people are curious about competition, like the race for the premiership last weekend, or the drivers championship in Formula One and last week even the race to Number 10 Downing Street.