On Course Attendances

[yam]

Ive been going to the Thorougbreds, Harness, and Greyhound racing since the mid seventies in Australia
The most noticeable difference is the attendances, gone are the days of many a punter, numerous Bookmakers and an abundance of Tote staff
Courses used to have atmosphere and excitement as you could hear punters screaming for thier investments to win, cheer when they won, jeered when they lost.
Bookies and thier staff would try to entice punters to invest with them, and you had the bagmen calling out the bets, and in turn the Sheets clerks frantically recording the bets
That was the helter skelter of racecourses in the yesteryear

Whats happened in Australia ?
Off course technology has superceded the on course
Off course Totes was the first dent, the paramutiels started in earnest in the mid sixties
Attendances slowly but surely diminished from that point
There were several other reasons for the demise, people had more entertainment, Television, for example kept people home

On course Bookies in the 90s were allowed to accept telephone bets, that kept ahrd core of punters away

The almost now extinction of the oncourse came with the advent of the Internet Bookies, people can now bet from the luxury of thier house
The variation of betting types with the Corps is simply amazing
Pay TV brings more sporting events to our homes, we can view races, watch sports from all over the planet at the flick of the switch

Is this happening quickly worldwide ?
Will race clubs ever be able to entice the crowds back ?

I fear not, I for one have become a loungeroom Lizard

[gonobetgo]

It is a pity. I had fun at the Greyhounds in the past, got out of the habit of going - now I do things online or by phone...

[jamdam]

Ever since the high street bookies got their claws into British greyhound racing nearly 40 years ago the sport has jumped to their command. Sadly now a pale imitation of what it once was.

[cmcrick1980]

I was gutted when Walthamstow Dog Track closed down not that long ago. An absolutely brilliant stadium and atmosphere, I used to love it as a night out with family and friends, even though I have never been a big punter, I still enjoyed doing my 50p forecasts on the Tote every race! If I came out evens or better it was just an extra bonus.

[robberbutton]

I was gutted when Walthamstow Dog Track closed down not that long ago. An absolutely brilliant stadium and atmosphere, I used to love it as a night out with family and friends, even though I have never been a big punter, I still enjoyed doing my 50p forecasts on the Tote every race! If I came out evens or better it was just an extra bonus.

I was just about to mention that! It was just down the road from me

[cmcrick1980]

I was just about to mention that! It was just down the road from me

Wow we may have been neighbours.

[robberbutton]

Lol, small world have you left the delights of East London then?