Naturally I was disappointed with my draws for the July but what was even more disappointing was in which the manner the whole event, if you could even call it that, was held.
Joey Ramsden – draws were rushed
Joey Ramsden writes that to have each trainer pulled out and let draw all their runners was utterly ridiculous.
When two trainers have 9 of the 20 runners it doesn’t bode well for the rest of us.
It was quite obviously conducted this way so as to rush through for the tv audience but it hardly left much of a show for those that did bother to turn up.
Each trainer was rushed up, rushed through and rushed off.
I couldn’t believe when I read people praising the location and the huge crowd, I must have been at a different shopping centre!
We were stuck under a dingy staircase out the front of H&M, not even at their major sponsors, Vodacom, shop. There were trees obstructing everyone’s view, not enough chairs to house the relevant trainers let alone any poor sod walking past. It generated absolutely zero interest from passers by, none, nada, zip.
Again in this country we act as though we are reinventing the wheel when it comes to draws and entertainment.
Why not steal a few ideas from countries who get it right!? We could make it a big lunch event in the week leading into the July and pair it with a call of the card.
Instead we are made to accept two weeks in advance – I’ll need another column to express my displeasure at such early acceptances – and we’re left with this lacklustre draw.
The Tuesday before July day would be a great time to host such a lunch, internationals are already in town, owners are starting to make the pilgrimage and who knows if you make a success of it people might start to factor the lead up lunch, barrier draw and call of the card into their schedules.
July Gallops – were a success (Pic – Candiese Marneiwck Photography)
The July gallops were truly a credit to those involved in organising it – it was fantastic to see so many people there and it just shows there is demand for lead up events to the big race day.
Surely we can all see it for what it is and try to do better.
My draws aside, the day will go down as a disappointment and a missed opportunity all round.
I could have done better – but by golly so could they.
