A change of mindset needed maybe?

Couldn't help smile when Derek Bruggman,who has just returned, stated in his interview today,how professional and popular racing is in Australia and that our local guys should perhaps look to do a fact finding mission..........the response was so typical............you pay ,we'll go.!!!!!!!!
Whose job is it to present a professional and popular product............obviously not the masters that Pretorious reports to,judging by his idiotic comment.
Surely,if your industry is struggling,it makes sense to learn from those that are making a success of the "same" product elsewhere...........I am sure there are common denominators that can be identified wherever racing is booming so why not try and check them out.

Rob, sadly, common sense is not that common.

hmm yes actually a very good plan, send them to AUS and Japan and HK so they can see for themselves what some people with good ideas in SAF have been proposing for a couple of years already - but will they have the savvy to implement good changes in SAF? talk is cheap and time is little.

A comment we hear often................................. people love their racing in Australia............Mauritius.
Lets try and find out what they love about it and why they obviously trust it.
What SA needs is for more people to love our racing so lets find out would make our product "lovable"

Julie? Lol

Just seen the Citizen a photo of Mrs O and Molly with the caption "lady and the tramp" ouch! Sure Molly would not be that pleased?

I agree that we should be going beyond our borders to find out what works in other countries . My ' idiotic comment' about we will go if paid for was never intended to be for presenters. Management at all levels need to gain positives from abroad and implement them into their respective divisions. Not sure who the 'idiot' is here....Rob Faux.

the idiots are the entities in control boys! those who could have made strategic changes that have not done so yet after much approach and good proposals in line with overseas operations - suggestions and proposals coming from people within the racing industry in SAF over a timespan of at least 15years and I am sure stretching back even further....alas there are none as blind as those who will not see. Let's hope this can change though....perhaps with exposure themselves and some deliberation from their own people at grass roots level there can be changes for the better.

2oceans,you were a schoolteacher.......if a presenter uses the term "we" would that not mean collectively?......You ,of all people,present yourself as very much part of the industry and the establishment.
Is "that is what racing is all about" not your favourite line?
Derek's retort showed he was clearly surprised at your reply.
Until your response,I thought it was only the comment which was idiotic!

rob the heading to the thread should be a change of management ...i have raced in australia and so have many others raced there and in other parts of the world but the current mgment do not want to listen to ideas they do it differently to other successful businesses or racing countries...what brugman said was old hat why he was so surprized at racing in oz is beyond me...we have laager mentality in this country

nail on the head Pirates. Dom astrant laager mentality. Its a shame, because the solution is within reach.

I would say "we" on this thread should = people with a passion for the game and want it to thrive or at least survive.

The problem is that we have plenty groups of SA racing people going overseas but whether it's a "fact finding mission" or "jolly boys outing" , is the question?

Can only use my own experience to comment eg

Ladies day night at Musselburgh (Edinburgh) vs Big T (Joburg) ladies night

Considering tradition, population etc

Edinburgh/Glasgow vs Joburg/Pretoria

Where is it promoted? SA only Tellytrack in Scotland in newspapers.

Always full house in Edinburgh, the big T only 15,000 max?

We have to consider the facilities at the Joburg track are different class compared with the Musselburgh set up.

It tends to be of pissed females ( mostly hen parties) very few interested in punting?

They have strong bookies ring plenty cash, where we are online/phones etc

Again can't compare boxes and eating/drinking facilities we are world class in comparison and also consider probably 15 boxes in Edinburgh and 45 in Joburg, the capacity in the old stand is probably 15,000 where Joburg can take 45,000?

So maybe we are not that bad, but always room for improvement and we do have that smell in the bad area, but probably Musselburgh is near a Haggis manufacturing plant?

Will also give some thoughts on how "we" can make a difference.

When 1 considers that Formgrids which is 'proudly South African" and an integral part of local racing used by everyone in the industry from Trainers to Jocks, presenters and tipsters alike cant get 1 cent in the way of funding from the powers that be then what chance is there that funding will be made available for any fact finding mission.... the question is how much longer can Mr. A be expected to continue funding this top class site on his own ??