what got you in .. why is horseracing ...

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Riot

Judging by people's answers, it seems the most important point for creating new fans is for them to be exposed to the track as youngsters.

Does anyone know when the Derby was first televised on national TV?

I think the first time I saw a horse race was Northern Dancer winning in 1964, but that may be confused childhood memories ... I know I remember reading about it in the Sunday paper (I was a horse-crazy kid and looked for anything about horses, everywhere)

I know I watched Venetian Way and Bally Ache and Celtic Ash in the 1960 Triple Crown races because I drew strangely proportioned but labelled pictures of the winners with blankets of flowers over their withers. (Only 8, you see, and not particularly artistically talented.) Native Dancer is supposed to have been the first racehorse TV star, back in 1953.