I AM back to a regular chestnut of mine, inspired to write about the subject again by an article I read in Mark Johnston’s wonderful Kingsley Klarion.

In his own column he rightly condemns the violent scenes that were recently witnessed at some of the smarter racecourses in England, incidents that we mercifully seem to largely avoid here in Ireland.

Mark is concerned that racecourses are obsessed with selling food, drink and music ahead of racing, leading to a situation he believes where many racegoers, even a majority at times, pay little or no attention to the sport itself. He goes on to say: “In short, they have sought to attract a new audience to racecourses but not to racing.”

He has a valid point. Mark does go on to make what I believe is the most important point later in the piece, and one that I have been bleating on about for ever. “Nobody has sought to cultivate any interest in racing or sell the idea to them.”

There is one area that Mark and I may have different opinions about, but I believe it is something that racing could turn to its advantage. There are many different ways to attract people through the turnstiles, be it music, fashion or others. The problem, and the solution, rests with the fact that we do not use the opportunity to full effect, and we should.

By all means bring newcomers to the races by any method, but they are not going to be instantly attracted to the sport of racing, unless we introduce them to it. There are many mentions by Mark of ‘demystifying’ and ‘dumbing down’ racing. What we must accept is that a newcomer to racing will have no understanding of the sport if it is not explained to them.

When did you last see a booth at the races where someone could go to ask for guidance or information? Do racecards carry explanations about what is happening? I am pointing a finger at racing in general, and on a global scale, for not promoting itself properly.

Attendances at race meetings around the world are under pressure; the phenomenon is not just an Irish problem. It will not right itself, and without a real engagement by the sport’s promoters and participants we could just find ourselves watching the tide ebb away. The time to build the dam and reverse the flow is today.