General Chat

[charlie]

The problem isn't the open air, it's the crowding around the bars. Plus, if the weather is crap, as it invariably is in the UK and Ireland, there will be an inclination to gather indoors.

I think that attending the races could be feasible but shutting the bars is a necessity. Even with the best will in the world and the most rigorous of protocols, common sense will inevitably fly out of the window if a handful of drunk people want to get a round in. Plus, if people are drinking all day, they are also pissing all day. The toilets at most meetings are shoulder to shoulder after the third race.

Personally, I love the idea of dry meetings but I am not sure that would go down too well with most punters. It certainly wouldn't go down well with the beancounters since I imagine a fair amount of a course's takings come from the bars.

My point was that is an avoidable problem. They should make racecourses outside only, except the use of toilets which can be regulated. If the weather is crap then don't go, or wrap up. Outside bars are commonplace at sporting events - I really don't see the issue in having outside bars only with clear queuing systems. I think most would behave and you could have police/security ensuring protocols are followed. Toilets wound't be shoulder to shoulder if a racecourse was operating at a limited capacity.

[Istabraq]

I really don't understand why fans cannot attend racing in controlled numbers. The vast majority of racecourses have tons of outside space, and it would be simple enough to steward (controlled indoor entry for things like toilets). It seems ridiculous that I can go down to my local spoons or the large Tesco and be surrounded by hundreds of people indoors, yet the notion of hundreds of people attending an event that happens outside in the open air is unacceptable.
.

It’s staggering.
If anyone goes to a gaff track, and with no offence to the tracks I’m talking about the likes of Plumpton, Sedgefield, Worcester, Bangor, Newton Abbott a few that spring to mind, there’s rarely more than 2000 people at these tracks and I doubt you’d even need to introduce any radical distancing such is the space available.
I get the bar/toilet management issue but this already exists in every pub/bar in the country.
Common sense must prevail soon...

[Kotkijet]

I think most would behave and you could have police/security ensuring protocols are followed. Toilets wound't be shoulder to shoulder if a racecourse was operating at a limited capacity.

Your faith in humanity is probably a bit stronger than my own

I don't think employing additional emergency workers will be an easy sell to a public which would likely view horse racing as a frivolous use of resources. Plus, I wouldn't want to be the minimum wage steward whose job it is to heard a bunch of thirsty and impatient racegoers. Maybe if there is a ringfenced drinking enclosure it could work although given the demand, entry may come at a steep premium.

If it is a dry meeting then the toilets should be fine. But at one where alcohol is served, racecourse attendance would probably have to be based on toilet capacity given the bottlenecks after each race.

[SharpHat]

My point was that is an avoidable problem. They should make racecourses outside only, except the use of toilets which can be regulated. If the weather is crap then don't go, or wrap up. Outside bars are commonplace at sporting events - I really don't see the issue in having outside bars only with clear queuing systems. I think most would behave and you could have police/security ensuring protocols are followed. Toilets wound't be shoulder to shoulder if a racecourse was operating at a limited capacity.

A few things, limiting the capacity and hiring extra security/police whilst closing indoor bars/restaurants is going to tip the balance to the point where opening to the public is not profitable.

Secondly if you allow alcohol, you're going to get gangs of pissed up youths. What happens when one backs a winner? A polite elbow bump? No i think not. This is what people forget when they bemoan the lack of crowds of football, a moment of high emotion and all social distancing goes out the window. Someone scores an injury time winner and it all goes to shit.

[Faugheen_Machine]

I'd prefer to trust people to do the right thing. Having been in a few pubs the last few weeks, I'm yet to see gangs of 'pissed up youths' deliberately flouting the rules.

If they don't get people back soon, there'll be sports ground and clubs all over the country going pop.

[SharpHat]

I'd prefer to trust people to do the right thing. Having been in a few pubs the last few weeks, I'm yet to see gangs of 'pissed up youths' deliberately flouting the rules.

If they don't get people back soon, there'll be sports ground and clubs all over the country going pop.

Have you not seen the videos of Liverpool town centre on the news?

[SharpHat]

Have you not seen the videos of Liverpool town centre on the news?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-54535481

Id love to believe people will do the right thing, but people are idiots

[Hardy Eustace]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...yside-54535481

Id love to believe people will do the right thing, but people are idiots

Give me strength.

