I don’t pretend to have the answer but I do have some thoughts & questions:
As I understand it thoroughbred racing developed in a time when the horse played a pivotal role in society; literally providing much of the ‘horsepower’ that drove the transport industry.
Technological developments changed all of that & reduced the role of the horse (at least in developed countries) to something akin to a pet.
Outside of sporting & recreational activities there is pretty much little or nothing that a horse does that cannot be done by a machine; motorised transport being an obvious example.
Despite the above the horse has retained an allure for limited sectors of the global population although I would postulate that if royalty and the mega wealthy had shown no interest thoroughbred racing might already have passed into history.
This brings me to a question: Why are we even bothering to sustain the activity of thoroughbred racing?
I ask this simply because I believe it to be a relevant question.
Everybody understands why we no longer have cassette tapes, video recorders, citizen band radios etc,. There is no lunatic fringe lobbying for their continued existence. We also understand that compact discs appear destined to fall into disuse in the near future; following many other activities and technologies which we have all forgotten.
Even the transportation industry looks set to abandon the century old internal combustion motor imminently with enormous ramifications for those operating in that sector. So what makes racing any different?
Racing spawns a largely unnecessary breeding industry producing stock for a market often unable to absorb the production. To say nothing of the uncomfortable & stony silence surrounding unsold lots and retiring horses.
Outside of a remarkably small group who actually manage to successfully generate a living from the activity very few people prosper as a result of their participation. Furthermore the industry relies heavily on funding from the betting industry which is a relentless meat grinder continually requiring fodder to sustain the income flow. Hardly a social upliftment programme……….
So I am left wondering if we are just not ‘smelling the coffee’. A number of issues have conspired to place racing where it finds itself today. Certainly some of the problems are self-created and could have/ should have been addressed or corrected.
However – there is strong evidence to suggest that the current generation has little interest in fostering and sustaining this activity. They may well be the ones who eventually bin racing. I wouldn’t expect much of a turnout at that funeral.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dave Scott, Tony Mincione
The reality is that if there was no Racing historically and some clever guy decided to start it in 2018 i'm sure most civilized countries would not allow it
Entertainment. Sport, blood and gore - we love it - see Roman times, modern soccer, rugby, cricket, olympics and other sports. It satisfies our competitive nature to some extent - the adrenaline rush of being involved. And satisfies greed, no doubt - the money factor. Also satisfies need for stature, place in society in terms of ownership or associations.
Why do I? For the “kick”. That piece of adrenaline when you see your horse has hit the front. It’s just for one to two minutes. That’s why I can’t be bothered with “numbers” gambling or 90 minute football games.
I do agree that racing will be gone in the next two generations. Certainly in Africa.
.....sailing ships were also a mode of transport....yet then out done by steamers then the engine....it is still a sport and at the pinnacle are the elitist of the sport that plow millions into basically sailing around a rock or from one place to another....it did not die but just got very few involved but at a cost....so sailing a Dabchick is racing in Kimberly and taking place in Fastnet is going for the Arc.....:huh:
I think I see where you are going with this. Are you (also) asking the question that if something isn't self sustaining to some degree, how does it survive? It's not like we ride horses generally, or that it is the sign of wealth and prestige it used to be, or that racing is a particularly fast sport as it relatively once was.
But there are other instances where things survive to our surprise. We thought trees would run out once Xerox took over offices. We thought paper would end once screens and kindles took over. If we not printing so many books I think it's more because people read less. We though cinemas would die once TV arrived. Why do wear still wear ties?
I'm sure once we think about what and why we do lots of things, we will find we go past obvious utility, or usefulness. What's the point of a 4th cat? Why play hockey? Why carry on drinking once drunk? Why gamble?
Once I had watched a few races, I aligned myself with the winners. Then I looked at the form to follow up on what I thought was the reason the winners had won. Then I wanted to get value from my obvious (to me) talent. Losing didn't dissuade me, and I remembered the wins and wrote of the loses as life's conspiracy against us all. Soon I was into Place Accumulators and Quinpots.
Few years go by, now I want to get "in" to the parade ring, talk to trainers and jockeys, own a winner. Worst thing ever, fluke a nice horse that wins every 3rd start for next 15 runs. Then have to be a breeder, wake up one day and own a herd. If I had won the lottery, would have gone all in and bought the farm and everything else.
So why? Well, your colours are like a flag. Your trainer is your general and your rider is your knight. Your get to be the king. Other kings and queens around you sustain the illusion. It's a competitive thing, with money, and gambling, and the social buzz and you get to try fight above your division.
And then there's what Churchill said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Even though I am no horseman, I have found this to be true from day one.
So there is something for everyone, and all of it addictive. It's open ended, you can't really master it, you are always looking forward, it's 3D chess in life size with real money and the competition for the glory against people who are richer and stronger than you just make you more determined. And if you get it right, then it doesn't matter how much money "they" have. Ask anyone, once you involved at that level, you are alive and I think that's why so many people just don't cash-out.
The whole thing is a glorious and epic gamble, and so racing is more like heroin than a cassette tape and feeling alive hasn't gone out of fashion.
Last edit: 6 years 7 months ago by Tony Mincione. Reason: typo
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dave Scott, Muhtiman, Frodo, ElvisisKing, Garrick
Rather well put Garrick and food for thought no doubt as even other sports are in danger of losing their historical appeal as well with the modern generation more interested in e-sports than actual sport requiring physical effort. There are few sports that would survive if it wasn't for broadcasting rights as the crowd at home grows all the while at the expense of filling seats at the match. Cost being one factor and convenience another and perhaps the number of things on offer also becoming absurd as it takes away from the spectacle that these events once were.
We have to accept change but that does not mean that we should let something die because it will take work and creativity to get it going again. Operators and shareholders greed is the main reason for the demise of the sport as owners and punters interests have been neglected to feed the mighty bottom line. We live in a world where greed and power overshadow all else at a terrible expense to workers and ordinary people looking for fun and entertainment or merely to make a living.
Racing could be wonderful and affordable entertainment and still relevant as a great pastime for many if the right things were done to make it more attractive. I do fear however that the will and foresight isn't there to make it happen so the sports days could very well be numbered unless the true stakeholders can wrestle control away from those with only a profit motive driving their interest.
There is just something unexplainable about horse racing..............
Sports betting does nothing for me....... been there done that.........
Horse racing on the other hand is in my blood.
Unfortunately we do not have a racing culture in South Africa (anymore).
Where did we go wrong?
When I see the packed crowd at Champ de Mars in Mauritius weekend after weekend with the “rejected” RSA geldings and the racing fans jumping up and down with the horses passing the winning post, then I ask the question again:
There is just something unexplainable about horse racing..............
Sports betting does nothing for me....... been there done that.........
Horse racing on the other hand is in my blood.
Unfortunately we do not have a racing culture in South Africa (anymore).
Where did we go wrong?
When I see the packed crowd at Champ de Mars in Mauritius weekend after weekend with the “rejected” RSA geldings and the racing fans jumping up and down with the horses passing the winning post, then I ask the question again:
What went wrong in RSA?
For me when children were banned at the racecourses. Racing then lost the subsequent generations. And also shitty totes with zero customer service.
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