Stop Distracting Horses: Why Racecourses Need a Sound Policy Racecourses need to stop playing loud music in the build-up to races as it is too distracting for horses, according to Emma Nagle and Johnny Ward. The pair were discussing the issue on irishracing.com’s Irish Angle show this week, following the Nunthorpe Stakes at the York Ebor Festival. In the build-up to the race where two-year-old Lady Iman was taking on the older contenders, the Ger Lyons-charge seemed visibly startled in the pre-parade ring. It’s Not Just York “I couldn't fault York as a racecourse, it was a brilliant experience from start to finish and a brilliant track,” said Emma Nagle who was at York on the day. “It's not something we just see there. I've been at plenty of race meetings in the last few years where there's been loud music in the prelims and some horses manage it fine, but for a two-year-old filly coming into a race like that, it's a real boiling point. “I don't think you need it in the buildup to a race, with music playing around the parade ring. We have the horses in front of us. “Maybe have someone on the microphone talking about the race. I don't think anyone there would be missing music if they stopped playing it. “If it's upsetting the horses, I don't see the point in it. I saw Lady Iman and she got fairly worked up. I think it was shown on TV as well, which you'd imagine would have had a massive effect on her chances. For a 2-year-old coming into that race, I wouldn't be too happy if I was a connection anyway. “Student racedays are probably the worst of it. I remember I was leading up a horse in Cork last year, walking down near the marquee at the bottom of the stand, fairly close to the parade ring. It was actually like walking into a nightclub, the music was so loud. Luckily enough, most of the horses didn't take too much notice. I've seen people discussing it happening at the Curragh as well, with a marquee near the pre-parade ring. “Do it after racing — play all the music you want — but during the racing while the horses are around, you have to put them first. People should be there watching the horses, not listening to music around the parade ring. “We saw it at Epsom a few years ago as well, where, for some reason, they decided to set off fireworks on the way down to the start for the Derby. It was just lunacy. “I don’t know who’s making these decisions at racecourses. I’m not singling out York because worse has happened elsewhere, but it’s obviously something unnecessary in my eyes. And if it’s affecting a horse’s chances, just turn off the music for a few minutes.” Horses Should Be The Stars “At Downpatrick, they sometimes have a little jazz band near the betting ring and it’s actually lovely, not that loud,” added Johnny Ward. “In Killarney the other week, the first day or two, they had a couple of lads playing Irish trad music and it was nice but it wasn’t that loud. But then on the Saturday ,they had very loud music. “The horses are the stars, they’re the athletes at the racetrack. They don’t deserve to have that. “They shouldn’t have to deal with that. Racecourses, as much as they’re making an atmosphere, need to remember it’s not a music festival — the horses are the stars." Watch The Irish Angle in Full Or Listen To This Week's Show on Spotify
