Horse Racing South Africa 2020 Season

the hawk wrote: Okay so here's a poser for Clanners - and in no way am I trying to be "funny"; or "patronising" or "defensive" or anything of the sort. As a person who simply loves horse racing, I ask this most sincerely and honestly. "If you had absolute power, what 5 changes would you immediately introduce to ensure the sustainability and growth of Horse Racing in South Africa?"

First, drain the swamp ...

Numbers 1,2,3,4-

As the famous quote says - Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

These guys have failed period.... How will it get better with them still there?

People that love this game and have the knowledge to run it might be few and far between, but i also believe that there are a few that would love to bring racing back to what it used to be..... just not with the masters that currently run the show....

Horseracing and the clan/clowns who manage it got serious problems regarding not catering for the average punter and the regular on course race go-er...

Many examples of poor management and control is evident.

For the past 10 years I had to give up my regular parking spot at Turfontein during major race meetings, for the so called celebrities who feel a f for racing.

We, the normal punter should be treated as royalty at the major race days such as the Summer Cup, July, Met, Gold Cup meetings, and not being considered as being in the way.

I have been to the above race days numerous times, by choice missed the July in Durban this year because of all the fighting and alcohol on the grand stand over the years....food availability, queuing for an hour to get a cold hot dog, non stop battles to place your bets at incompetent tote operators, payout and change given incorrect and stolen by these individuals....

July in Jozi this year, one of the rooms at Turfontein offered a very below average food buffet for R325pp, the Saturday prior to the July meeting, we had 100% better food for R195pp... we are being ripped off and taken advantage off.

The walkthrough in front of the Turfontein pavilion is such a problem during major race days, scew gating, what a flip up! Who's bright idea was that?

It would appear that the seats/chairs on the main pawillion was last cleaned when Elevation won the Sun International.. people must sit there and nobody gives a S.

....now take a drive to any casino, it's like comparing unions with strawberries....

Racing at Turfontein feels like working on the dump and not having fun next to it .. what a smelly mess!...

Racing is going one way and it's not up.

I have been to Fairview last month, a course 20 kilometers outside Port Elizabeth, had to pay an UBER driver R190 one way, and could not get a lift back to my hotel after racing finished. No Uber driver wanted to drive all the way out to Fairview to come pic me up... I had to hitchhike with my laptop and cellphone, wallet....walking all the way to the main road kilometers away from the course. No public transport, or any transport. No wonder I was the only punter attending racing that day, the other people on the stands were stable employees...

You SA Racing is offering a substandard product, and you are going to pay the price for it!..

Read my lips.












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Bob, like you, I am of the firm view that part of the solution for South African Horseracing lies in restoring relaionships with the Bookmaking fraternity. They owe the Racing Operators nothing but it is quite simply so that Racing will continue to be underfunded if relying on the Tote for survival. And as you quite rightly suggest, a carrot needs to be dangled to bring some of the "open bet" turnover back to the Tote. For a very long time - before the Corporate era - bookmakers and the Racing Clubs co-existed in a spirit of co-operation and mutual respect. Like I said, Bookmakers owe the Racing Industry nothing, but I do believe that most - if not all - would not like to see the collapse of horse racing in South Africa.

Hartley SA IE Peter Gibson dispersing his Bloodstock.... that should explain how far the export protocols are down the line and how positive you can be about it ever happening, as he is the very person who was dealing with this... afraid to say... it’s doom and gloom and we’ve all pleaded for years for them to look after the smaller guy but it’s too late!

Frodo quite right we all saw it coming

The Saint.. I love what you say.. can’t stop laughing it’s so true

The Hawk.. you mean 500 things.. nobody is going to ask the punters, grooms, work riders, tote staff, track managers, owners , jockeys, trainers, journalists, etc etc.. and why should anyone.. they get the fat salaries plus bonuses and a punter must lend the management their watches so they can be told the time.. no

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A few simple ideas to improve...

A small reduction in take-out by the operators...will reduce the number of events in which you risk 100% of outlay for only a return of your money if your selection wins (those R1 win, place, swingers payouts that seem to be becoming more regular - Race 2,6,8 at FPark today - place payout on winner was R1 - the 3 winners had a SP of 5/10, 14/10 and 14/10) - there should never be a situation where you carry all the risk in a wager...but the high take-out by the operator creates this result...

