KZN Owners Association

Having been approached to become a member of this new group and having read about their goals at SAhorseracing.com, I would just like to say that I, for one, am all for an association of this type, because most players in the sport recognize that owners need some protection from racing associations.

However, as far as this particular organization is concerned, I personally will not support it if it has, as a hidden agenda, the notion of diluting the quality of racing in KZN by insuring that "local" horsemen are in any way subsidized at the expense of visiting horsemen.

Racing is about competition. Racing is a capitalist venture, not a socialized form of welfare.

In politics, I am left of center. But in racing, for the sport to thrive, it must be somewhat right of center in terms of economics.

Please, you new guys, don't move forward and get everybody all hyped about your new group if it is just being set up to make sure that the locals are helped out at the expense of quality visitors. That would kill racing in your area.

Everywhere provincialism rears its ugly head, the sport suffers.

If you can't cut it, then figure out why and do something about it by upgrading your stock or your horsemanship. But don't blame others because they are more capable of winning than you. That is not sport. That is welfare.

Barry, you took the words right out of my mouth. The very idea that KZN racing has sunk to such an abysmal level that any kind of protectionism is being contemplated is frightening. And, believe me, there are more than a few who are in favour of exactly that.

There is absolutely no way that KZN can pull itself out of its seemingly never-ending slump by threatening to exclude visiting trainers outside of the winter months, yet this suggestion has been floated already (although unofficially). Why KZN-trained horses (satellite yards aside) simply can't cut it in major races is an issue with which I have wrestled for several years, as long-suffering readers of the Sporting Post probably know. I have no idea what the solution is, but any form of exclusion certainly isn't it.

Mind you, winter season aside it would be almost impossible to dilute the quality of racing in KZN. It's pretty bad already. Jokes aside, however, I am all for free market principles and have already stated that I will have nothing to do with this new association if it advocates even a hint of protectionism in any form or manner whatsoever. Competition is what drives racing, and if you think KZN horses are uncompetitive now wait and see what would happen if they were allowed to run against their own kind for eight months of the year. The results, come Feature race time, would be even more atrocious than they already are, difficult as that may be to believe.

Barry's final sentence is possibly the most thought-provoking, accurate and memorable anywhere on this message board. In an open and free sport, your failure is not the fault of your opposition. To think so is to stick your head so far into the sand even your a*se doesn't show.

lets be direct the natal trainers are simply not good enough..the excuses such as buying power etc are not acceptable...many a moderate horse has left a natal trainer and come back to win multiple FEATURE RACES