The "frustrated at race scheduling" thread

[Euler]

A thread so you can moan here about how bad the scheduling on racing can be. Vent your anger here instead of your monitor or partner!

[Euler]

I'll start with with wonderful scheduling of the two St Leger's just five minutes apart. Lovely.

[andyfuller]

I think I will throw in for today the fact that ATR would sooner show you an interview that they know they won't have time to fit in rather than telling you what is happening with the next race that is nearly 3mins past the off time, then cut to the race once they have jumped and cut the interview off.

Then the ATR presenter has the cheek to moan about the scheduling of races! Get your own house in order first ATR!

[andyfuller]

I'll start with with wonderful scheduling of the two St Leger's just five minutes apart. Lovely.

That wasn't the Irish St Ledger 5mins after the UK one btw. The Irish one was the 15.50 race. But still annoying to have 2 Group 1 races so close together.

[Euler]

Yeah, my mistake. But frustrating all day at the moment.

[chuck536]

ATR are useless, they'd rather tell you all about the less popular race in ireland that starts 5 minutes after donny where all the interest is.... and then when they do switch back just as loading is about to finish that bloody idiot spends the whole time with his constant drivel..... why they even employ that bloke is beyond me, he dont have a clue what hes on about and just talks crap... tbh i begrudge paying the £1 a month to hear his drivel.

[andyfuller]

Back from running a half marathon and thought may as well have a bash at the racing as all I would do otherwise is lie on my bed, missed the first few then first race I am ready for there are no pictures then the next we have 2 races going off at 14.30, why not space them 5 mins apart ffs?

[andyfuller]

You can add to that The Curragh having a Listed race at the same time as Longchamp run a Group 1 - I think my 3 year old nephew could do a better scheduling job!

[payuppal]

Do you think the fact that the races are run in entirely different countries with entirely separate governing bodies, with their own national audience to consider, might have something to do with this?

[andyfuller]

I think a lot of it is just a lack of cooperation between the countries. One country doesn't give a monkey about the others.

The loser is the sport and spectators.

Also it is the lack of common sense. Why have a 5 minute gap between an Irish 3 mile jumps race and a 1m Handicap in the UK and then a 10 minute gap?

What annoys me most is that they could easily sort the situation and I am 100% sure they would get more Levy funding due to increased betting turnover.

But instead they don't get their own house in order and just say we want more for doing nothing more.

[andyfuller]

You have to laugh that there is a 15min gap after what mentioned above and the only thing in that 15mins is an Arab race in France. Promptly followed by a 16.00, 16.05, 16.10, 16.15 (Group 3) and 16.20 Group 3 in France

Some one really should be sacked

[payuppal]

There are 14 race meetings in France today; perhaps the French racing authorities, who have no connection with the English, or the Irish, were considering these when scheduling Longchamp?

[andyfuller]

They do all have many connection.

But I am not blaming the French specifically, but why couldn't Goodwood be run 5 mins later at 15.40 rather than 15.35 that way there would have been no clash. The Curragh could have stuck with 15.45. Then Ffos Las could have run the 16.00 at 15.55 which was a flat race, Listowel could have then run at 16.00 for their 2m 4f race, then kept Goodwood at 16.10 so there was no clash and then run the Group race at the Curragh at 16.15 or 16.20 and clash with Longchamp or if it fitted the French racing run the French race at 16.25.

Really isn't that difficult, you can't always avoid clashes but with the above you would avoid most and mean people could get a bet on the next race after seeing if they won or not on the previous race. In turn leading to increased Levy and increased funding for the sport.

But instead we just had Listowel finish when Goodwood was in its final 2 furlongs which led to just 3 mins build up for a Group 3 in Ireland

[andyfuller]

It would also be a big step forward if they could do away with the stupid 'rule' that races have to go off at either 5 or 10 min gaps.

Why can't they have a 16.23 rather than a 16.20, it works perfectly well in Oz so why it can't be used else where is beyond me.

[payuppal]

Perhaps because the racing authorities are considering the needs of their own racing public, not of an exchange from which they derive no benefit?

Just a thought.