“It isn’t being broadcast on RPGTV or in the bookies. There will be no Betfair. There is only one way to watch the racing is by being there.”
It seems quite appropriate that Kevin Boothby has chosen to resurrect an event first staged in 1935 to bring back the concept of ‘youy had to be there’.
So while SIS broadcast Monmore and Crayford to the shops, and RPGTV offer graded racing from Crayford and the Champion Stakes from Shelbourne Park, it will only be Cowley racegoers who will get the opportunity to witness the £20,000 Stadium Bookmakers sponsored Pall Mall, live, from first round to final.
In fact, it would be hard to find a place more likely to attract a bumper crowd, be that dogs or speedway, than Oxford. As a kid growing up in Boston, Lincolnshire, Boothby would regularly watch the ‘Baracudas’ speedway team, and he is getting a great buzz from promoting the Oxford Cheetahs.
He said: “We are unbeaten in the league this season (8:8) and are top of the (Championship) league. We get 2,000 here for every match, and around half of them staying behind in the bar after the meeting. When we went to Birmingham, we took 200 of our own fans. Our development team gets regular crowds of 1,000 here.
“I really love the attitude of the speedway people. They are just so enthusiastic. No moaning – which comes as a bit of a shock after dealing with greyhound people for so many years. I’ve even been approached for ideas about promotion from some of the other teams.”
With such a strong local base, Kevin is confident of building the Saturday night greyhound crowd following a change of fixtures.
He said: “It is very difficult to promote greyhounds when you are racing on Saturday afternoons but we are really going to go for it now with us racing every Saturday night for the rest of the year. It won’t be too long before we start getting the Christmas bookings and the place is going to be rammed.”
Given the lack of media attention, and the fact that Saturday’s races are ‘trialstakes’, most bookmakers have swerved creating an ante post books. Not so Ladbrokes, who deserve great credit for pricing up as follows:
11-2 Links Maverick, 6-1 Ivanexile, 7-1 Hawkfield Ozark, 8-1 Coolavanny Shado, 14-1 Hawkfield Mia, Rioja Joey, 16-1 Dubh Gasta, 18-1 Droopys Ambush, 20-1 Coppice Tenzin, 25-1 Eze, 25-1 Moments Of Magic, Mustang Sam, Slick Sakina, 28-1 Singalong Stacey, 33-1 Burnchurch Mick, Links Dasher, 40-1 Ballyard Shawny, Exe Prince, Minnies Kharkiv, Roanna Hawk, Swithins Teejay, Watch The Limo, 50-1 Aero Malchi, Best Murcia, Haverhill Lad, Knockboy Curragh, Milton Noah, Mustang Ojay, Rioja Maxi, Savana Ferguson, Stormy News, 66-1 Broadway World, Longacres Queen, Longacres Santa, 80-1 Churchtown Annie, Droopys Ticktock, Ritzy Lady, 100-1 Annadown King, Freedom Epic, Jasmine Lily, Saffrons Dash, Salthill Ranger, Taylors Gord, 125-1 Aghaburren Maze, Coppice Elmo, Rathnagore Syd, 150-1 Makeit The Bear, Stonepark Bear
The 11 race all-open card starts at 7pm with three maiden 450s.
