Well, they have a problem with falling entries but have done very little to address it. If some quarters wanted an excuse to turn it into a parade they need only let it continue to decline and then spin up the publicity machine to tell us how wonderful the new festival (don't call it a race) is. Or, they could do some really constructive things to make the event better and less expensive for the riders, open up the classes, reward the marshals better etc.

Fingers crossed, then.