Leave Thurles alone!
Written by what the Field calls “Our Racecourse Spy’’, he or she went to the track on Sunday, December 23 and then produced a review of what was on offer.
It didn’t make for pleasant reading as the facilities — or rather the lack of them — got a right hammering.
The heading on the article said: ‘Thurles needs a touch-up’ — to which my immediate response was — why?
Listen, there was nothing in this that was in any way new and the hard core of punters who flock to Thurles repeatedly throughout the winter, are well aware of the shortcomings of the place.
Yes, we’d like it if there was a trifle more luxury on offer, if the toilet facilities were better and the places to eat more comfortable. Mind you, the food there is rather impressive.
But if such improvements were to arrive on the back of ‘progress’ then here’s one who would like to scream it from the rooftops: leave Thurles alone.
There is a culture within certain sections of racing right now — and has been for a long time — that seem to believe the way forward for the game is improved facilities and then, once you get the punters inside, doing something which enhances the race-day experience.
Seriously, who hasn’t had more than his fill of the idiots who think that every waking moment of this so-called race-day experience has to be filled with some sort of razzmatazz or other?
Take Leopardstown at Christmas, for instance. The racing was terrific, but the unnecessary noise that was constantly foisted on an unsuspecting public was savage.
All day, every day, at least for the three I was there, we were subjected to a constant barrage of endless waffle, often booming throughout the enclosures. Happiest moment was finally getting out of there on the Friday night.
Do the people who make these decisions — that the silences have to be filled — ever go racing anywhere else?
Then you have those student days that have become popular at certain racecourses. The idea here seems to be to catch them when they’re young and back they’ll come. It’s complete bullshit, of course. Once they’ve qualified most of them will be forced onto a plane and out of the country.
The student days basically amount to an orgy of drink, peeing — both male and female — in public and weaving your car between numerous drunks as you leave the particular track.
Anyway, facilities are the most over-rated commodity in Irish racing. Those of us who were weaned on point-to-points couldn’t give a toss about them, as long as they are adequate.
Last Thursday many hundreds again flocked back to Thurles. Given what is going on at a number of racecourses in this country, it was an absolute pleasure to be there.
This was all about racing, all about what was going on out on the track, yet another opportunity to see mighty men doing what they do best.
It was delightfully peaceful and utterly invigorating. No effort was made to enhance the experience and the experience was all the better for it.
The atmosphere was natural, created by proper racing men and women. Punters and bookmakers alike could carry out their business, free from any sort of assault on their senses.
Oh, and what would a major facelift do for Thurles? Would it add a hundred customers at the gate?
Such ‘progress’ would certainly come at a price. Imagine some marketing or public relations person being afforded the power to change things.
Oh God, it doesn’t bear thinking about. Right now Thurles, a track that has no pretensions to grandeur, is like an oasis in the desert. I’ll say it one more time: leave Thurles alone.
And referring back to the Irish Field article, the timing of it surely left plenty to be desired, considering that the Molony family, who own the racecourse, have certainly endured a harrowing couple of months.
Are we crazy to still think Sir Des Champs capable of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, after he could only manage fourth behind Tidal Bay at Leopardstown?
His jumping really was disappointing and it was something of a miracle he was eventually beaten less than length.
But I haven’t lost faith, at least not entirely, but will be looking for a much-improved effort come the Hennessy, back at Leopardstown.
And then there’s Hurricane Fly, who again impressed when winning the Istabraq Hurdle at Leopardstown a week ago.
I know there are those who say he only did what was to be expected and that’s fair comment.
But, in contrast to last season, the horse has been electric in his two outings this campaign and does look to be back to his best.
