Why don't we go racing in SA?

I agree with all of Garrick's points. Except point 9.

Many racing jurisdictions have racing of some sort practically every day (the UK, France, USA, Italy when they're not on strike, Australia etc.) There's a vast gulf between the fortunes of some of those countries, so the racing-every-day scenario doesn't seem like an excuse to me.

An extended break from racing would drive even more punters away from the game, as we have seen with the two equine 'flu epidemics (although KZN at least kept going uninterrupted both times). With so many other forms of gambling now available, the last thing we want to do is voluntarily close the whole show down. Nobody has to punt/ride/work whatever 364 days a year, but there isn't a day when lots of people don't want a flutter on the ponies.

The biggest race days are well advertised and therefore well attended... the attendance for the Gauteng Guineas next month will not be well attended because the average joe doesnt even know about it. So what's the point of complaining about low attendance when you could just put up a couple of billboards on a highway? and dont say that there isnt budget for it.

Back in the day totes closed at 11 and if you wanted to watch racing or have a bet you had to go racing the only thing that was available was results which were broadcast on the then Radio Port Natal some 15 minutes after the race and then wait till after the 7:30 news that night to get exotic returns..as a result the courses were full with even a bus service from Dbn Central to all courses including Scottsville, today we can sit at home pick up the phone and place a bet watch the races on TV get all kinds of trainer/jockey comments etc...My guess is if the totes closed early and Teletrack was not around the tracks would be buzzing..in short its not a matter of the game being in decline but more a case of convenience it is just so much easier not to go to the race course.

i reckon the majority punters are hooked / addicted to racing and the game, so i think it will be great for everyone to get a break. Just my personal opinion

Personally, I do not make money on course.
If I do go, my exotics sre taken in advance.
I just have a nibble here and there on the course.

Speaking on garricks fact that a full horse in training will pay off a porsche,racing must be the only sport in the world which advertises how expensive it is to get in,anybody who reads the papers after the sales and see that it can cost millions to buy a single horse will surely be put off,its like bmw and merc saying "wow" look our new range is up by 50% from last year,i doubt that will attract many buyers

PeeKay Wrote:

---

> i reckon the majority punters are hooked /
> addicted to racing and the game, so i think it
> will be great for everyone to get a break. Just my
> personal opinion
pk most addiction clinics work on 28 days clean time - If racing were to stop for a month or more I think the industry would be gone - I do think a break is needed but on a provincial scale (racing closes in PE for three weeks extra meets in Gauteng etc) -

times have changed and the halcyon days of yore are gone - I remember having to park 8 blocks away from turfs on big days - have a look at the amount of cars around racedays nowadays and you'll see the real picture.

soodum Wrote:

---

> Speaking on garricks fact that a full horse in
> training will pay off a porsche,racing must be the
> only sport in the world which advertises how
> expensive it is to get in,anybody who reads the
> papers after the sales and see that it can cost
> millions to buy a single horse will surely be put
> off,its like bmw and merc saying "wow" look our
> new range is up by 50% from last year,i doubt that
> will attract many buyers


Soodum - That has got to be one of the most refreshingly profound statements ever made regarding purchasing a racehorse. I am only sorry I never thought of it!

Given that most buyers are going to be doing their money in total and absolute cold blood a little bit of dignified restraint should be in order. Particularly with regard to the prices paid. I personally have no objection to breeders referring to their success stories in terms of their achievements. The money side becomes doubly crass when you later learn it was a buy back and have listened to the individual who fronted the purchase blatantly bullshitting about how much he loved the horse.....blah, blah, blah. ( Yet another example of bare faced corrupt practise. New buyers please step this way.......).

Maybe some of us should all club together and put out a catalogue of all the horses purchased for huge money which either never earned a cent or ,worse still, never even made it to the racecourse.

Then again - rather not. It might not be particularly good publicity for certain bespoke breeding operations.

Garrick i remember the infamous Divine Jet saga,woodruff went on and on about how an overseas buyer loved the pedigree and had to have the horse ,only to find out that it was a buyback and sold @ the graham beck dispersal sales,what a freaking con job that was ,created false averages and massive false hype

Titch, one used to be able to listen to live commentary of all SA races on radio when I was a kid, but I forget the station it was on.

Soodum, Garrick ... just a thought, but some industries actually do stress how expensive/exclusive they are, and get a certain clientele that way. Oddly enough not just the aristocracy, landed or professional, but they also attract the upwardly mobile types and the wannabe aristocrats.

Did you perhaps know that song, "Where do you go to my lovely?" (Peter Sarstedt):

Your name is heard in high places/You know the Aga Khan/He sent you a racehorse for Christmas/And you keep it just for fun, hahaha.
I remember the back streets of Naples/Two children begging in rags/Touched with a burning ambition ...

Please, I'm not making fun of the ambitious ones who've clawed their way up from nowhere. I just want to point out that ultra-luxury may be their personal rebellion against their origins, and some things like racehorses are bought because they are expensive not in spite of it. Same with clothes and cars.

Mav, wasn't it on the Radio 2000 at one stage??... Also 702 used to broadcast the races on the highveld if I'm not mistaken...

soodum Wrote:

---

> Garrick i remember the infamous Divine Jet
> saga,woodruff went on and on about how an overseas
> buyer loved the pedigree and had to have the horse
> ,only to find out that it was a buyback and sold @
> the graham beck dispersal sales,what a freaking
> con job that was ,created false averages and
> massive false hype

But these stories add fuel to the fire that racing is corrupt / crooked. In fact if they are fact ..... then racing is crooked. Wide brush over all aspects of racing..... rather stay away is the mentality.