Easy talks to Bortz

Well worth a listen 

EISH!

.....did not watch the whole show.....but get the gist....gonna be a teeth pulling exercise to try attract people back into the game and newbies when all is not so well....and the "tax" on entry into ownership from purchases at point of sale from certain sales house may not cover the operational costs of holding fewer meetings and having to rely more on the bookmakers funding the game....oh my

Very well put in terms of it's gracious few that fund the sport and I think the employees and contractors could show a bit more gratitude I never knew an actual race day looses money hopefully next year he comes right if Gayton is still around to get the department to at least fund the nha although it's better how it is because the operators can see the budget 

Although I am no longer active in SA racing I am still well disposed towards the sport. At long last the question I have been posing (as an effective outsider) for the last few years since the collapse of the previous operator has been answered : 
Based on the current turnovers how is this sport surviving?
Mr Bortz's responses during the podcast finally answer that question : It isn't..... outside of patronage. At least not at the moment.
Clearly horse ownership has reverted back to the province of only the very wealthy. So called 'sporting owners' such as myself appear to have all but disappeared. Although I could probably comfortably afford 100% of 2-3 horses in training (if I really wanted to) I choose not to as the process of ageing has made me reluctant to almost assuredly flush obscene sums of money wastefully down the drain. Money which I actually worked for.

I did post somewhere on the topic but I found the "fragile " position as far as the financial situation was explained well.

At the same time worrying that any business has to survive on handouts 😢🙏

Another interesting point the most he's ever seen play punters challenge was 17000 around 3 years ago there would be about 10k entries today I only see 8.6k I haven't noted previously but will keep an eye on it. Even at the max 17k people playing punters challenge shows you there's not much gambling rand left

We have just completed another hour or so with a few more "pressing" questions. And Gregory and I have an agreement to continue these over the course of time. For me The 2 operators are the custodians of racing, BUT in this case they are also funding and propping up the sport. Until that changes we should all do our best to work together. We should save the sport from dying through cooperation and innovation and collaboration. We can all start arguing afterwards who the next CEO or Head of The NHRA will be chosen.

Baring all of the financial aspects discussed here - the one major issue in this whole situation is the reputational damage caused by the 20 second rant on air.  It takes a long time to build up the reputation and to gain the confidence into the sport for international investment, in whichever form (viewership, sales, wagering).  What's the price of that damage caused?   

Have seen the jockey reply in SP and it's very consistent with above 
it's a pity it happened but unfortunately we can't change the past but hopefully improve the future 🙏 

I still feel the NHRA has a more important role to play going forward and are not blameless for the past frustrations being brought to a head and not only in this case.....

As Canned Heat would say Let's Work Together 😉

www.sportingpost.co.za/hollywoodbets-dur...eys-issue-statement/

Jockey Press release makes no mention of the punter. Strange as the lack of punters seems to be Bortz' major challenge in getting racing financially viable.