ABSTRACT
The activities associated with racing and betting changed little and although there were changes in the social, economic and moral estimation of such activities, opposition had little effect and anti-racing activities were simply incorporated into an existing recreational pattern. Opposition to the races by anti-race campaigners grew stronger in the years around the mid-century, despite the expansion of middle-class recreation and greater economic security. The growth of a cheap regional and local press aimed in the main at a middle-class, respectable, urban audience gave the arguments against horseracing's associations a fuller rein, while for some anti-race protesters earlier victories against forms of working-class leisure meant that racing could be demonized as the last and greatest of social evils. There were occasional total victories after mid-century with courses or racehorse training grounds being closed down due to opposition, most usually when control over longstanding racing land fell into the hands of anti-racing owners, who terminated the leases.
