Met’s Bolt From The Blue

Olympic sprinting legend Usain Bolt will be hosting Africa’s Richest Race Day, the Sun Met, celebrated with GH Mumm Champagne, on 27 January at Kenilworth in Cape Town.
‘The tote window is over there’ – Usain Bolt in familiar pose
This announcement was made at a function at the Grand Africa Cafe and Beach on Wednesday evening, with the charismatic Bolt beckoning fans, “Watch out – I’m on my way!”

Eugene Boniface of Sun International said: ‘This is a massive day for us with the Sun Met one of South Africa’s epic horse races. We’re finding ways to pair it as a sister race to other big ones around the world, such as the Investec Derby at Epsom and the Melbourne Cup.”

The now retired 31 year old Jamaican Usain Bolt was the first person to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world records since fully automatic time became mandatory.

While the announcement was being made in Cape Town, the Olympic legend was in Mexico showing off his career honours in front of fans at a luxury event.

Bolt made the trip over to North America to attend a event put on by luxury watchmakers Hublot, of which he is one of several high profile ambassadors.

The sprinting star has been keeping busy after hanging up his spikes for good at the World Athletic Championships in London earlier this year, jetting across the globe on various promotional events.

Thats a big coup

Massive coup Dave, SunMet will be something special next year

I know I'll probably be labored as a spoil sport, but Mr Bolt's presence would not entice me to attend - at least he will in all likelihood be less offending to the ears than Mia Casa

Imo, a race day should be about horses, so how about getting some of the stud farms to parade their resident stallions - would be much cheaper than the other 'glamour' options

But it will entice non regular horse players and I think that's great

Frodo wrote: I know I'll probably be labored as a spoil sport, but Mr Bolt's presence would not entice me to attend - at least he will in all likelihood be less offending to the ears than Mia Casa

Imo, a race day should be about horses, so how about getting some of the stud farms to parade their resident stallions - would be much cheaper than the other 'glamour' options

Bolt has 18 million followers on Facebook
Mi Casa 700k
Racing It's a Rush - 22k
so you can see why any marketer would try to use these 2 when RTR has less followers on FB than people that attend the July
Wayde Van Niekerk has 55k

There is more chance that Joe Public would go to the Met/Summer Cup to see any of these people than a race with Black Caviar, Horse Chestnut, Frankel and Winx - Reality is that we race fans are a tiny minority and our product has little interest for the public unless it is dressed up as a social event with the racing as window dressing

Frodo wrote: I know I'll probably be labored as a spoil sport, but Mr Bolt's presence would not entice me to attend - at least he will in all likelihood be less offending to the ears than Mia Casa

Imo, a race day should be about horses, so how about getting some of the stud farms to parade their resident stallions - would be much cheaper than the other 'glamour' options

I think that the combination of the two will be better. Most non racing folk won't care about the stallions etc (IMO). But they will care about a celebrity like Bolt. Get them to the course and then educate and entertain them with the racing industry draw cards, like the stallions etc. they can also address burning issues like what happens to horses that leave the industry (have one or two examples there as well).

The prerogative should be to use celebs as a catalyst to grow interest in the sport. Otherwise it will be pointless.

I fully understand the desire to get non-racing folk racing - so perhaps 1% of those attending will get hooked - and next year another 'drawcard' is needed - still I accept that doing 'something' is better than doing nothing - just does not do it for me, that's all I'm saying :ohmy:

Lionel wrote:

Frodo wrote: I know I'll probably be labored as a spoil sport, but Mr Bolt's presence would not entice me to attend - at least he will in all likelihood be less offending to the ears than Mia Casa

Imo, a race day should be about horses, so how about getting some of the stud farms to parade their resident stallions - would be much cheaper than the other 'glamour' options

I think that the combination of the two will be better. Most non racing folk won't care about the stallions etc (IMO). But they will care about a celebrity like Bolt. Get them to the course and then educate and entertain them with the racing industry draw cards, like the stallions etc. they can also address burning issues like what happens to horses that leave the industry (have one or two examples there as well).

The prerogative should be to use celebs as a catalyst to grow interest in the sport. Otherwise it will be pointless.

The answer is to find celebs that have a REAL interest in Racing not just popular people (RTR got their hands burned with celebs that had zero interest in Racing but enjoyed the money they got for saying they did) - Someone like Michael Owen is perfect(we need to find local guys/girls that are celebs that enjoy owning and PUNTING.

Hopefully they don’t go crazy with the ticket prices

Frodo wrote: I fully understand the desire to get non-racing folk racing - so perhaps 1% of those attending will get hooked - and next year another 'drawcard' is needed - still I accept that doing 'something' is better than doing nothing - just does not do it for me, that's all I'm saying :ohmy:

I have seen it work before - a room full of non punters and with the correct help from the operator turnover was up drastically on both days I was involved - Not to say that addicts or regular punters were created but the bottom line was up on the day drastically and people left with a good experience of Racing and knew how to take simple bets if they ever wanted to do so in the future.

mr hawaii wrote:

Frodo wrote: I fully understand the desire to get non-racing folk racing - so perhaps 1% of those attending will get hooked - and next year another 'drawcard' is needed - still I accept that doing 'something' is better than doing nothing - just does not do it for me, that's all I'm saying :ohmy:

I have seen it work before - a room full of non punters and with the correct help from the operator turnover was up drastically on both days I was involved - Not to say that addicts or regular punters were created but the bottom line was up on the day drastically and people left with a good experience of Racing and knew how to take simple bets if they ever wanted to do so in the future.

Can't fault that approach