Ward's Action Plan: Targeted Marketing Could Transform Irish Racing Racing analyst Johnny Ward has outlined a comprehensive marketing approach that could revolutionise attendance at the Curragh's 20-annual race meetings through targeted audience engagement. As outlined on this week's Irish Angle show on YouTube, Ward's plan calls for dedicated promotion of individual race days to specific professional and community groups, suggesting "somebody whose job is to get people to go to each individual meeting." His vision includes legal profession days, GAA club outings, and international business events, with each meeting tailored to attract different demographics throughout the racing calendar. "One day you could attract every legal person from the legal profession - that's your day out. Another day, all the local GAA teams, another day even get people from international applicants," Ward explained. The Curragh Can Pave The Way The strategy emphasises the unique selling points of Curragh racing, including access to champion trainer Aiden O'Brien and opportunities for personal interaction with racing personalities. Ward argues that the Curragh's status as Ireland's only modern racetrack provides a strong foundation for growth, but warns that poor attendance becomes self-perpetuating as empty venues deter future visits. His approach represents a shift from generic marketing to targeted community engagement, recognising that different racecards could appeal to distinct audience segments throughout the year. Watch This Week's Irish Angle on YouTube:
