Just Wondering................

In the last year or so I have been convinced that many of the ills currently being experienced by racing have as much to do with the affordability (or lack thereof) of the sport's traditional support base than anything else.

I have also watched in absolute amazement as selected high profile individuals have displayed seemingly bottomless pockets as they upped their interests in the game.

As most will know - many people have historically attempted to 'own' the sport and, almost without exception, have 'gone out'.

Optimists will point to the Arabs as being the exception to the rule. I would contend that you need a 'nation sized' budget, accompanied by a legion of taxpayers, to sustain the costs. Few of us mere mortals have those!

Current developments in the local financial markets are making me wonder once again whether, perhaps, a seismic shift might be about to take place involving some of our leading owners.

I speculate this because the JD Group - largely owned by Steinhoff International - has just reported a R1,92 BILLION loss. First domino? Who knows. Certainly I don't.......

Maybe it is time to reflect on the prophetic words of Winston Churchill who, after the first major Allied victory of WW2 at El Alamein, quipped :

This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Food for thought?

As always very good Garrick

Minimum buy in international syndicates are the way to go. Grrrrr

One factor currently left out of the equation for the effective measurement of the racing industry is the influence by greed in SA. The consequences of greed are corruption and maladministration (after "transformation" is implemented) by the top structures. An example is when "they" ban Betfair transactions, to get their hands on a bigger pie. Smaller stakeholders such as some jockeys and some trainers have no option to join the race and bad cultural influence which they can't get legally because of the transformation changes. Once an apple get vrot at one side, it effects the the whole product.

Last week I bought Steinhoff shares. Now they are up 3.5% on cost.

It can be baffling.

As the MD says to his accountant "what's the bottom line " and he replies " what would you like it to be sir"

Own Horseracing IMPOSSIBLE
Why Because somebody can buy a cheap horse and win the Group 1 races
Not easy but it happens

Remember?
Robert Sangster
Nelson Bunker Hunt
Sheik Mohammed
NEXT

Nelson Bunker Hunt . I was just a kid starting the horses and he owned that crack mare (name?) who won one or two Arc's. What I found fascinating about him is that he tried to corner the silver market and even he came short. He had guts.

Dahlia was her name. She was also the first mare to earn $1million on the track.

I remember the star Dahlia

elmer wrote: Own Horseracing IMPOSSIBLE
Why Because somebody can buy a cheap horse and win the Group 1 races
Not easy but it happens

Remember?
Robert Sangster
Nelson Bunker Hunt
Sheik Mohammed
NEXT

Not sure I'm with you Elmer.....................You can own the casino regardless of how many minnows win the odd jackpot!
(I think "owning" here means financial control of the product ,not controlling the racing with horses)