Public hearing into the closure of Arlington..

@umlilo

What is your opinion will be the best outcome as a result of the COE?

@SOODUM:
'What is your opinion will be the best outcome as a result of the COE? '

There are far too many conflicting interests and imponderable variables to hazard a guess.


For one thing, the emphasis will definitely be on the extent / lack of transformation. As much we can decry people with agendas, 'using CV's' to prop up their self interests (as LouisG) commented, the reality is.......

TRANSFORMATION WOULD BE THE CARDINAL ISSUE!

Unlike other horseraing countries/jurisdictions, where colour would not come into it for dissatisfied stake-holders, here, we have a combination of, inter alia, a corporatised entity (garnering profits solely for its shareholders), a contingent of competing stake-holders (punters, owners, trainers, breeders firmly entrenched in one camp or the other where nepotism thrives), and blacks who are now agitating for their stake within the industry.

Where it comes to blacks, the blame lies on the industry that they persisted in accommodating grooms as base labouerers at the lowest rung of the ladder, instead of having promoted / facilitated them to become trainers, officials, etc. At the time of corporatisation, much was made about ABET; yet, the whole process was eventually sabotaged and written off as probably Government's responsibility.

We are all aware of the adage; teach a man to fish.... Herein, if we uplifted the standards of the lives of our grooms, we could have counted on their objection to the COE!

Regrettably, we do not have leaders within the industry with foresight, initiative and commitment except probably to brag about their direct lines of communication with politicians and officials. Add to this, the acrimony and back-stabbing amongst themselves!

The alleged comment by the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee (after perusing my written presentation the testimony of Cde Simoto) that some people in the industry should be in jail is disconcerting, at the least, but not unexpected.

From my own experiences and having seen through the corporatised process, I can state that there is considerable merit in the statement, starting off with the legality of corporatisation of a sport with considerable assets which belonged to Province.... by extension and association, the people .... US! The old Provincial Ordinance was clear on how assets could only be dealt with.

The operators are solely to blame for this for their arrogance, insolence and non-accountability to those deemed not in 'their books'.... ask me & quite a number of fellow forumites about that!

A point that the Commission will have to delve into also is: the extent to which the media (press) & reporters are either manipulated or controlled by the operators/industry stakeholders. For instance, we know that the Racing Express is an in-house publication of the operator which allows no opposing points of view. We also know of incidenmts that persona non grata (amongst owners and trainers) are not given exposure on TellyTrack, etc. To date, there has been no reference whatsoever about this COE in the media by reporters who are so vociferous about the horseracing industry.

The best result would be a levelling of the playing fields, separating the operator from the activity (the NHRA to be a totally independent body funded by Government via a tax), bringing the sport aspect of horseracing under the mantle of Sports & Recreation....and, like the Hong Kong model, profits be utilised firstly for stakes increases, and finally, the format of ownership be overhauled to bring in the mass.

Balance of profits could then be channelled towards other equestrian sports (polo, dressage, show jumping, etc).... whatever is left, towards social upliftment projects so that the industry does not operate in a vacuum.

I trust that partly answers your incisive question?

Amandla!

(tu)

Umlilo, how many BLACK owners do we have in racing today? (By Black I mean Black, not your definition of black, which is rejected by the blacks themselves)

@sharkie:

'Umlilo, how many BLACK owners do we have in racing today? (By Black I mean Black, not your definition of black, which is rejected by the blacks themselves)'

I have not attempted to define 'black' except as what is the official one; all historically disadvantaged. I don't know which band of blacks have rejected this!

Unless, of course, you consider me Indian / Coloured, and not African (surprise! I also have African roots)!

But then, it is this type of stereotyping from people like you that promotes and exarcebates racial friction, divvision and animosity....(you bring in politics & I respond.... then, I am racist!) I presume you do not consider M/s Pravin Gordhan, Trevor Manuel, Roy Moodley, Anand Singh, etc., as BLACK?

