| Abstract: |
Research question: For the case of Great Britain, we construct and estimate a
model to capture influences on attendances at horserace meetings. Research
methods: Fixed effects regression analysis is employed in analysing a data set
containing information on attendances at exactly 24,000 race-days between 2001
and 2018. Results and findings: Patterns of demand are similar to those found
for other sports. E.g., attendance is higher at weekends and in the warmer
months and is sensitive to the quality of the racing on offer; it falls when
competing with some televised sport of national significance. Controlling for
a large number of characteristics, the pattern of results on year dummies
included in the specification implies considerable decline in public interest
in attending race-days over the data period. Implications: The pronounced
negative trend in attendance at race events suggests a need for modernisation
of the sport including close attention to animal welfare issues, which might
partly account for apparently growing public disillusion with the sport. |