mikesack Wrote:
> Robert Garner then Racing Editor of The Star wrote
> in S.A.Racehorse SEPTEMBER 1988:
>
>
>
>
> Highveld punters are on a
> gambling spree the likes of which has not been
> seen in S.A. before, and tote-betting recorde have
> tumbled like ninepins in recent months.The S.A.
> record tote turnover of R10,6 million set at
> Gosforth Park in April was shattered at the course
> on July2, when the Rothmns July Handicap was
> featured as the 6th race on the local
> programme.Boosted by a R889,356 Pick 6 from the
> Newmarket meeting 3 days earlier. tote turnover
> rocketed to R12,5million.Highveld tote punters bet
> R4million on the July Handicap while the Pick 6
> pool EXCLUDING the carryover reached
> R2,7million.Gosforth Park fast becoming the most
> popular highveld racecourse held 4 of the 5 Tvl
> Saturday meetings in July and average tote
> turnover for the 22 meetingsheld at the track from
> Jan to July was R6,1million, a stunning increase
> on last years average of R4,3million.Betting
> fervour showed no sign of lessening in the first
> week of the new season when punters bet nearly
> R20million thru the highveld tote machines.Tote
> turnover for the meeting at NEWMARKET on Tue Aug 2
> was a record R6,5million xcluding a R1million
> carryover from Gosforth Park the prev. Saturday
> and punters then wagered R1,5million on the Wed
> meeting at Greyville. R4,5million at Vaal omn
> Thursday and R7million at Gosforth 2 days
> later.The boom in betting can be attributed to
> several factors.Increased discretionary income is
> a major reason as are the Pick6 and AN INTENSIVE
> PROVINCIAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.The prospect of
> instant wealth thru the Pick6, which was introdued
> to the highveld in December1987, combined with a
> successful AND ONGOING ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN have
> boosted awareness of horseracing to dizzy heights
> recently.People are flocking to betting windows
> with their discretionary rands and many others
> with money that cud be spent on necessities, and
> turnovers are soaring.EVEN MORE PLEASING TO
> HIGHVELD RACING OFFICAILS IS THAT ATTENDANCES
> ARECLIMBING STEADILYWHICH OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY
> OF CONVERTING MANY NUMBER'S PLAYERS TO TRUE RACING
> FANS.The damper placed on the economy by the
> recent increase in petrol price cud reverse the
> trend butfor the moment Racing club bank accounts
> are in their best shape for years
>
>
>
>
>
> This was almost 25 yrs ago only on Tvl tote, no
> SAFTOTE, no TELLYTRACK.So who do we blame for the
> poor state of affairs today.Is it the Lotto, the
> Casinos or the Merit Rating system?Also note how
> the midweek clubs held their own more than
> adequately those days and shows that somebody was
> doing something right all those years ago what
> with advertising when u had no Lotto , Casinos etc
> on the doorstep as opposition.
This was done at the same time that SARGA was taking on the jockey club and Tab,, this was most likely sent to Garner to print by industry leaders,,, Peter Duffield and myself faced George Morrison and Colin Dunn on a open debate on a TV1 news program where we predicted that racing will be on its knees in a few years time because of disregard for punters/customers, while Morrison and Dunn defending the establishment claimed what Garner wrote above
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