How to get people excited about racing!

I have long been a follower of horse racing, quite closely during my younger days and more recently just on the big races such as the July or Met.

Through my connection with this site I have recently acquired a small share in Clan Classique (the syndicate’s first horse) and although it is unlikely to shape my financial future positively or negatively in any way I find myself getting excited about the game again – so what if the sum total of what I own probably equates to half of one leg?

What has really amazed me though is the reaction of my mother-in-law (Lindah).

When I first started dating her daughter she was horrified by the fact that I was at the Tote every Saturday and sat glued to the TV each weekend betting on sport. She mellowed a couple of years back when I persuaded her to invest along with a few mates in a spread betting exercise on the Super 14. She doubled her money and since then often asks if I have anything she should be investing in.

This morning the phone rang pretty early and it was none other than Lindah wanting to speak not to her daughter but her son-in-law.

She then proceeded to tell me all about Clan Classique first runs, what colours to look out for and that the trainer was a good one. She went into amazing detail saying that she (the horse) should enjoy the extra distance and even correcting me when I said she was 6 lengths back in her last run saying “actually 6.75 lengths to be precise”

Turns out she had been telling a few of her mates in the village she stays in and being racing fans and owners they have now taught her to study form. She has even requested a few rand on the filly already.

This incredible interest got me thinking that if just knowing her son-in-law has a small interest in a horse has got her so excited then imagine how many other people out there would take greater interest with a stake in a race horse.

My point is that one way to get more people interested in the game would be to create ownership opportunities that don’t break the bank either through initial investment or monthly fees – these opportunities no doubt exist but there must surely be more that can be done to market them to the general public?

Just my two cents worth and I can’t wait for 13h20 on Thursday when Clan Classique attempts to shed her maiden tag.

Great post..I got goosebumps reading it!

Well there goes the even money!

Nice post Brent.

Great feeling Sportingweb, nice post.

Good luck Brent Be wary of the cat if you are racing with him

Even Money! We'd got 2/1 the place - lol!

sportingweb

That's exactly what I have been harping about for the past umpteen yrs- entice the small punters to become owners and the chain reaction will take its own course!

Whose gonna bell the cat?

why not start a racing club? 100 members x 15000r = 1 horse,one off payment horse gets sold after 1 year,etc etc the more members the more horses

Can you immagine the excitement if the Lassie shits in on Thursday?

To quote a mate of mine if it wins my mother-in -law who is coming to the track may just try and claim me as a biological son!

My money is down

hibernia

Can we remove the blinkers and go for 1 000 members at R1 500 each?

Alternatively, 1 000 shares at R1 500 each? Allow only those who do not have colours (owners at date), to purchase / participate- what's letf, can be taken up by the regulars.

I am sure that if we can put the proposal to a newspaper (Daily Sun/Sowetan), we will get the exposure and new members in no time.

sportingweb's mother-in-law will get a preferential claim before all else!

The first horse can be named 'My Sporting Son'!

Food for thought, but we might have more in the parade ring than in the grandstand?