By Mike Huggins
From the prize-winning writer of Flat Racing and British Society 1780-1914, this is often the 1st ebook to supply a close attention of the heritage of racing in British tradition and society and to discover the cultural international of racing throughout the inter-war years. It breaks new flooring via displaying how racing's pleasures have been loved even by way of the supposedly first rate center periods, and gave a few working-class teams wish and comfort in the course of economically tough occasions. general attendance and elevated spending on having a bet have been came across throughout type and new release, and ladies too have been willing contributors. loved by way of the Royal relations and regulated by way of the Jockey membership and nationwide Hunt Committee, racing's noticeable emphasis on rank and standing helped guard hierarchy and gentlemanly amateurism, and supplied aid for extra conservative British attitudes. The mass media supplied a cumulative cultural validation of racing, assisting outline nationwide and local id, and inspiring the prosperous intake of carrying event and frank delight in making a bet.
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Extra resources for Horseracing and the British 1919-39 (Studies in Popular Culture)
Example text
Doncaster and Yarmouth were run by special Corporation Race Sub-Committees. 11 York and The racing business between the wars Lincoln leased their races to voluntary, unpaid Race Committees, composed mainly of middle-class private citizens. Chester was leased to a limited company, at a percentage of gross income, and gained significant revenue from the races. 12 Other courses were privately owned by upper-class groups and individuals. Newmarket was owned by the Jockey Club, Ascot by the Crown, and Goodwood by the Duke of Richmond.
It was unevenly distributed, and highest in major weight-for-age races like the Ascot Gold Cup (where a sliding scale ensured older, usually stronger horses carried more weight than younger ones), and in the classic sweepstake races for three-year-olds, like the One Thousand Guineas or the St Leger. Such races were run at the more prestigious courses and owners contributed nearly all the prize money. Handicaps, races where a handicapper allocated weights differentially to horses depending on their age and previous form to help equalise their chances, had lower prize money.
10 Epsom was run by predominantly middle-class members of its Grandstand Association, who were still buying up the Downs in 1925 to ensure control. There were several other forms of ownership. Given the traditional support for racing right across classes it is perhaps unsurprising that, as in the nineteenth century, some courses were owned by local corporations, although their actual management varied. Doncaster and Yarmouth were run by special Corporation Race Sub-Committees. 11 York and The racing business between the wars Lincoln leased their races to voluntary, unpaid Race Committees, composed mainly of middle-class private citizens.