Have more punters winning - even if it is smaller amounts, the churn factor will increase overall revenue...there are bet types that can facilitate that...people can only spend what they have...if it is gone, that's likely them done for the day or week...

Stop the pick 6 - with the removal of couplings, it has become the Lotto for the majority but a bonanza for those that have more information not generally available - and those that do win big will not return those funds to the pools - they have won their Lotto (at the expense of the majority, everyday punter) and are gone...if one wants to win the Lotto, take the Lotto...

Police the inconsistencies in performance - it is no longer the brain game if it ever was - the ARMs and presenters can talk about something in a horses "form" that justifies the result but all you are doing is validating the taking of money from the majority, everyday punter into the hands of a minority

Sort out the objection rule - I'm still occasionally irritated by the Wylie Hall / Legislate decision when I see some of the things that happen now and, but for a quick review, the result stands...

That's enough from me for now...

Mr Naicker, I can't disagree with anything you have said - except that I would keep the Pick 6 but re-introduce couplings. Churn is obviously important and perhaps we must look at a minimum dividend of at least R1-10, except for when dead-heats bring about sub-R1-00 dividends. Also, what Oscar and The Saint have said bare reference to a lot of home-truths. But, in my view, to rebuild a respected and sustainable horse racing business in South Africa, we have to start at the beginning with a funding model that can bring about change and growth - not an easy challenge by any means!!! I was fortunate in my formative racing years to come to know such great racing administrators as Sandy Christie; Wally Segal; Basil Thomas; John Alexander etc and we have to believe that somewhere out there, people of their ilk can be found to lead us forward. Even in the "modern" era guys like Michel Nairac; Derrick Wiid and Brian Mehl did what they did for the ultimate benefit of horseracing. We need quality "racing" people to lead us forward but they will have great difficulty without a sustainable funding model.

Been in Durban on holiday for a couple of weeks. Seems like Hollywoodbets is taking over this part of the world.
Perhaps they can assist................

I don't care I stopped punting and just follow ABC for (interest sake)....

the hawk wrote: Mr Naicker, I can't disagree with anything you have said - except that I would keep the Pick 6 but re-introduce couplings. Churn is obviously important and perhaps we must look at a minimum dividend of at least R1-10, except for when dead-heats bring about sub-R1-00 dividends. Also, what Oscar and The Saint have said bare reference to a lot of home-truths. But, in my view, to rebuild a respected and sustainable horse racing business in South Africa, we have to start at the beginning with a funding model that can bring about change and growth - not an easy challenge by any means!!! I was fortunate in my formative racing years to come to know such great racing administrators as Sandy Christie; Wally Segal; Basil Thomas; John Alexander etc and we have to believe that somewhere out there, people of their ilk can be found to lead us forward. Even in the "modern" era guys like Michel Nairac; Derrick Wiid and Brian Mehl did what they did for the ultimate benefit of horseracing. We need quality "racing" people to lead us forward but they will have great difficulty without a sustainable funding model.

Imo, you are 100% correct - a 'sustainable funding model' is where it all starts - and where 'the people that be' got it totally wrong in the last (at least) 10 years; it's been said 100 times before: bigger pools leads to bigger stakes leads to more owners buying from more breeders - so punters have to be enticed back to the Tote - and the things mentioned like 'spreading risk', no more R1.00 returns on a stake of R1.00, smaller take out percentages, 'special' deals / treatment offered to regular Tote punters (how come a bookie can give me a R50 voucher every month or so after punting with them for less than 5 years - but after 30 years of punting on the Tote, I am still waiting for a gesture that they appreciate my (admittedly small) wagers .....

So as Oscar suggests, I think there is definitely more than 5 things to be fixed, but the starting point has to be a 'sustainable funding model' - and to achieve that, imo one needs to take heed of the old adage about Rome not being built in a day - but surely a couple of bricks were laid EVERY day; so start with a 'simple' thing like treating your customer with respect - and go from there

@oscar and the Hawk

My honest opinion is that it looks like life is just going on as normal.

There has been a few wishy washy statements to talk about a working committee, consisting of candidates that would all appear to have full time jobs.

It is correct people are already in positions and are paid to correct the current situation.

I do agree that the "open bet" has not been good for racing, how the court case was lost to protect the intellectual property of the operators was a shock to me and maybe worth revisiting?

I also love my racing and hope for the best.