The grand national used to be a big event?

[Programme_Seller]

I remember the grand national being a major national even with a lot of coverage and build up in the press a couple of week before.

Its 1.30 on the race day and only just found out its today because it got mention during the cup semi final.
Ok I'm not a gambling or horse person but in previous years always heard about it somehow way before the day., is it not such a big event these days?

[Green Cross Code Man]

No. Time was when everyone would sit down to watch the race. I grew up as a pastors son so betting was strictly frowned on so horse-racing was not approved of. however the national was the exception. No-one I know now talks about it

[Drumstick]

Still very popular been in 4 pubs this morning all doing sweepstakes and it is still what most are talking about.

[Titus]

I remember the grand national being a major national even with a lot of coverage and build up in the press a couple of week before.

Its 1.30 on the race day and only just found out its today because it got mention during the cup semi final.
Ok I'm not a gambling or horse person but in previous years always heard about it somehow way before the day., is it not such a big event these days?

So just because you've missed the build up, it's lost it's popularity?

[Programme_Seller]

So just because you've missed the build up, it's lost it's popularity?

Its not a statement, just a question, does it get the publicity that used to get and is it as popular?
Remember someone used come round at work or the pub and run a sweapstake and the papers would be full of it for weeks prior, but just not seen any this year.

[RexCathedra]

In the US, horse racing and boxing were both bigger than any other sport except baseball in the inter-war period. Both of them are essentially invisible now. Not sure if this long-term drift happened in the UK, too. Here it's clear that football (college was bigger than the NFL until the '60's or perhaps even the '70's and is still enormous) and basketball made the inroads, and NASCAR recently, perhaps. Major secular changes.

But what would be the competitors for those sporting eyeballs in the UK?

Footie is, was, always has been huge. But what else has been growing? Cricket's best case is 'holding it's own, barely', near as I can tell. Rugby-both-flavors ditto.

[dig54]

Still very popular been in 4 pubs this morning all doing sweepstakes and it is still what most are talking about.

are you an alcoholic?

[cloud]

It seems like years since they did a grand national sweepstake at work, these days they are more likely to do a national lottery group entry.

[Mr Smggles]

In the US, horse racing and boxing were both bigger than any other sport except baseball in the inter-war period. Both of them are essentially invisible now. Not sure if this long-term drift happened in the UK, too. Here it's clear that football (college was bigger than the NFL until the '60's or perhaps even the '70's and is still enormous) and basketball made the inroads, and NASCAR recently, perhaps. Major secular changes.

But what would be the competitors for those sporting eyeballs in the UK?

Footie is, was, always has been huge. But what else has been growing? Cricket's best case is 'holding it's own, barely', near as I can tell. Rugby-both-flavors ditto.

Rugby is certainly a growing sport.

[countryman]

No, it is probably just as big as ever and I don't know how you missed a build up. But the race itself is not as good anymore because the fences have got smaller.

[withdeanwombat]

No,it's totally falling off.There were only 18 million people at the track,a waiting list for tickets,615 countries took the event live................and my horses lost.

[Steveapps71]

very popular in pubs near me today, it was BBC's last year because of their cuts its going to channel 4. So John McCrick all over it next year

[Gwm]

No,it's totally falling off.There were only 18 million people at the track,a waiting list for tickets,615 countries took the event live................and my horses lost.

18 million people at the track ?

You sure ?

[brighton_b0y]

I agree... it use to be a big family event for me... all pick a few horses etc... but with the fatalites and the pikies that attend i cant be arsed with it...

Impossible to pick a winner... just a day for the bookies to make a mint...

[brighton_b0y]

No,it's totally falling off.There were only 18 million people at the track,a waiting list for tickets,615 countries took the event live................and my horses lost.

18 million... over a quarter of the Uks population was there?

[osgood]

those in power at the BBC dont like racing,

they have slowly but surely got rid of it , The Derby, Glorious Goodwood, Cheltenham have all been sacrificed,

replaced by things like" Flog it", "Homes under the Hammer" and the savings spent on staff salaries,

Disgraceful how successive Governments have allowed those at the helm to continue to destroy a once great institution, which is owned , supposedly by the licence payers !

[Napper]

Hopefully SKY will buy it. BBC are shite

[Frutos]

But the race itself is not as good anymore because the fences have got smaller.

So you preferred it when more horses died during it (that being why they made the fences smalller, to try to cut down the number of fatalities)?

[Drumstick]

are you an alcoholic?

No live within 100 of 5 pubs, Got various text messages from mates so went to see them.

[Tyrone Biggums]

In the US, horse racing and boxing were both bigger than any other sport except baseball in the inter-war period. Both of them are essentially invisible now. Not sure if this long-term drift happened in the UK, too. Here it's clear that football (college was bigger than the NFL until the '60's or perhaps even the '70's and is still enormous) and basketball made the inroads, and NASCAR recently, perhaps. Major secular changes.

But what would be the competitors for those sporting eyeballs in the UK?

Footie is, was, always has been huge. But what else has been growing? Cricket's best case is 'holding it's own, barely', near as I can tell. Rugby-both-flavors ditto.

UFC mixed martial arts style sports are a massive growth industry world wide.