Observing the Chester May meeting via TV, it was clear from the paddock shots that the crowd looked down on what would normally be expected. I chuckled at this sight. And these visual impressions were backed up by the facts - the crowd for the whole three days was an eye popping third down compared to the corresponding three days in 2019, the last time it was staged pre covid.
Many of us maturing racing fans have fond memories of a Chester racecourse with a gentler atmosphere, when the actual racing racing was the focus point. I first visited on the day Mr Bigmore won the Summer Handicap in 1976 and would never have believed that I would one day take delight at misfortunes suffered by this historic venue.
Attempting to pinpoint when Chester racecourse began to turn from class to trash involves some subjective guessing but the signs were there as you moved towards the late eighties. It was certainly evident in the nineties, the decade when there was an increasing trend up and down the country to target the party racegoers who'd pack the bars all day long.
In the noughties the changes took hold at an increased tempo, all days being theme days, then soon after the likes of the Chester May meeting and York's Dante and Ebor fixtures moved forward a day to take advantage of the cult attendees increasing availability the closer to the weekend the race days fell.
Chester became too big for it's boots once the noughties arrived, becoming almost unbearable as recent time progressed.Tatts was no more the home of the normal racing fans who sought a day of visiting the paddock, placing a bet and watching the action. It had become a second club enclosure, for the suited and groomed, but with only a secondary interest in the racing, meaning a day watching the action from the centre field enclosure became more preferable - even though you have to endure that irritant, endless, waffling voice reverberating from the speakers.
My last visit was on the day the hugely talented but ill fated Sir Dragonet stormed home in the Vase. I intended to go into Tatts, unaware they had seen fit to bring in, out of the blue, a strict dress code, no doubt having become pretentious enough to change the long established status of Tatts, a domain for keen racegoers who don't want to go in the club enclosure, are most comfortable in casual attire, and for the real genuine fans, having access to the paddock - something that had long been the norm at all courses.
I arrived well over an hour before the opener. The gates were quiet and as I pulled out the cash to purchase my ticket I was met by four gate staff, three male, one female, all in the 40 - 60 age group, none of them the most friendly looking individuals.
"Unbutton your jacket", one of them demanded. Surprised because this had never happened to me before entering Chester's Tattersalls enclosure, and despite appearing what I would class as smart casual quickly, I was not in the mood for protest thus made a quick decision to opt for the Dee Enclosure, the entrance conveniently being at the same location.
"Show me what's in your pockets", another of the four ordered. On producing a home made ham cob I was offered the choice of eating it right then on the spot or binning it - I chose the latter as it was meant for later to avoid being ripped off by the ' Carvery' or whatever fancy name they apply to the just average in quality food stands whose vendors admittedly pay trumped up charges and would have been hit hard the other week.
Finally, as I entered through the gate the character handing me back my portion of the ticket, cautioned, "make sure you keep hold of that because if you're asked to produce it inside and don't have it, you'll be told to leave." As I descended the steps, already befuddled, I heard the eldest of the four declare, "they think they can just turn up."
Well, switch the clock forward just a few years and we have the same venue now on the verge of pleading with the masses to 'just turn up' as a third of their attendees have had their fill of ridiculous entry fees, (particularly at the weekend meetings that host relatively mediocre cards), overpriced drink and food, arrogant staff, and an overall trashy ambience.
What is so tickling about this recent development is that these falling numbers are made up predominantly of the cult attendees whom Chester and numerous other courses went out if their way to court, happy for them to replace the traditional racing fans
Those racing fans will not be returning in any meaningful number. Moreover, the prioritised cult attendee numbers won't be on the increase again. In fact their numbers will for sure continue to shrink. Remember, they fit the profile that other sectors of the entertainment industry will be seeking to entice. And as the actual racing is not the core interest of these attendees, then the likes of an outdoor beer festival would be capable of diverting many away from the course as a venue such as Chester could not compete on a cost level, and even it's cheapest spot, the course enclosure, would offer little in rivalry.
The bubble has finally burst with little help on hand to ease the casualties. We can have a good guess which venues will sail through with limited damage, while also having a list of those who could be close to locking the gates for good. Chester will no doubt survive but will cease to be the Chester Race Company Ltd's cash cow it had become since the turn of the century. It's self inflicted and something to rejoice over.
This was high up in the charts in the week Sea Pigeon won the first of his two Chester Cups in 1977, when race days were designed primarily for racing fans.
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