The first weekend of February saw the return of the student races to Musselburgh Racecourse. Organised by the company INVADES, these races offered a chance for students to attend the races at a more accessible fee, complete with an afterparty.
Nonetheless, there is still an assumption that horse racing as a pastime is one reserved for those who are wealthier, with social engagements being insular and unwelcoming. Looking through social media at the posts INVADES makes of its races does little to relieve this stereotype, often asking attendees who the most famous contact in their phone is or listening to outfit dissections worth hundreds of pounds. Thus, it is understandable to see why some young people would be reluctant to attend these events out of concerns of judgement or snobbery.
The conception of horse racing as the sport of the upper classes finds its roots in the foundation of The Jockey Club in 1750, and was perceived at the time as one of the most exclusive of high society clubs. This historical precedent coupled with the immense cost of owning and racing horses, makes it unsurprising that the sport has maintained its status as that of the elite class. Even when looking at images of the races today, a viewer’s eyes are assaulted by pictures of exquisitely dressed older men with ladies in their finest morning dress and fascinators. This together creates the impression of attending the horse races as a hostile environment for those not of the same wealth, and thus something of a barrier to those who would otherwise wish to attend.
Yet, INVADES claims to have changed this, especially in attracting newer audiences. Their website features images of young people dancing and partying with the claims of bringing a “new energy, passion and audience to…sport across the world”. Projecting this image of a more welcoming crowd to the races would surely attract those perhaps wary of snobbery from an older demographic. Yet, an anonymous survey conducted by The Student on Edinburgh University’s students’ opinions on the races would seem to refute this point. When asked why they would choose not to attend, one student stated that the races were “archaic and outdated,” before later relating that the races “exclude those who don’t come from a wealthy background…it doesn’t represent modern student culture.” This last point seems to be especially pertinent when discussing the extent to which INVADES has reinvented races culture. It would seem that though their afterparties and bright marketing may present a youthful image, ultimately the students choosing to attend these events are simply entrenching a culture which past events were rife with.
This sentiment is also not an unpopular one, with a common comment being on the “culture of snobbery” the races engenders. Even though the student races are arguably less formal than events held at Aintree or the Royal Ascot, there is still an expectation when it comes to dress etiquette, and judgement of, which wards many away. Especially given a BBC report last year on the university’s issues with snobbery, it would be expected that students would be making more of an effort to promote a more inclusive and welcoming culture, not furthering the sentiments of an insular culture which many hold.
The subterranean notion of snobbery which is believed to persist in the university’s culture can further be seen in INVADES’ marketing of the event, which one student believed was targeted specifically towards students from a certain area of the city, with little effort made to include those from other student centres.
Yet, it is not just the perceived culture of snobbery which has kept many away from attending the races, but the belief that horse racing is an institutionally cruel sport. It was common this past Sunday to see students sharing posts to their social media on the cruelty of the sport, with Animal Aid reporting that over 200 horses die each year, while three horses alone died in the Cheltenham festival in November last year. Thus, it is clear that there is also an ethical element which is keeping some students away from the races.
With the pull of INVADES in attracting students to their events through marketing campaigns showing little sign of waning, the question must be raised as to whether the cruelty of animals is a justified excuse to engage in a day of drinking and partying. This, combined with common sentiments around a culture of snobbery and elitism, demonstrates how there has been little evolution in the spectacle of horse racing.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash