IN the aftermath of a Cheltenham Festival that really ticked every box in showcasing the sport and the feel-good satisfaction boxes, it was a bit of back to reality with a mid-week card in Britain at Sedgefield mustering just 32 runners over six races. And a controversial unseated rider incident that didn’t exactly show racing in a good light.

It was strange – or maybe it wasn’t – to see that, even after Cheltenham, many people still hold the opinion that racing exists primarily for betting purposes.

ITV’s Richard Hoiles suggested racing should capitalise on the Cheltenham good feeling by focusing on three core elements.

In response, some insist that without betting, virtually no one would watch racing. It’s betting in positions 1, 2, and 3.

AK@AKBets87

1. BETTING

2. Betting

3. Betting

4. Isn’t she a lovely horse

I expect it is more a male, social media opinion, off a platform where you nowadays find an endless stream of professional punters and pundits.

But racing is more than a male pastime and goes beyond a “look at my lovely horse” interest for a great many.

While the statement above by bookmaker Anthony Kaminskas may reflect the views of 99.5% of males, a review of the demographic of the top 15 most read stories on our website during Cheltenham showed a 70/30 split between male and female.

Probably 10 of the 15 were tipping pieces with Honeysuckle’s emotional success gaining traction along with some pre-Cheltenham feature pieces.

Born into it

For me, and probably for most people who come to love racing without being born into a racing family, racing and betting did initially appear side by side.

The Grand National was the big thing and brought added novelty if the adults asked you to pick a horse, which they’d back for you, and you had the prospect of winning money as well as the excitement of a big sporting occasion. Perhaps it was even because of the random nature of the National, even then you knew you did not need specialist knowledge to participate in the adults’ betting world.

Grew interest

But from that grew the interest. Many at the core of racing are not regular gamblers, although the gambling element does of course create more interest at bigger meetings.

It would be my belief that 60% watch for enjoyment with betting secondary, followed by the 40% tuning in just for the betting.

You can appreciate a great race, or a great sporting occasion, without betting. You can look at a race, pick who you want to win, who you think will win, and not have a bet. You can be happy for certain connections and be less so for others. Racing currently does suffer from less ‘stars’ of the equine variety. Strangely, I might recognise more horses from a 1980 Grand National than today’s.

If you like sport you will be drawn to the drama of it. Why would Irish people have such an affinity to some of the lesser Premier League, even Championship sides, that have little hope of ever winning big?

Why would you not do the same with racing, for the love of the sport and the characters within it, but with the option of every now and again having a few bets, even to the degree of having a couple each weekend but leaving it aside mid-week?

Consider any sport - darts, snooker, tennis - where the attraction is not primarily betting. Why would winning and losing and going head-to-head on the racetrack be any different?

Breeders, owners, stable staff, trainer and irders - as well as most female fans - are not in the game for betting, even if they participate at times.

Florian@prohorseracing

You can love racing AND bet?

I bet with serious intent. At the same time love racing for the sport itself; I can decouple both things. Usually go to big meets to see great horses and intriguing races without having a single bet, while my money runs in 8.30 at Wolves that same night.

Matty Wilkinson@GNMW2015

Yep betting is. Why do non racing people bet in the grand National and not just watch it? The lure of winning is a massive factor

Ross Millar@rosscojmill

Staggered by the number of people suggesting that, by virtue of having a once in a generation engine, Constitution should go in to open grade chases. Remember for every Coneygree there is sadly a Gloria Victis.

Where now for chase mares? xxx

SPEAKING of betting, I can’t quite grasp the desire to go backing horses for Cheltenham 2024 when this year’s betting is just ended.

With the power in so few hands and more races as options these days, a high rate of injuries to top horses, some left-of-field horses like The Real Whacker, decisive winners of the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, and some outstanding performances from the novices, ante-post betting is not what it used to be when options were restricted. Where Constitution Hill goes next season could have an impact on at least four different races. I’d rather be betting with knowledge than taking wild hopeful punts.

In the champion’s absence, the Champion Hurdle could be one race that is wide open with three top-notch performances from the novices in Marine Nationale, Impaire Et Passe and Lossiemouth.

One race that possibly posed the most interesting conundrum is the Mares’ Chase. Both Impervious and Allegorie De Vassy look well capable of holding their own in open company if connections were bold enough. A suggested a 66/1 for Allegorie for the Gold Cup was interesting, if unlikely to bear fruit.

Where will they progress to, surely not return for the Mares’ Chase a second year. (A good reason why it should not be made a Grade 1?) Could we have two Ryanair candidates for a race that looks wide open? Allaho is still the king but he will be 10 and there are plenty of doubts around many currently quoted contenders. Hold your horses!

1. Michael O’Leary V Davy Russell

H’on Davy

2. Paddy Keogh V Tony Mullins

Ah lads, c’mon

3. Pat Healy V Racing Blogger

Lift’im Pat