INTERNATIONAL IS LEKKER AT PHUMELELA

Al I think the whole soccer 6/10 concept was introduced to attract the sports betting player to invest in the tote as opposed to the fixed odds offered on soccer by the bookmakers, if there was no soccer 6/10 pool Im sure that a vast majority of the players that bet into that pool would be betting with the bookmaker and would be lost to the tote...

Titch from a practical, perhaps narrow view and on the limited occassions that I do venture into the totes, I see the same people sitting in their pouring money into the totes. The difference between now and a few years back is that they are now also whaking cash into Soccer 6 and Limited payout machines. (Soccer 6 is a relatively new feature in the GC regions).

What I dont see is whole new demographic beating the doors down to get their soccer 6 bets on. If this soccer 6 concept is really all it is cracked up to be in that it brings new money, then you would see an increase on horseracing betting. There should be many who have a go on a race just for the hell of it. It would be a reciprical mutually beneficial relationship. I believe that what is happening in reality is that the horse racing punters are parting with cash on Soccer and limited payoit machines at the expense of Horse Racing.

It is only natural that it will be this way. You only have to listen to the excitement in the presenters voices as they announce the Soccer pools (on a horse racing channel - Tele"TRACK") to see where this is going. I would not have a problem if this was on an alternate channel because it tells me they after new money but promoting Soccer 6 bets on a horseracing channel speaks to something more sinister imo.

Titch Wrote:

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> WTF are people doing in the industry then, for
> those of you that cant stop winging, sell your
> horses stop punting and be gone...this continued
> bitching by those who do sweet FA but moan is
> getting ridiculous, if you are not happy with the
> way things are then leave ...simple.....or is the
> platform to spew your continued negativity just
> too much for you to give up???
> @#$%& there are some sad people here!!!!


Titch - I really admire your passion, enthusiam and loyalty to the game. You often stand up and defend both people and aspects of the sport which to some might appear indefensible. To quote a much quoted French philosopher : I may not agree with you but I defend to the death your right to say it.

But I have to point out an irony in your comment above which may have escaped you : If the remaining people were to heed your invitation to head for the exits it would further impair the sport which you champion and claim to love. In any event - they have ALREADY been preceded by MASSES of former supporters who simply voted with their feet and could not even be bothered to continue the fight for a sport about which quite a lot is very, very wrong.

There is without a doubt room for improvement in many aspects of the industry and they are being addressed but people cannot expect to be taken seriously when they winge at every opportunity and then when a positive is implicated shrug it off as "too little too late" ..a typical example is no matter how small the 8% increase in stakes may sound to some it all helps to pay the bills as will the 5th place which is to be reintroduced,Im not saying that we must all jump up now and declare all the problems are solved far from it...but it is however a step in the right direction and should be seen as such...

I wonder whether changes,advancements and improvements are influenced more by those who demand better,or those who pretend everything is already tickety-boo?
It is an indesputable fact that the financials reflect a decline in SA racing turnovers,and all the areas that benefit therefrom.
It is fascinating,however, and clearly illustrated by this thread that "positive" is reflected by an attitude that the situation is unlucky and beyond the control of those that run the industry and therefore inevitable.
The "negative" believe that racing could thrive with a makeover and improved management and better communication with its stakeholders,including customers.
I am very pleased,in that case,that I ran my business in a "negative" manner -

Nope you are right Rob...the game is doomed and will die a slow and painful death bring on the soccer 10 11 and 12....

No Titch,that is your view,and exactly the opposite of what I am saying........you really can't read can you?.............I'm getting that whaft.............lol
The game is great.............the present level of management is failing!

How do we remedy it?? can we put forward some constructive ideas ....

Yup,a strategy that often pays dividends is to have a good look at centres where turnovers are on the up and go and find out what they are doing right and implement or adapt it to our situation.
That would be a reasonable first step!

Titch Wrote:

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> How do we remedy it?? can we put forward some
> constructive ideas ....


How many ideas do they need? Seriously Titch there have been many many posts with ideas but as long as there is no open marketing and complete disrespect for punters and Slot machine racing the game will decline

I am drafting a letter which I will deliver personally to them with some ideas that need to be put in place...among others points i think that the people who run tote outlets should be held to a minimum requirement with regard to cleanliness security etc etc Club Tab at Greyville race course is imo how all the outlets should be run and managed..

Titch are you serious or taking the piss..........you would have obviously been polishing the bell as the Titanic went down.