Racing in Cape Town

I fear that if nothing is done within the next year, Cape racing could disappear. Unless a large organization willing to make significant losses takes over then it will be no more.

what do you say of kimberley then oscar?

Kimberley should not exist as a racing centre mate

To quote a smart guy, the problem racing has is that everyone's an expert.

JD Im not an administrator and thats my opinion..who said I was an expert..racing is a business, no money no racing..simple

Oscar there no doubts needs to be something done about WP racing and the sooner the better but I cant agree with you that Kim racing should not exist, the tote turnovers they generate more than justifies their presence, we cant bemoan the fact that assets such as Germiston, Newmarket and Clairwood are being sold off then suggest that a center that is totally self sufficient and in fact turning a profit has no place on the racing calender ??

I am with Titch on this one. Flamingo Park is a going concern... and it carries it's own weight. Western Cape has two tracks, the patronage of wealthy owners, excellent racehorses, very competent trainers .... but is a leaking ship !! Also appears to be rudderless, and clueless.

Racing is a business. Well, I suppose it is, or perhaps it's nice if it is. If racing has to be a business, it wouldn't have survived in Zim or work in Mauritius. In HK it's a non profit organisation.

Racing wasn't always a business, it started because people wanted to race and therefore the model was Clubs for a long, long time.

The majority of people involved in racing, to guess 90%, are not in it as a business. They are in it as entertainment and EXPECT to pay ultimately. From the punters competition the other day, where the "winner" was the bloke who lost the least, to the bloke who led in the July winner..none of them expect to profit, or even ask for a guarantee.....they just want a shot.

Hardly an owner or a punter is a nett winner, and of those who think they are, a fair percentage are fooling themselves.

If CT disappears, it wont be because of money (also like you, this is my opinion), but because people will get aggravated or lose heart. It will be because we give up on the people we trusted to take care of it for us while we were at work.

I often wonder why racing people, including here on ABC, seem to think they are owed something?

If racing was not run like a business by Phum it wlda been gone..yes we don't agree with some things they did however I personally cannot complain as I was not in the boardroom when decisions were taken, so therefore do not know all the facts. All I am saying is that if things continue like they are in Cape Town the owners will move..that I can promise you..nobody pays for horses to look pretty in their boxes. As regards Kimberley, if it is paying its way then yes it must stay however I ask the question..."how is it possible to have racing in Kimberley which is self supporting and not in Cape Town"...please can someone answer that?

Oscar, when you say "If racing was not run like a business by Phum", what do you mean? If it were not run as a business, but rather run as what?

Shares were sold at 50c (which is now proven to have been a giveaway), and dividends will be paid to those shareholders forever now, of which racing itself has a smaller share and the balance goes out. You banging a big drum for business as if it's the ultimate solution for everyone.

As a matter of interest, would racing in P-racing be stronger if it had all the dividends, or if it could buy back the shares and quadruple the original selling price? Who says the business model it the best?

WC racing will not survive in its current form. With 1 2 3 tracks makes no difference.

The centre will survive with big owners and a few big yards. Smaller patrons will move their patronage to KZN EC and Gauteng.

Premier events like the Yearling sales, Met etc will survive as premier events but only due to racing enthusiasm not any managment succeses.

Kimberley although boring as hell is a requirement but should not be considered a success its just better than not having anything. The logistics to get there for a 36 odd meeting a year is mind blowlingly short sighted. vs. Bloem or better implemented Vaal Strategy.

Blame Blame Blame thats the name of the game.

I think the term "economically viable" is a more appropriate term than businesslike......................very few activities survive unless they are viable!
The problem with business like is that there is good business and bad business.................I cannot agree with Oscar that "P" saved racing with "good business"................the business strategy is asset stripping which delays the inevitable but also ensures the inevitable........you can't prop up the balance sheet forever as eventually the cupboard is bare.
I expressed the concern +- 5 years ago and still it goes on (Arlington)