EASTERN CAPE RACING AWARDS

It's time Magic and friends [sure Magic knows some influential people - especially some serious bookies] buy up the "sold" courses like Newmarket, Bloem & Arlington - privatise it and give P a run for their money? Will it be possible? Anyone comment?

Can current courses be privatised or taken over by private companies? Anyone have a take on that?

Wow I am away for a few days and all hell breaks loose.

Rad - While I was at Hollywood I always wanted to actually buy Fairview racecourse and make it into a Hollywood Park.

Anyone know what it would cost to keep Arlington afloat - I do agree with Magic that PE racing is strong enough to do it alone.

I think that instead of Arlington closing, they should look ar Durbanville??? ( i say this as I hear Western Cape racing will soon be taken over by Phum - very good source)

We have such a passionate 'Punter/Pwner' base in SA it is sooooo hard to believe we are in a mess.

I have a meeting this week and will ask all these questions !!!

RADETZKY Wrote:

---

> It's time Magic and friends buy up the "sold"
> courses like Newmarket, Bloem & Arlington -
> privatise it and give P a run for their money?
> Will it be possible? Anyone comment?
>
> Can current courses be privatised or taken over by
> private companies? Anyone have a take on that?


I have suggested this a long time ago. What should be done is a company formed of strong willed (and bankrolled) people who can approach Phumelela and speak with them about privatisation. I don't think they have anything to loose by allowing race courses to run their own bit. There needs to be found out what phumelela spends right now to run a course, and what can be arranged between company and phumelela.......

It would be hard to do, but I don't think impossible. Race courses would have to be run as a business which will be difficult as you would have to find a way to attract people to the course to spend money. Bring in bands after racing, offer great catering, celebrities and special events........not sure if our society can afford that however.

Its a bit of a catch 22........WOuld love to be involved with a venture such as this as I have thought about it many times, but unfortunately not sure how logical it would be money wise?!?!?!?!

Phumelela has everybody by the balls and they know it. If you don't do as they say they cut you off and let you go.

Is there no way we can approach the JSE and ask them to delist these muppets. I think the government should be running racing as they did in the old days!!!!

The existence of Phumelela and the whole corporatisation process was very much part of a government initiated compromise. They hold government sanctioned licences, they ain't going anywhere, and nobody gonna 'step' in soon without real political clout. Don't hold your breath.

No racing changes at operator level is going to happen easily, check out the history of how we got here before pie-in-the-sky schemes for revolution.

Given that P gets to the closure of racecourses quite easily, I would guess getting the votes from the GC membership for takeover or mergers may be more easily posted here than accomplished. Some of the GC properties are very valuable so if you smell a takeover, buy them P shares real quick...maybe there could be asset liquidations real soon after...and then dividends... Just speculating, who really knows.