THE task of improving and growing attendances at racecourses through various initiatives is an often thankless one which requires a careful balancing act of both reaching out to a potential new customer base while also satisfying racing’s core audience.

Over the last fortnight, it was noticeable that both Gowran and the Curragh successfully reached out into their local communities with varying initiatives which ensured that a pair of comparatively low-key fixtures attracted a heartening level of attendance.