Like any other major sporting event, the logistics and safety surrounding a day at the races needs to be assessed by both yourself as an individual but also by the governing bodies and power that be so as to make it all run smoothly and avoid any unmitigated disasters. This is your complete guide to safety at racecourses.
Volume of people
The volume of people at racecourses can become quite overwhelming for some and it is important to make sure that this is being assessed constantly. At the races the majority of punters are standing down on the slightly raised concourse which in itself can become problematic, but the local authority and race course organisers have become experts at this sort of thing. Not only is there legislation and acts in place to restrict the amount of punters to a maximum, but they also employ a whole team of supervisors, organisers and specialists to deal with the volume of people at racetracks.
No pushing, keep calm
The excitement of the day can get to people at the races. Everyone is buzzing and the alcohol is flowing but it is important to remain considerate. Importantly, refraining from pushing and shoving your way on the concourse, especially during busy bits or where the bookies are is only sensible. This not only helps safety within the event but also just makes for a much better atmosphere.
Don’t overdo the drink
Yes, everyone is boozing. Yes, it is a whole lot of fun. But when you are at the racecourse it’s important to make sure you are controlling your alcohol intake and avoiding getting outrageously drunk.
Local authority help
At each given racecourse there will be help to run big race days from the local authority. This will likely involve extra police, stewards and general resources put into the racecourses to make it safe for everyone attending the event. Of course, racetracks themselves have to be held responsible for their organising but local authorities can help them too.
Make sure you have valuables in secure pockets
Whilst it may be the last thing that you actually think might happen, there is always a chance of thieves operating within racecourses. It’s happened before, it’ll happen again. Just make sure you have all your valuables in sensible pockets. You don’t want to be viewing your racecards one minute and the next your phone is missing from your pocket!
Covid
The recent pandemic had put a halt to everything in life and racecourses were badly affected by this. The lockdowns made it hard for many to survive, but we have seemingly made it out the other end and the racecourses are back open. However, Covid has not gone away entirely. That’s why racecourses may still ask you to wear your mask, respect social distancing rules and also be sensible when it comes to limiting the transmission of Covid. After all, you don’t want to see your local racecourse shut down again for isolation because you and your mates were spreading it all over the place. If you think the common surgical mask is too boring or vulnerable, upgrade to these stylish high-filtration face masks from AusAir.
Whilst safety at racecourses primarily comes down to racecourses utilising local authorities and adhering to strict governmental guidelines, it is also up to the punter to behave themselves and remain sensible, even if they are hyper and excited.