L' Ormarins Queens Plate - Really?

I’m sure I recently saw an advert for loyalty points for access to the LQP (?) if one attended frequently between now and then.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have read all the comments with interest and would like to mention two points relevant to this year's LQP.
Firstly ,apart from the luvvies and the darlings the attendance was significantly down and secondly the Tote blew a fuse for quite a long period of time.

I wonder if the loyal crowd that attends the Prawn Festival will shell out R350 for this - You cannot compare UK prices unless you work out how much in pounds the average person earns and how much of that is spent on leisure and then what percentage of that say 20 pounds would be - I cant sit in South Africa and say the cost of a beer in Mozambique is only R10 because the rand is so much stronger than the metical - It is all relative to the country and the earnings of its citizens - Also I would bet that there will be more PUNTERS (maybe more spectators also ) at a UK midweek meeting than the QP - I would not pay R350 to watch bright young things dressed in Blue And White swanning around (basically you are paying R350 to attend a fashion show without having an interest in it) - If you want to keep out the supposed riff raff then make enclosures for people that can either pay R20 entrance or even free and then charge ascending prices for "better" areas - I could understand if the event was sold out over the last few years but it was not so what added value is the loyal punter(who has paid for the stakes etc every-time he has a bet) paying for - If the prices do materialize then I hope a bookmaker chain offers a free R10 betting voucher in their shops and the loyal tote punters who are now excluded can spend their bucks on the open bet - Imagine if your local casino started charging you R350 to enter the casino just because Guns and Roses were playing in the arena ... I see the smell of the Jooste exclusivity still hangs around a fast dying industry

I am not sure exchange rate is the factor because basically you do pay to go racing overseas and normally dont in SA
The question is what is the logic to put a rather large enterance fee on this specific meeting?

.....keep the riff raff out....and make it only for elitist beautiful people....remember L' Omarins is not Tassies nor Autumn Harvest Crackling.....:blush:

www.amaaniblue.com/events-and-packages/t...s-queens-plate-2019/

If only I could win a few p6 over the next few weeks I'll invite 24 friends from ABC to join me on this very affordable train trip to the races

I went to the QP this year and yes was in the hospitality side of things.

I can tell you it makes the durban July, summer cup, gold cup, Met, look like backyard mini cricket.

The sponsor puts on a show beyond comprehension.

The hospitality side was packed! (And understandably so), however, not being elevated and waaaaay past the finish line, we would all leave the sponsors area and go to the “public” area (grandstands) just before a race.

I can say with absolute full confidence, that this year, must have seen a grand total of 20 people who were part of the “public” in there for free.

99.9999% of people were fancy dress and only around grandstand areas and parade ring to either watch a race or look at horses in the parade ring before they go out.

Now if I remember correctly this year was free to get in? I mean into kenilworth (not hospitality) and there’s a grand total of 20 people when it’s FREE?

You cannot tell me this is to keep the “riff raff away”...the Bettingworld (local tote) is 200m away...it is packed even on a Monday flamingo raceday, so your “everyday punter” goes to the tote there and because it’s almost on the course he feels like he’s at the track. Just like Club tab at Greyville right?

The high fee is without a shadow of a doubt the “marketing” idea a poster put on here.

Cape Town especially is all about the hip and class and showing off, “I went to this event” post all over social media milenials.

I totally disagree with the whole “rather let them in for free and they will do more turnover”....the people who pay to go in are those “once a year” punters who pay there R350 and play maybe 50 bucks a race cause they don’t know anything about racing just a few jock names and the main race favourite. If you let them in for free they going to spend the same amount per race. FACT.

Your “die hard every day r100 punters”, so what if they can’t pay 350 to get into the course? Is this going to stop them from still spending their 100? No ways. They will go to their local tote and still spend the 100. You cannot say that by letting people in for free they will punt more, that’s ridiculous.

Whether you at kenilworth or the tote next door, or the tote in sea point, or the tote in Claremont, what difference does it make??? The money is still being “churned” in the system!

The entrance fee has ZERO affect on tote turnover. Period.

No one goes racing when it’s free anyway (as history has shown), so why not try a new strategy?

These days it’s not “cool” to go to FREE events. And/or CHEAP events.

Look how dibolical the turnouts are in Durban for sports matches and concerts?

You offer someone I justin Bieber concert ticket for Absa stadium in Durban for 500 rand, they will say sorry no going to watch him at green point stadium for 3000 a ticket. And guess what, half the people at the CT concert will be from Durban anyway.

The “older” generation are very, very comfortable sitting at home having a braai and punting online with some mates over and watching the races.

It’s the YOUNG generation that don’t know a single thing about horse racing but go there cause they heard it’s this upmarket event and have FOMO (fear of missing out) mentality. It’s not just horse racing, it’s in all aspects of entertainment, across the country, and worldwide.

90% of the reason this industry is losing its “spark” is because people are absolutely clueless when it comes to marketing for the “next generation”. Infact, it pushes ignorance. The powers that be look after themselves and their cronies.

I am FULLY behind this tactic as a tool to now breed new blood into the game and make it an event every youngster wants to go to (18-35 ish). Without THEM, the Dodo will be more alive than this industry in 10 years time!

Thanks Bushy, excellent contributions.

Imo Bushy makes some valid points - the 'younger generation' should be the target - and if they are ignorant enough about financials (rather pay R500 than R50 for the same product) then so be it; however does this mean that the 'older generation' should just be ignored - 'sorry guys, your time has come and gone - we only target the young and ignorant'

Turning the demise of racing around will be no easy task but can be done if those responsible for the expansion of the game was committed to the cause. The old crowd of which I am one will benefit a great deal from the involvement of new participants but with these benefits only forthcoming when the numbers increase exponentially from where we are now.
There will be no meaningful improvement for anyone without managing to attract a large and active new playing and ownership crowd to the sport. This can only be done by making the race day experience memorable and attractive, backing it up with products that are totally punter friendly and able to generate more attractive pools and pay outs, and with better platforms offering easier and more stable access across the spectrum. While there is no will, creativity or budget expect the demise to continue and all of us to have many more reasons to be critical and frustrated.

Frodo wrote: Imo Bushy makes some valid points - the 'younger generation' should be the target - and if they are ignorant enough about financials (rather pay R500 than R50 for the same product) then so be it; however does this mean that the 'older generation' should just be ignored - 'sorry guys, your time has come and gone - we only target the young and ignorant'

.....yes target the fresh meat....us grumpy old men have gotten to wise to the lurks....we sit on blog sites and complain all day long....time to replace us with smart savvy up and coming.....with a facade of all is swimmingly well may just work for the day....but on the horses they will not continue to play.....:oops:

i got my citizen paper & a coffee at my local TOTAL garage last Friday - before work.....in front of me 3 - 4 youngsters bought 4 cans cold drink & 2 slabs cadbury chocolate - the cost R 95.00 ( not bad for something u will devour in 10 mins. flat :sick: :sick: )

I kid u not there is a PICK N PAY shop 100 meters away - where they could have bought the SAME ITEMS for probably R 75.00........ it's the culture of the youngsters, don't mind paying MORE, & don't like standing in queues.... paying OVER THE TOP doesn't seem to bother them !