That we have a pittance of BLACK owners is an indictment on the industry. Start off with the corporatisation negotiations when some of the whites openly stated that ..........

'let the blacks get their hands on the race tracks... and they will either squat on them or sell them off!' (now, who sold them off?) or 'Give a black a horse, and he will eat it up!'

One of the major constraint on blacks entering the game was that not only you had to have colours to join, but also, the fees went up dramatically! Mr A Sooklall (former Director at the time of the DTI, Gambling), made emphatic reference to this! Even worse, a foreigner black )Namibian) could get owner colours and sit in the pub, but a local black could not!

Taking pot shots at me is not going to solve anything except prop up your own little fiefdom and pride & stoke hatred!

Come with some credible comments to assist all of us to find mutual solutions.... play the ball!

Umlilo, Please answer my question: "how many BLACK owners do we have in racing today?"

I added my comment : "(By Black I mean Black, not your definition of black, which is rejected by the blacks themselves)", for a reason, as I knew exactly what your reply would be. I mix with many, many blacks daily and I assure you that they (every single one) do not share your definition. That is not the point though, please just answer the simple question that I ask.

Whenever you have the opportunity to watch kids,or even teenagers,of all races interact you realise that the solution will be best achieved when all those who wish to keep reminding them of the past,pass! (away)

is there a GROOMS UNION?????

gregbucks Wrote:

---

> That's the last time I back ''The White
> Horse''....()


next time it runs back BLACK BANDANA.....<

This race thing is overplayed , its just unfortunate that the grooms are black,obviously the reason is thru the advent of cheap labour during apartheid

We should not focus on the fact that the grooms are black but rather the fact that any groom,whatevere his colour ,is treated like shit in this country and paid a pittance compared to other racing countries(probably with the exception of that shithole ngong which is shoved own our throats)

The average groom earns around R2500pm.that is hardly a living wage ,irrespective if they dnt pay for lights and rent

soodum Wrote:

---

> This race thing is overplayed , its just
> unfortunate that the grooms are black,obviously
> the reason is thru the advent of cheap labour
> during apartheid
>
> We should not focus on the fact that the grooms
> are black but rather the fact that any
> groom,whatevere his colour ,is treated like shit
> in this country and paid a pittance compared to
> other racing countries(probably with the exception
> of that shithole ngong which is shoved own our
> throats)
>
> The average groom earns around R2500pm.that is
> hardly a living wage ,irrespective if they dnt pay
> for lights and rent


domestic workers are paid less but thats what the government law prescribes not so?..... and yes i agree that minimum wages are pathetically low.... what irks me the most is that the politicians who make these laws are the same ones who are raping this country financially!!!..... its about time workers stand up & demand that politicians be paid less & do more work!!!!

@sharkie:

I have no time for your games! You define black by mixing with many blacks as BLACKS?

I mix with many whites... what is your definition of a WHITE? Why isn't THAT an issue?

You are merely stirring it and trying to use me to justify your own interpretation! Sorry... I pass!


As for the no of BLACKS; why don't you request that from the NHRA?

@soodum:

'This race thing is overplayed , its just unfortunate that the grooms are black,obviously the reason is thru the advent of cheap labour during apartheid'

True, as much as we agree, it cannot be wished away. I have pointed out that, due to this over-riding issue, we face an extremely complex matter to sift one from the other.

For instance, a question: are there any white grooms living amongst and with the black grooms, as we would expect in an open society at similar salaries and conditions?

I would rather we look at uplifting and educating of our fellow beings.... the rest must follow.

Despite the TRC, there is still a lot of mistrust and hatred floating.

Finally, I have not pretended to have all the answers.... just my honest opinion.

What irks the f*****g living daylights outta me is when a trainers says"I rewarded my grooms with a braai" ffs a braai cnt pay for the groom to pay his kids school fees,med bills etc

How is it that a groom in australia clears the equivalent of around R15000 pm? Are the operators paying towards this or is it the trainers ?