Why Turfontein was not sold!!!

Plenty bagpipes here Mac (tu)

The posts above by J-pegged and Magic really have me wondering now. As I have never been racing at either Turff or Newmarket I always thought the grumbles here about the choice between the two was just a case of you can't please everyone and I assumed that ultimately the choice was the only one that could reasonably be made. So straight up, would racing be better off if Newmarket had been kept instead? Would it have worked, was it big enough etc etc (aggravation at not having both tracks set aside) ?

Good morning Jack, the big T is no doubt in the wrong area, however the facilities are world class imo

At the time it was almost unanimous that Turffontein was a far better venue than Newmarket as the whole thing was mooted as trouble free and would be done with absolute ease, a case of the theory seemed simple. However the human captital lacked the nessisary skills to take the theory into practice and rather than seeking
consultation which would have drawn attention to the fact that they did not know what they were doing, made a complete fiasco of the whole project. The loose ends
are beginning to unravel.

Newmarket was in a better location, and it already had the lights (although perhaps they weren't the greatest in the world). Turffontein has much better facilities and can accomoidate bigger crowds, but as hardly anybody wants to go there that hardly seems to matter, does it? Durban and Cape Town at least have one day a year when they are paxked, but if you ask me Newmarket was more than adequate for even the Summer Cup crowd.

Howver, the biggest gripe I have with the sale of Newmarket is that the numbers make no sense whatsoever, and one has to wonder why nothing is happening on the site. Even less has happened on the Bloemfontein racecourse site. Gosforth Park aside, Phumelela has the habit of selling racecourses to new owners who then let them fall apart and don't seem to want to do anything with the property. Once, maybe. Twice, I smell a dead rodent.

But that's just my 5c worth.

I dunno how anyone could have thought Turfies was better than newmarket.

I agree some parts of Turfies are very good( world class) not so much put the upgrades to the Ring, Elevation Room, Lites, inside track were all costs that could have be spent with more benefit to Gauteng racing.

I still find it very strange at the violent way they attacked Newmarket destruction. Deal was done, a few weeks later anything that could be sold for scrap was stripped. Then nothing for three years now. Just a big mess.

Exactly, Sly, Bloemfontein doesn't look very different. Recent Google Earth photographs of both Newmarket and Bloemfontein both still very clearly show the outline of the former racecourses. Unless you zoom in on Newmarket it almost looks like it did in its heyday on Google Earth, only in close-up can you clearly see it's a mess. The point is, absolutely f-all is happening on both sites. Recessions notwithstanding, I find that a bit odd. Look how quickly the motor racing circuit at Gosforth Park disappeared when it was sold and became warehouses.

I was actually surprised at those pics of Bloem that were posted, structure pretty much still in place, even the aircon's were still in place on the outside...:

GRAHAM HAWKINS knows why Newmarket was targeted for sale Geoff Moffert was never liked for his upfront comments which I tell you were ahead of his time THE EX lady MANAGER OF TURFONTEIN has a very comfortable job with RA ask Merle Parker why newmarket was the target she knows.Stop covering up peoples names let them be accountable for their actions.Jo Van streepen can fill you in on a lot of things he was an upfront chairman .Turfontein and Germiston stewards disliked Newmarket stewards it was like mixing oil and water.One main reason was that turffontein was a very valuable piece of real estate b...l sh...t and that the powers at that time said Newmarket could never stage a Group 1 race what rubbish is that.Newmarket was always financially in the black not like Turfontein and Gosforth.Also I forget the name of the General manager of Germiston but frankly in blunt terms hated Geoff Moffert.Tony Wintour was forced to move to Turfontein head office and Geoff forced out by early retirement can you now smell a rat. I could write a book about this saga but maybe some more will unfold.All the artworks at newmarket signed FRED STONE plates Bronze heads original oil paintings I ask you all the question WHERE ARE THEY hanging in someones private home I dont know.It is a bloody disgrace personalities have ruined racing just because their ego is so big.Analise these people mentioned who you think might be the main force behind the sale of Newmarket I for one can hold my head up and say I voted DO NOT SELL NEWMARKET and I am also sure the out spoken Ian Jayes also voted the same as me.Well what is done is done we can change nothing all I can do is list my concern.THE MOST PROFESSIONAL AND ASTUTE STEWARDS CAME FROM NEWMARKET but they hated us why because we were in racing for the love of the game and not just the Gain

@UNhappy and others with info:

Could you kindly PM me the following info within the industry:

The extent of nepotism and jobs for pals.

For instance, a wife in the RA and the hubby on the NHRA; brother in P and sister in RA, etc?

I fully endorse your observations regarding M/s Joe van Streepen, Jeff Moffat and Tony Winthour (not forgetting the other Tony...... Proudlock)...... far-thinking, honest and committed gentlemen (including our Mr Ferraris, Ian Jayes, even former CEO of Gold Circle, Michelle, etc).

The others were a bunch of connivers, opportunists and manipulators (out to make a kill out of corporatisation shares!).... no different from common criminals and fraudsters; sweet on your face, but calculating devils behind your back!

Another disgraceful development has been on the pretext of transformation, where not only decent people lost their jobs, but there has been this succint manipulation where 'black' means different things in the various Provinces to suit the local agenda.

Example: In Gauteng, blacks are deemed Africans only; in KZN, these are Indians; and in WC, Coloureds/Khoisan.

In this way, they are perpetuating 'apartheid' mentality and styming & demonising genuine, committed, concerned people from across the spectrum, who love the game as a sport........... to come together!

Think about it!

Nice to get a peek through the crack in the door, Unhappy you have but named the pawns in the play. The ever so suave Mr. Racing may have acted and been paid like a big shot but his beguiling coniving hand was forced by a higher power. He thought that he was going to be crowned king but his personal ambition overtook the passion for the game. He now suffers from the Icarus syndrome and we all look forward to his memoirs because he certainly has a story to tell. They even named a horse after him, it's called Smiling Assasin.

The lady you refer to must have even bigger tales to tell. Looking through her eyes must be for other racing folk discovering that the world is not flat. Just imagine filtering the RA boss's e-mail, it has got best seller written all over it. I just hope that I live to a day when the real story is told.

I have had feedback on artworks:

Regarding all the Fred Stone artwork which was at Newmarket, every piece has been put up in the Centenary Room at Turffontein and the bigger prints are in the Grand National. they were not 'stolen' and this is totally untrue.