Our lives are lived through our phones, so the idea that horse racing has become dominated by attendees obsessively checking their handsets as frequently as they do the course in front of them is not an outlandish one. The question to answer is what modern race-day fans get out of combining digital devices with an in-person experience as traditional as this. A few reasons are at play, so let’s talk through them and explain why a little bit of scrolling is no bad thing.
The Convenience of Mobile Betting is Undeniable
The rise and rise of Canadians sports betting online while enjoying a race day is well documented and has obvious upsides over the old-fashioned way of wagering. When you can pull out your phone and place a bet without moving, you don’t lose your seat or miss a second of the action, so it’s seriously convenient.
There’s also the upside of having access to live odds and moment-to-moment updates on the event. Information like this is empowering, as it means avid bettors can make data-driven decisions rather than relying on gut instinct or outdated details.
Even if you’re not into betting, convenience is king in a race-day scenario, and having the ability to look up what’s coming up next, and even using the handset to stream live coverage if you’ve not got a great view of the course or any large-scale screens, can be part of the attraction.
The Social Aspect Adds to the Occasion
Fans of horse racing are like any other members of the public in terms of the role their phones play in their social lives. Firing messages to friends and family who aren’t in attendance to let them know what fun you’re having, or sharing clips and photos via your social feeds, is standard practice.
Moreover, this is part and parcel of how new fans get into race-day events, because when coverage is broadcast far and wide on social media, rather than being limited to specialist websites or sports channels on TV, it exposes a wider audience to what goes on. And that’s a good thing for the industry as a whole.
The Downtime Gets Filled Flawlessly
There can be some nail-biting moments of excitement and drama at even a small-scale race day, but there’s also plenty of waiting around in between events. In the past, your only options might have been to read the paper, chat with fellow punters, or grab a drink and a bite to eat. With a phone available, a world of entertainment is at your fingertips.
Once more, this is an important factor in convincing younger people to establish an interest in horse racing. They’re the future of this sport, and their penchant for checking their phones will keep them occupied so that downtime whips by at a lick, rather than dragging.
All this means it’s important for racecourses to ensure attendees have adequate access to on-site Wi-Fi. If people can’t be stopped from looking at their phones and might even benefit from being encouraged to do so, they need high-speed networking on tap to avoid a frustrating experience.
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