[Istabraq]

Have you not seen the videos of Liverpool town centre on the news?

Yes that was typical of the current ‘can’t be arsed’ mentality that seems to exist, but before we kick off a Geography war it should be noted that similar scenes have been reported in York, Birmingham and London to name just a few locations.
On Sunday there was a religious event in Marble Arch/Hyde Park that just defied belief, idiots span all regions and religions sadly and a big reason why we’re in this mess...

[Faugheen_Machine]

Have you not seen the videos of Liverpool town centre on the news?

Yes I've seen it but that's a small minority and isn't justification to remove spectators from sporting events. The policing would be easy, especially with small numbers

We need to accept that there will be a risk but the risk can be mitigated with good controls. Life needs to go on in afraid, and this virus looks like being here for a good while yet.

[charlie]

A few things, limiting the capacity and hiring extra security/police whilst closing indoor bars/restaurants is going to tip the balance to the point where opening to the public is not profitable.

Secondly if you allow alcohol, you're going to get gangs of pissed up youths. What happens when one backs a winner? A polite elbow bump? No i think not. This is what people forget when they bemoan the lack of crowds of football, a moment of high emotion and all social distancing goes out the window. Someone scores an injury time winner and it all goes to shit.

It's up to the government to advise on how many people they are happy with, and for racecourses to decide whether or not that is profitable / worth it.

You are painting this picture of pissed up gangs of youths completely out of control based on using the worst place in the UK (Liverpool) to make your point. I don't see it like that at all. The vast majority of places I have been drinking in over the last 3-4 months have seen people being generally responsible and conscious of the rules. PHE data overwhelmingly supports the hospitality sector not being part of the problem, and responsible for less than 5% of infections. Add to that people drinking outside and I don't see the problem.

Yes, people may celebrate a winner with the people they came with, but who is celebrating a winner by hugging random strangers like at the football? Nobody probably. If people celebrate in the group they came with (6 or less) then I see it as no different to them sitting in close proximity in the pub.

[Quevega]

As a man nearing 50.

I've been developing a new and highly contagious strain of Chlamydia, that has just a sprinkling of the bacteria - Necrotizing Fasciitis.

I will be releasing it after we emerge from Covid-19 as revenge for the young celebrating there relative immunity to coronavirus.
We'll see who's dancing about ignoring social distancing then.

disclaimer.
If the MI5 are listening in to this.
It's just a joke.
So is my threat to assassinate Trump.

[Outlaw]

A few of you got in touch regarding "Betloader" that Cheltmental releases every year, i assume he has sent it to everyone who asked as the few who Dm me never said otherwise, anyhow he's doing a mini tutorial later on FB for anyone who might be interested and releasing it again shortly.

[SharpHat]

It's up to the government to advise on how many people they are happy with, and for racecourses to decide whether or not that is profitable / worth it.

You are painting this picture of pissed up gangs of youths completely out of control based on using the worst place in the UK (Liverpool) to make your point. I don't see it like that at all. The vast majority of places I have been drinking in over the last 3-4 months have seen people being generally responsible and conscious of the rules. PHE data overwhelmingly supports the hospitality sector not being part of the problem, and responsible for less than 5% of infections. Add to that people drinking outside and I don't see the problem.

Yes, people may celebrate a winner with the people they came with, but who is celebrating a winner by hugging random strangers like at the football? Nobody probably. If people celebrate in the group they came with (6 or less) then I see it as no different to them sitting in close proximity in the pub.

I'm not basing anything on Liverpool, its just an example. I'm basing it on going to the races for the last 20 years and being surrounded by pissed up youths (usually there solely for the dj after racing). I dont see why a covid race crowd would suddenly develop common decency or sense. Obviously its a minority that get pissed up and act like dicks but any amount is too many

[SharpHat]

I'm not basing anything on Liverpool, its just an example. I'm basing it on going to the races for the last 20 years and being surrounded by pissed up youths (usually there solely for the dj after racing). I dont see why a covid race crowd would suddenly develop common decency or sense. Obviously its a minority that get pissed up and act like dicks but any amount is too many

Having said all that I really really hope crowds are back for the festival