What is going to happen to horse racing?

British horse racing is in something of a state of turmoil at the moment. The Derby and the King George VI Stakes are both still seeking sponsors, while there have been various recent betting scandals that some see as having tarnished the good name of the sport. All the while, horse racing still faces many of its perpetual problems, such as asset utilisation i.e. what to do with the race courses when events are not taking place. While sports such as darts have come out fighting in recent times by looking to new markets while seeking to enhance commercial appeal, horse racing still has some way to go in this regard. We are therefore left to ask: how can, and how should, horse racing change if the ravages of the current downturn are not to undermine the sport´s heritage? How can the sport attract and retain new customers? Will television coverage of horse racing ever again reach the heights of the glory days of two or three decades ago? And how can lucrative sponsors be secured when some people clearly have preconceived ideas about what horse racing is and who it appeals to?