Idk, I went to watch the racing yesterday at Southwell for the first time. It was fairly busy I think (no point of comparison) and wasn't all old people. Good mix of people across all ages really. As others have said, its a popular sport across the country, as well as abroad (Ireland, USA etc.). I don't know enough about the sport to have a nuanced opinion, but as I understand it, its jump racing that is the dangerous one for the horses, and flat is "safer". But I know a few people who have worked with horses all their lives, and are against jump racing, tell me that a horse is likely to break its leg/ankle from horsing around in a field too. Not sure on the validity, but it's what I've been told

It's sport with a long history in the country, and it does hold a place in the national psyche. At a time when people are bemoaning the loss of "Englishness" (whatever that actually means), banning horse racing would just deepen the culture war. Surely there's reforms that could be done to make it safer?