Should the Albury Racing Club be applauded or demonised for implementing a new, controversial and potentially paradigm shifting policy?
They have allowed track work to take place in the afternoons.
And, on face value, it looks like a fantastic idea and if approved full-time, will definitely entice more participants to the sport.
The move comes as some Millennial working in the racing industry asked the question one day, fairly recently, “why do we train horses in the dark from 4am? What’s the reasoning to this?”
It’s a bit like that add on TV, “I don’t like beer anymore.”
And speaking of beer, Albury-based trainer Mitchell Beer has applauded the move to allow training tracks to be open in the afternoon.
“Credit to the Albury Club for trying something new and being progressive.
“They’ve opened the track in the afternoon, and this takes pressure off the mornings and gives the horses something new.”
It also will appeal greatly to Generation Z – that massive demographic now entering the horse racing market.
Like all paradigm shifts, once one entity introduces something new and it works that trickle turns into a flood and could very well see many, many tracks, especially those in areas that are freezing cold in the mornings, changing policy by allowing tracks to accommodate training horses in the afternoon.
After all, horses race in the afternoons so on that score alone it makes tremendous sense.
And, the human body is more awake and more attentive in the afternoons, not forgetting it is always warmer at 3pm than it is at 4am.
Love to hear feedback on this controversial move by Albury.
