Meade broadside at Racing TV
Castletown trainer Noel Meade has labelled Racing TV (RTV) a "disaster" and believes a jam-packed schedule is not doing the channel’s presenters or analysts justice, especially in Ireland.
The leading trainer, who is chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, believes Racing TV cannot cater for Irish racing properly in its current format and is calling for the issue to be addressed.
On Sunday the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown was broadcast on a split screen with no commentary in the early parts of the race as a result of an unscheduled clash with the Peterborough Chase from Huntingdon.
Since Irish racing’s switch to RTV after Racecourse Media Group acquired the rights in a deal that began on 1st January, split-screen coverage is an issue that has been exacerbated due to the volume of tracks now on RTV’s roster.
“Racing TV has been a disaster and there's no other way to put it. It could never have been anything else with that much racing on the one channel. You can butter it up and slice it whichever way you like but the whole idea is a disaster," Meade told Racing Post
“If you say anything else you're not really telling the truth. I think they do a very good job when they have the time.
"I wouldn't knock their production. It's just they basically don't have enough time because they have so much racing," he added.
Split-screen coverage has been a recurring issue for Racing TV viewers and the problem was highlighted on Sunday when the two major races from Ireland and Britain were forced to share a screen.
The races were scheduled to go off 10 minutes apart, but the John Durkan was delayed after jockey Davy Russell was taken ill and the race went off 18 seconds after the start of the Peterborough Chase from Huntingdon.
Trainer Ted Walsh argued the clash could have been avoided with better communication between the broadcaster and racecourses.
“What happened with Davy Russell was unforeseen, but why somebody couldn't pick up a phone and organise it so there wouldn't be a clash between the two big races is beyond me. It's a lack of communication," Walsh told Racing Post.
“They were two feature races, very important races that racing enthusiasts would have loved to watch live and not on a split screen, and why somebody couldn't pick up a phone and delay one of the races by five minutes is beyond me. That's all it would have taken, a phone call.”
There is potential for a further Grade 1 clash on 26th December when Leopardstown's Racing Post Novice Chase is scheduled to start at 2.25, five minutes before Kempton's Christmas Hurdle.
BRIAN KAVANAGH
Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh said: "The race planners in Ireland, UK and the officials in Racing TV do work together on scheduling and they are focusing on some initiatives for the new year. St Stephen's Day [26th December] has always been a challenging day from a scheduling point of view given the amount of racing that day."
On Sunday's issues he said: "There were difficulties with Racing TV Extra on the day, which is disappointing as that offers a dedicated Irish service on busy days like this. We will take this up with Racing TV, who are over in Ireland this week."
KEITH DONOGHUE
Jockey Keith Donoghue, who rode Hardline to finish second to Min in the John Durkan, expressed disatisafaction with the coverage.
Speaking in his weekly blog with bookmakers.co.uk, the rider said: “It's just frustrating me how Irish racing is now playing second fiddle to racing in the UK. If there's a clash between a race at even one of our big meetings and any sort of a race in the UK, our race is treated like the lesser event.”
A Racing TV spokesman was on Monday unavailable to comment. But in a statement on Sunday the broadcaster said:
""Unfortunately, we are always at the mercy of unforeseen delays in horseracing, but we will review Sunday’s output and the processes in place and will continue close dialogue with the BHA, HRI and the racecourses about the planning and management of race times to improve the scheduling of UK and Irish racing.
"Good progress has been made this year on that front but there’s always more that can be done.”
John Durkan attendance not good enough, says Meade
Meade said Punchestown had questions to answer after the track attracted just 1,784 people to the John Durkan Memorial fixture on Sunday.
He called on Punchestown to do more to promote what he sees as a grossly underperforming fixture.
He told Racing Post: “The Racing TV problem needs to be addressed badly but I also think the John Durkan Chase has been let down not just by Racing TV, but by Punchestown as well.
“For a Grade 1 chase, I think it would be far better off if it was run at Fairyhouse on their big day a week previously. Not only would it get a lot more coverage being part of such a big day but it would also fit in better with the programme being a week further away from Christmas.
“From what I see of it, nobody seems to be putting any effort into the race and to sell that day. Maybe they could bring it back to the Morgiana day, or even run it on a Saturday, I don't know, but the day itself is not working. It needs a bit of help, not just from Racing TV but from Punchestown itself.
“This has been going on for a long time and it's getting worse and worse. It's very sad to see a Grade 1 chase being run in front of what is a very poor crowd. The reason for that is because it gets no promotion at all. The fact that Racing TV have abandoned it as well only adds to the problem of it all. It's just not good enough.”
RICHIE GALWAY
Punchestown’s racing manager Richie Galway blamed the poor attendance on the fact there was a yellow weather warning in place and revealed the management at the track have already tried moving the fixture to a more suitable slot in the calendar.
Galway said: “The storm played a big part but I’d agree with Noel – the day and the race deserves a much bigger attendance. We'll continue to try to find a slot in the programme that works for all involved.”