P"@&$?d off with the Industry

Just feeling very down at the moment for the following reasons...

1 A local (now ex) stipe approached us, and later a few other members of PE racing, with a sob story of needing to borrow money for an ill family member.His other stories were a funeral, ill wife, moving expenses etc. He promised us all (individually)to payback monthly. However eventually he closed the circle, couldn't borrow anymore and was reported to NHRA by one of the lenders. We were asked by NHRA to fill in a form stating amounts and reson for the loan. The stipe then told us we would all get paid from his Provident/Pension fund. However he then resigned and we were told that "too bad, not our problem anymore"

2 While we have been to many Horses in training Sales and accept that you buy "voetstoets" being caught blatantly leaves a very sour taste. One of the horses we recently purchased in Natal has so many soundness problems she doesn't know which leg to keep off the ground first. She was sound at the sale, had a few days off after arriving, cantered sound then exactly 10 days after the sale can't move. Subsequent Xrays show a sml chip in the knee and lots of wear and tear, vet comment is "like having a stone in your shoe". The horse also has a stifle that locks and string halt. Due to all of the above she also has a sore back. Not worried about the R15k but the point .....

3. We are going to Jhb for a few days to help try and collect a Debtors book that now stands at a couple of million of which we have already paid over VAT etc, so a double whammy to us. So many owners, trainers and breeders that think we must carry their business and hobby. Amounts outstanding for up to and over 180days and you get excuses like " when we have a winner we will sort you" A pity we can't use these excuses to our staff or to Diesel suppliers. The boys also have a Shavings Supply business that is outstanding a large amount in one year. The horses have slept well, they have paid for their wood,diesel and staff but no payments. Just got to a point where we can't carry these people any more.

To all the good payers, lots on ABC, we appreciate all your support for New Turf over the years. To the bad payers, we are being forced to hand over accounts to Attorneys for collection, then to NHRA for defaulting.

We are not alone in this situation, the powers that be refuse to see the problems in the Industry that we so love and enjoy.

All the best Sham Racing, and I can understand ur frustration given the above points.

Katsamba will stop your frustration today for a little while...

Don't waste time & money with lawyers. There is 'better' ways to collect from those who treat you with contempt, as I read above.

Good luck

All the best to the Shams the "racing" game has a poor reputation for poor payers, hope you gets what is due to you for always supplying a great service.

Shams,the good news is that at the end of this,racing will be better off for it..........cleaning out the litter box has to be positive in the long run.
Just one concern.............I hope the NHA did a full investigation into a)the reason for the debts(gambling?) & b)any "funnies" he might have been involved in.
or did they take the "its not our problem" to it's ultimate.............I wish I had faith!

Not sure of the legalities,but im sure threats of names being posted on Public forums would speed some bad payers along

conflict of intrest stipes lending money from trainers?

Sham Racing - you won't be visiting me while in JHB? Need to know so I can go into hiding lol.

@ Rob , yes he did gamble in Totes and Casino. Just stories about the problems. You would think that this was a clear case of " bringing disrepute to racing" . People with less authourity have been warned off for this.

@Mr H definitely, but we all believed "the poor man and his family troubles" After all he was a stipe so you expect there to be some integrity.

@Hibs, we are embarking on a hard collection week and will give all a chance to settle debts first.

You can expunge two words from the dictionary right now :

ACCOUNTABILITY

RESPONSIBILITY

Quote : "You cannot hear the cries of the victim for the whining of the accused".

To say nothing of the complete absence of a 'hard man' from the leadership circle of this industry/hobby/game/sport.

Homer, only looking for you to say thank you. You are one of the few that we can always rely on to pay on time. If we had more like you then we wouldn't be making this trip.