LAST Sunday I, along with my wife and family - and thousands of others - took advantage of the much-publicised 'family day out' at York racecourse.

We arrived early to get our usual vantage spot near the winning post on the course side and settled in for an excellent afternoon's racing.

I have one main criticism to level at the organisers of the meeting. Almost all the afternoon racecourse security men patrolled the inside of the rails on either side of the winning post telling children not to sit on the rails.

I wholeheartedly agree with this - it is a very dangerous practice because if an excited child fell as the horses galloped he or she may be killed.

But the reason for them having to resort to this must be considered. The rails through which they could see the action had been blocked off with advertising materials. I know cash generated from advertising is an important part of the racecourse's revenue but on this 'family day' that revenue could have been set aside so those children wanting to watch the horses galloping past the winning post could do so safely.

York racecourse is investing a lot of money in a new stand, but it is also wise to invest in the racegoers of the future and on this one day take away advertising material from the course-side rails.

George W Bateson,

Moorland Garth,

Strensall, York.

Updated: 12:56 Friday, September 07, 2001