When this corner started out, it was the issue of racecourse attendances that slapped it in the arse and got it roaring. Any number of grievances got aired and plenty doom-laden forecasts were made about Ireland’s racecourses becoming deserted. And all of it remains relevant. But are things bottoming out? (more…)

Not unreasonably, Horse Racing Ireland put the best side out last week when announcing their 2011 statistics. And in the circumstances a rise in overall attendance figures is something worth plugging. But putting that at the top couldn’t disguise some mostly grisly reading underneath. (more…)

Some professions should not be entered into if you like popularity. Nobody for instance likes a clamper, or a tax official, or a lawyer, or indeed a reporter. In racing terms, it’s the bookie who’s the easy-fit bad guy. But there’s one role guaranteed to trump even bookie in terms of unpopularity and that’s steward. Or at least it should be. (more…)

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As an exercise in futility the indignation generated by Betfair’s “in-running” cock-up takes a helluva lot more beating than Voler La Vedette did. But what it has done is reinforce some age-old punting realities that have damn all to do with ‘apps’ or ‘bots’ or any amount of modern gambling gadgetry. (more…)