Horse weights

IMO we should weight the horse at the course on race days (same as Cape Town ). The weights should be published on tellytrack prior to the start of the race ( all Totes have tellytrack coverage ). Tellytrack presenters can highlight were there are huge weight losses or gains to horses. I am not an exotic bet punter, I generally finalise and place my bets after the horses canter pass to the starting stalls therefore it will be perfect for me to have this info 10 minutes prior to the start of the race. The racing authorities need to start this weighing process and later find ways to refine it so that all punters can be catered for i.e. exotic punters. I don't think there will additional expenses for trainers to weigh their horses at the course on race days.

I would estimate 90% of Tote punters bet one race after the other.
I think the biggest stumbling block will be Tellytrack they won't have 2 minutes to show the weight statistics.

The major problem is that the majority of punters have no voice - They sit in the totes and have no idea why the changes in weights are no longer read out to them -

What's stopping you punters standing together, forming a group of representatives, on behalf of all these poor voiceless punters? To stand as one and make a stand about all sorts of things? Seriously, what is stopping you? "The South African Punters Association". You can all pay an annual fee to be a member. You can get your finger in the big pie. Stop wailing and do something about it.

I asked some valid questions. And instead of debating constructively, like Don did earlier, you resort to insults and rudeness. Soodum... Yes I must be stupid. I have been weighing horses for over 12 years now... I think that gives me fair qualification to point out certain problems with the procedure. Unless I've been too stupid to see it all these years?

A few weeks ago, there was a heated thread on this very forum accusing certain trainers of being dishonest about their horses chances in pre-race interviews. Some of the punters here actually accused a trainer od deliberately misleading the public in order to get a better price! You people said it, not me! Would you trust every yard to give correct readings? There are licenced officials in Japan and Hong Kong that oversee and record the weighing of declared runners. A Clerk Of Scales for Weighing of horses is very necessary.

Scale calibration is a *very* important part of weighing horses. As a test, a few months ago, we decided to weigh 2 horses on our scale first, and then we walked them down to the training centre's communal scale. The weight difference between the readings of the two scales, was 7kg. Both were zeroed and tarred before the horses walked on. 7kg is a lot. And so you would need a specifically assigned official/ sub-contractor who would check all the scales and make sure they are calibrated similarly.

As for trainers transparency... This is NOT a call for trainers to make. This would be for the administration and cost of the racing operators. If it was declared a rule that all horses should be weighed pre-race, I doubt there would be a trainer that would refuse. You've really got to convince the people who have to pay for this whole exercise, that the cost is justified. Make a valid argument to the people that have to pay for it, not the people who have to follow rules Go on, get your SAPA going and do something constructive for yourselves!!

Ruby you have no idea that without punters you'll be weighing zip - and before you think that none of the people on the site have tried to take this up with Phumela before try reading all the posts on this subject(i tried about 3 years ago but nothing happened because Phumelela thinks like you) Punters pay for owners to race(almost every owner is a punter)
Wow Ruby your attitude really sucks

Where do you think Phumelela gets the money to hold races? PUNTERS and they are regarded as fools that's why local turnover is dropping so quickly

Ruby what you and your ilk should understand is that racing is a business like any other. You don't find people grouping together if the prices and service of the Spar are worse than Checkers and sending Spar a letter of protest - They move on and buy at the Checkers - That's why Racing has lose it's share of the Gambling rand to the Casino and Poker

Oh my.... I had absolutely *NO* idea about the importance of punters! Wow! And all this time I thought they were bitter little men wailing about their woes on an internet forum. Thank you for enlightening me! And running business? And putting men on the moon...

Form a Punters Association. Give yourself a voice. Tell them you want horse weights. And if they won't listen, the threaten a boycott. I dunno, seems logical to me. But I'm starting to get a *piss up in brewery* kinda feeling here... Don't think you lot could do it.

Ruby have you watched the Lions play rugby - they don't give the fans what they want so the stadium is empty - The Bulls perform so Loftus is full - There is no Lions fan club that decides to boycott the matches - The fans just don't bother to go as have the Racing fans - Wow racing is really in trouble if your attitude is the norm

ruby just make sure you never enter the corporate world as you wont last 5 minutes with your attitude...you really have no idea

Think you guys have just been hooked and reeled in by a chika ()

Same old story, no progress no will to progress. Charles Faull endless battle to get Racing bosses to hold Barrier Trials, to no avail.
Now concerned punters who want to see progress and horses weights issued going the same route.THE BRICK WALL.
Time for the operators to take the initiative.

No prima donna can reel me in hibs

I like a thinking woman