WTF...?
Trying to catch up on back holiday weekend action and find the National website site is leading with a picnic competition.
Now I know I'm an miserable old git who doesn't understand modern marketing but what in heaven's name are they trying to achieve here?
In my experience the majority of folks who set out pretentious picnics take no interest in the racing, are unlikely to bet and even less likely to want to get involved in horse ownership. In the meantime the sport is losing hard core 30 meetings a season supporters and small owners. I'd like to think that Carolyn Bailey, Charlie Poste and the rest of the PPA board are asking the current management some searching questions about their strategy for arresting the decline in horse numbers. Decreasing the number of races and increasing the number of flat races can only paper over the cracks for so long.
The only thing I would say in defence of car boot picnics and point to point social media is to give credit to the Paddock Preview guys who have been sharing a lot of point to point content to their Instagram page. They have been an object lesson in how to do it right in my opinion. Some of their posts have been the picnic crowd and they still come across as relevant, fun and engaging. Lots and lots of other good stuff too.