One of the scourges of modern society, something that has unfortunately infiltrated horse racing, is the popularity of the 'selfie', a cheap, empty exercise which shows a lack of respect for the subject who has been approached.
It's baffling how this craze took off and thrived. For many it is seen as a replacement for the traditional autograph, something which shows much more dignity to the person being converged upon. They can do the deed or refuse - at least they are given full choice. In the case of a selfie, the subject sometimes just finds a camera shoved infront of his face from behind. A total classless act and annoying even just to witness.
Even if asked politely beforehand, it's curious why anyone would consent to something that could be all around the world on social media and could in certain circumstances be manipulated by a Walter Mitty, something which signing a racecard creates no similar worries over - even if the autograph hunter seeks the signature for a little profit on e bay it will still end up in the possession of a genuine fan.
This is not to say that the 'celebrities' of their divisions should be fawned over - in fact in the sport of horse racing the media generally tip toe around them and give them an easier time than the big players in the other prominent sports are afforded.
It would just be more befitting of such a sport that once had so many unwritten customs that were adhered to if it could be spared an ugly trend that does not fit the ambience of which some still associate racing with.
Moreover, just observe the ages of some of the people who are in search of selfies. They are grown adults. Once they have swooped upon their object and come away with their prize, if will then be put on Twitter - all so cringeworthy for why would you want to be photographed with your arm around a stranger's shoulder sporting a laddish type expression as though you are pals.
The selfie taker and 'celebrity' are not buds - so much more preferable to approach in a dignified manner and ask if they would sign your race card. They may oblige, they may not. God only knows what is going on in their lives for they'll have their problems too, they'll have their dying relatives too.
Although autograph hunting was low on my agenda I would get a mighty buzz as a kid obtaining jockey autographs - particularly approaching Pat Eddery as I had become truly obsessed with the sport in Grundy's year and the first racing book I read was ' Pat On The Back', published at the end of it.
From memory, think I was only refused twice by jockeys. Derby winning jockey Ernie Johnson sternly told me to see him later, while miniature lightweight Taffy Thomas cast me a rather contemptuous look then ignored me. On the Saturday that it became certain that Willie Carson would be securing the 1978 jockey's championship hordes of autograph seekers surrounded the weighing room and he was forced to make a run for the paddock otherwise he'd never have got through.
I think my most memorable day in the signature seeking mode was when Solinus won the William Hill Sprint Championship. Have quite a few scribbles on the race card, Pat Eddery, Carson, Eddie Hide, a couple of others, think they may be Jimmy Bleasdale and Brian Taylor.
The only media person I approached was Richard Pitman who on the day Beacon Light beat Monksfield in the Royal Doulton Hurdle signed my card and had a little chat. Although I sought his signature for his exploits as a rider, there would of been a couple of media personalities in the sport in those days whose autographs I would have treasured - compared with now when there would not be a single one of them I'd have the slightest respect for.
Obtaining autographs can likewise be taken over to adulthood as it is not a process that is with the cheap, trashy act of selfie seeking. It would be no surprise if there was a consistency in the characteristics of those taking selfies, that could be separated from the characteristics of those who covet signatures.
Selfie- takers very likely stream their music and would be more likely to mix the order of play rather than respect the track order which the great bands of the late 1960's and 1970's would in general put a great deal of thought into just like the chapters of a book - a strong opening track being essential.
Those of us who despite the selfie revolution but who have an appreciation of autographed material will buy our music for keeps and have an i tunes lifetime bill approaching three thousand quid - alot of the stuff of which we have had and still have on vinyl, and perhaps have had on cassette too, before the inferior, tinny sounding CD revolution had its era.
Irrespective of our thoughts on Apple the i tunes digitalised sound is the only one that surpasses that of vinyl and doesn't scratch! And despite this cheap argument that the artists have enough money already, buying for keeps rather than streaming results in jobs being maintained in the lower ranks of the music industry by normal everyday people.
The selfie brigade have much to answer for and racing would be better off without them.
A classic example of a celebrated album with a strong opening track, released three days before Henry Cecil's Approval won the Observer Gold Cup.
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