Kenilworth Bluegums : You Decide.

The press release about this act of lunacy now exposes the Kenilworth Racing board as a bunch of liars. Unfortunately for Zsuz, our country is so immune to this type of thing that nothing will happen to them. Racings capture is at the very least, on a par with state capture, and we now have our very own Nkandla "firepool" to deal with.

It’s criminal.


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Someone should get Carte Blanche involved.

I am regarded as a "bunny/tree hugger" so cutting down trees is not part of my make-up ...however as unpopular as I will be I see some merit in this action.. Racing is ailing so if an extra 500 or 1000 people can attend the Met or QP because the trees were removed so as to add revenue(I presume tickets will be massively expensive ) then I suppose the operator's have a point - Why they felt the need to lie about the motive for this is however wrong - Maybe those in the Cape can tell me how many people in the OFF SEASON(70%) of the year, I suppose , actually utilise those trees for shade? From the teletrack feed I think I would not be far off if I said that there are more trees than punters during those dreary winter meetings - I don't condone the removal but I understand why it was done and I think it had very little to do with water, danger or imported vegetation - Maybe my view is skewed as I race in Gauteng where we have 2 courses - one has a beautiful Rubbish Dump to create ambiance and the other is surrounded by mines and industry - I will say that the trees that surround the old parade-ring at Turffs do add to the experience and I would miss them if they were removed - I don't like what I've said but economic reality is often ugly

Mr H. - True and spot on . I agree with you totally . It is sad and I understand business.

However I personally do not like lairs and do not or can not respect them. When the WC Board to send out a press statement - Not Signed or a name put on it - Is the problem.

It is their race course they can cut down all the trees but dont come with BS stories , tell the truth and be transparent . How can we now trust this bunch or the operators who stand on TV with a Billion Rand company , making decisions on our behalf that effect us daily.

Dark Horse Thoroughbreds wrote: Mr H. - True and spot on . I agree with you totally . It is sad and I understand business.

However I personally do not like lairs and do not or can not respect them. When the WC Board to send out a press statement - Not Signed or a name put on it - Is the problem.

It is their race course they can cut down all the trees but dont come with BS stories , tell the truth and be transparent . How can we now trust this bunch or the operators who stand on TV with a Billion Rand company , making decisions on our behalf that effect us daily.

There is no reason to lie - Racing has evolved only to be about the money - The few lovely souls that watch Racing because they love horses and their majestic actions have always been in the minority - The majority of people involved with racing do it for money or the courses would be full of non-betting spectators every weekend -The operators should just have said it was a simple financial decision based on economic rationale and we would not be here

To address some of the points raised :

To the best of my knowledge the 'tents' are primarily for the sponsor and its invited guests so I doubt whether any ticket sales are involved at all. As many of you will know - the type of person that is traditionally invited often does not know the difference between a thoroughbred and a hack. They remain happy as long as they can consume copious amounts of food & drink. And maybe have the odd bet. Or not. To be frank - it would probably not make a jot of difference to them if the junket was at the Lanzerac Hotel itself or Kenilworth Racecourse. So as an event which will promote racing it is dodgy to say the least. Other than provide another sponsored day out for the individuals allegedly 'managing' this sport.

Much of the funding for the race itself is raised via extorting a levy from buyers at the CTS Sales; many of who bought horses not even remotely likely to be be suited by the conditions, distance or timing of the race. Which prompts me to silently give thanks every time is see yet another lot go through the ring unsold at any CTS sale.

That the trees provided shade is simply a pleasant by product of their existence. The reality is that the space they occupied may only ever be utilised three times a year ( Lanzerac, QP & Met) hardly seems a justification for their removal; particularly when the Met, for example, has effortlessly placed structures in and around them for as long as they were there. That they enhanced the overall environment is not in dispute.

The 'water issue' justification is spurious in the extreme. Drought aside - Cape Town has, since the early 90's, seen massive immigration from northern areas on an unprecedented & unanticipated level (estimated at 60,000 per annum since 1990). All of these souls consume water yet very little has been done in that period to enhance water supply & storage. The drought has simply magnified the planning oversight. If I follow the operator thinking then I must assume that the grass laid - which has now replaced the trees and PAVING - will not ever need to be watered?

This act is simply the latest in a number of unsavoury 'development issues' surrounding Kenilworth Racecourse which have inevitably cut corners (sic) or violated undertakings made.

I am reminded of Joni Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi' : They paved paradise/Put up a parking lot.

[quote="Garrick"

I am reminded of Joni Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi' : They paved paradise/Put up a parking lot.[/quote].....and the younger okes would remember this being sung by the Counting Crows.....

3 or 4 Giraffe Canopy Acacias would look good there, and be much cheaper than marquees for shade etc. They are indigenous and won't suck too much water and also not become dangerous by becoming brittle.

Alien species do have negative impacts, and perhaps the operator may redeem themselves by planting indigenous trees

Telly Track and Grant Knowles keep saying how great the Marquee looks . I am sure it does .

However Grant Knolwles said that Lanzerac are hosting the connections of the runners in the Race and invinted guests mainly Travel Agents to promote the Hotel.

Would it not have been better to do the same at the actual hotel so the Travel Agents can see the hotel .