Shame is on Ayr itself for no funfair site
A year ago, Ayr Racecourse pulled the pin on the Ayr Gold Cup Festival.
This year, they’ve pulled the pin on Ayr Racecourse staging the traditional September Fair. OK – it’s not exactly a chapter from “How To Win Friends and Influence People”.
But if this year’s decision helps avoid a repeat of last year’s decision – then it’s the right one! Racecourse spokesman Iain Ferguson underlines that horse- racing is their “core business”.
As a town centre business – looking over at live bands after racing and their Christmas party season – I am not alone in sometimes wishing they would stick to their “core” business!
But my teeth are long enough to appreciate that without the added ‘ extras’ - we probably wouldn’t have a racecourse at all! Ayr needs its racecourse – and it certainly needs it more than an annual funfair.
I was there at the weekend where the facilities laid on for the flower show were second to none. It was a rare chance to wander around without the usual throng of race goers. The paddock area and toilets were immaculate. I doubt those standards could be maintained without some . . . er . . . extra core- icular- activities!
There’s no shame on the racecourse here. The shame is that Ayr can’t efficiently and effortlessly accommodate the funfair.