why wasnt the sale of clairwood put out to tender?

day walker Wrote:

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> There was a rumour a couple of years ago that
> Jooste was buying clairwood and it was to be
> turned into a training centre for Charles Laird.
> This did not happen and there are always going to
> be stories running their rounds, I am sure the
> reasons for selling Clairwood must have some
> strong validation. Newmarket as far as I know was
> a rental where the owner/developer decided to be
> stupid and hold racing to ransom by threatning to
> change the racing theme as a attraction to a
> development planned. Phumelela made the right call
> (even though) we miss the track. Newmarket is a
> overgrown ghost town now. Remember Milnerton ?
> Some cape races don't even attract 6 horses that
> should alone justify the closing of that centre.


dont confuse the race programme with the size of fields....milnerton and germiston were sold for the price of a 3 bedroom flat in bantry bay these days

Pirates someone close to you can ask any question they want tomorrow night and expect to be answered truthfully. Just ask anything that you want. No PM's for me.

whatever happened to the huge racing developement that was going to be built on i think the east coast of cape town..i recall a similear glossy leaflet being sent around of this wonderful concept...the land was bought but to this day not one horse has stepped on it...anybody take responsibility for this expensive flop ?????????????

Could debate this till the cows come home ..... as far as I know, nobody has ever explained why it was necessary to sell Newmarket - as I remember there was lots of spin that the lights would just be moved to Turffies (yeah right) and that the rubbish dump is on its way out :S. As it happened they had to dump the lights to embrace 'more efficient technology' and I am not aware of any cost-benefit analysis done either before or after the fact.

So to say that we need to 'trust the authorities' to do the right thing is rather naive imo

However, from my limited knowledge the Clairwood issue is a little different; a realistic price is on offer and the location is not ideal to develop as a 'racing mecca' - that does of course not answer the question about why the sale was not put out to tender.

I would also like to know what has happened to the 'racing city' to be developed on the West Coast - is it still on hold or completely shelved? And while on the subject of 'new development', does anyone have an update on the Randjiesfontein issue?

robmartza Wrote:

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> We have been told that proceeds of the sale will
> go to improving the facilities at the other two
> tracks. Let's hope that that is the case...

Yeah, stuff like this happens ALL THE TIME. Laughable.

Titch: I like to think not....

I am not a GC member but my father is and more importantly he is an owner. He loves horses and his racing to no end. I see the letters from GC and listen to what trainers and owners have to say. All I hear is.."If we sell things will improve" When I ask why then I dont get an answer or I hear "we have been advised to do so", "Its the best and only option" who are these advisors "racing people" but are they really interested in the benefit for all concerned? My understanding, and this is probably very old school, is that if one is appointed (as trustee/director/manager) to run an organisation then one does this ethically and in the best interests of the members / shareholders / owners. Its about trust and I can only trust that that is happening. Again I dont see many business survive that sell their core assets and especially due to financial reasons. Delaying the inevitable is what it is imho. I hope clear reason and logic prevails because many of the decisions I have seen made since being exposed in full to the horse racing industry since 2004 doesnt encourage me to continue with the passion my father has for the game. Sorry Titch just my opinion.... you may call it what you will.

Buxtehude, Get your Dad to ask any questions you have. Just 1 of the reasons for the sale is that now that a port is going to be built on the old airport site the roads in the area are going to change dramatically including one that takes most of the bottom turn away. We cannot race like that anyway unless we build a new turn which probably would have to start at the present 100m mark. the Government is not going to worry about Clairwood racing when it builds the access roads for the port.

Selected extract from Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi"

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel *, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
Put 'em in a tree museum *
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

I always thought Clairwood was the best track in K-Natal. But what do I know?

Garrick Wrote:

---

> Selected extract from Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow
> Taxi"
>
> They paved paradise
> And put up a parking lot
> With a pink hotel *, a boutique
> And a swinging hot spot
>
> Don't it always seem to go
> That you don't know what you've got
> Till it's gone
> They paved paradise
> And put up a parking lot
>
> They took all the trees
> Put 'em in a tree museum *
> And they charged the people
> A dollar and a half just to see 'em
>
> Don't it always seem to go
> That you don't know what you've got
> Till it's gone
> They paved paradise
> And put up a parking lot
>
> I always thought Clairwood was the best track in
> K-Natal. But what do I know?

So was Newmarket and Gosforth park in Gauteng but we know....:X

reading the glossy leaflet on the sale of clairwood it was interesting to see that all 40 or so meetings lost at clairwood will be run at greyville but the fields at greyville will be restricted to 14 and maybe less on all weather track...besides the fact that less horses will get runs as clairwood accomadates 20 up the straight THE DRAW FACTOR WILL BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE AS AT GREYVILLE YOU ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ON A TURN especially races 1600 and below...not the best way of introducing newcomers in to racing...i can hear the bitching and the moaning from the trainers starting already.....one only has to look at maiden races at clairwood up the straight to see where trainers love to run their horses...sunday a prime example...huge fields up straight but if run at greyville plenty dont get runs and plenty can stay in their box because of the draw factor;)

Pirates the straight races you bring up is a very valid point. Scottsville will have to cater for more straight races than turn to make up the shortfall.

But why did they not rather sell Greyville..it woulda brought in more money??