The Paddock panel suggest one major change to drastically improve horse racing experience

'Let’s take it to people!'

The Paddock, a brand new weekly show bringing together some of the most legendary voices in racing, launched this week, with Oli Bell, Nick Luck, Rishi Persad and Tom Stanley on the panel. 

In episode one, they were joined by the one and only John Francome, and the panel had some fascinating suggestions for improving the racegoing experience for fans of the sport.

But the idea that received the most agreement was to put the Paddock in front of the Grandstand, so to make it more accessible and viewable to all race-goers. 

Rishi Persad and Oli Bell argued that if horse racing is serious about becoming more accessible to all, improving the experience at meets is key.

Persad said: “You need to cater to everyone across the board, young and old. I know racing is a very unique thing, how it is prepared for the horse and they’re at the centre of it, but there seems to be a lack of interest in providing really strong entertainment in between races, for the people on the course.”

Bell added: “That’s the one thing I’ve been pushing for - there’s 25 minute gaps between races, and there’s a posh voice on the announcer saying: ‘Non runners in the next race are 3, 4 and 5…’

“The animal is the star, but we as the sport are saying we want everyone to come, we’re inclusive, if you can’t afford to pay the top dollar, you can’t see the horse in the paddock. 

“We’re championing being a sport for all, being inclusive, but we’re literally boxing people in different stands, on what they can afford. Let’s take it to people, we need to be less arrogant as a sport and take the horse to the audience.”

Nick Luck referred to an idea that legendary racing pundit John McCricick was a strong advocate of, moving the paddock to between the Grandstand and course to become more open to more attendees. 

Luck said: “This was one of [John] McCririck’s things, from years ago, every time they’d redevelop a track, and put the paddock behind the Grandstand, he’d go mad. 

“If you want to create theatre, the paddock should go in between the Grandstand and the race course. There should be nothing behind the Grandstand, and you should be able to see everything from the Grandstand.”

And John Francome summed the idea up perfectly, suggesting that the senses prompted from being near the racehorses are what brings racegoers back time and time again. He said: “Smell is the strongest of all senses. It’s one of the first things I’d do, getting people closer to the horses.”