Party-loving teenagers may save horse racing, in response to legendary jockey Ruby Walsh

Ruby said events catered for teenagers – featuring live DJs, speed dating, and social media teams – were a ‘brilliant’ idea to introduce new fans to horseracing

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Party-loving teenagers could save racing’s future, according to legendary jockey Ruby Walsh. He hailed student days at tracks across Britain for bringing a whole new audience to the sport of kings.

Ruby, 46, said the events – featuring live DJs, speed dating, and TikTok teams to post everyone’s antics on social media – were a ‘brilliant’ idea to introduce legions of potential lifelong fans to horseracing’s thrills and spills.

He said his four daughters, aged eight to 16, were chomping at the bit to get to one of the now-legendary student sessions at Punchestown in Ireland – attended by up to 40,000 teens.

The super jockey spoke as he dropped by the Daily Star Sunday’s London office with the Cheltenham Gold Cup ahead of this year’s festival, which starts on March 10. Ruby lifted the trophy twice as he notched up a record 59 winners at the 102-year-old annual racing fest.

But he reckons the secret to ensuring the sport he dominated for 24 years has a vibrant future lies not in its history but in modern-day teens like the madcap stars of hit TV and film comedies The Inbetweeners.

Ruby accepted that racing may not appeal to young families because there was not enough to keep nippers entertained. But teens are loving it.

“They can go without their parents and they might not be supposed to have a bet and they might not be supposed to be going to the bar but funnily enough they probably get to go to both,” he said.

“That’s how you get them in. I see in Ireland the student days are off the charts.

“I see my own kids and Punchestown. Every teenager in Kildare goes on Friday. There’s 40,000 of them there. It’s an event. It’s an occasion. With that, then they get dressed up.

“You see all the lads in the area buying shirts and ties and jackets to go racing. Where else do they dress up to go?

“Same with girls. I do think that’s how you get them in. It’s the event. And they’re the people you have to go after.”

Specialist event firm INVADES’ Friday Night Live sessions draw more than 5,000 students to Newcastle racecourse and are broadcast by ITV Racing.

The company hosted Valentine’s Day thrashes at Ascot and Haydock Park and is planning more at Doncaster, Newbury, Southwell, Wolverhampton, Chepstow and Newton Abbot.

It is planning a Ladies’ Day party at Cheltenham on Wednesday March 11. Ruby said organisers had to respect students’ budgets and ‘you can’t expect them to come twice-a-month’.

But he went on: “If you can get them to come once-a-month then you get those people as they grow older to maybe come again.

“Get people to go, talk, socialise, watch the race. And keep them. There is a time and a place. A p***ing wet Friday night in Newcastle? I’m just not sure that’s going to make you come again.

“You’ve got to make it about the event. And the sport is the entertainment. If you only engage 10 or 20 people every time that’s how you build it.

“I think the idea is brilliant.”

Newcastle Racing and Events said its bashes were an ‘absolute party’ that promised to deliver a ‘unique experience where the racing is fast and the music is loud’.

“This is the ultimate event combining thrilling sport with an unmissable social atmosphere, custom-built for the North East’s student and young professional crowd,” its website states.

“Every single Friday Night Live fixture features seven competitive races with a collective prize fund worth over £200,000.

“Crucially, this is the perfect Weekend Kick-Off. The racecourse will be buzzing with high-energy live entertainment strategically placed throughout the venue, ensuring a continuous party atmosphere.

“This is the place to socialise, dress up, and enjoy a unique night out that caters directly to your budget and taste for fun.

“Don’t miss out on what promises to be a fantastic Friday night party.”

*The Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 10th – Friday 13th March. Tickets to all four days are still available at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham-festival/