Graeme Hawkins - Champions Cup

"Hilton,
1) I actually get off my backside, as do many others in racing. We DO SOMETHING about issues and problems in Racing. What do YOU do for the improvement of Racing? Write on ABC ?"

SERIOUSLY?

He already puts the thing that really counts into the industry,his RANDS.Is he seriously supposed to be doing anything else?Administrators are supposed to run the game,it should be running smoothly,it's not the punters business to come up with suggestions how the game can improved,changed or whatever.

Unfortunately in our country the administrators seem so incapable that punters feel they HAVE to try and save the game by making suggestions,which ulmately are ignored anyway.

This has to be the most ludicrous situation imaginable,but it's the reality.

The administrators should be salaried employees who get a bonus ONLY if they are doing a good job,but from what I have heard the only target of many of those people revolves around getting the share price to the magical R14 mark so they can cash in their share options.

But hey,what do we know,we are only stupid punters who have got nothing better to do than moan on ABC.

Politics aside - I just had a quick look at the noms - and have to say Run For It looks the part (again) at the weights :S

Frodo Wrote:

---

> Politics aside - I just had a quick look at the
> noms - and have to say Run For It looks the part
> (again) at the weights :S

will shat in....put up top class performance in the July

OPINION ?? At the start of this thread I never saw any racial insult or bullshit with no facts- just an honest question. Sorry just my opinion wether I do or don't know what the word means and that is clearly your opinion which is good by me?

@ Rob Faux,

Your post is interesting, in that it slates the management of the operators (as usual) and blames them . You say that Racing in Japan, Hong Kong , Singapore and even Mauritius are thriving and that there is a common denominator which nobody is learning from in SA.

I disagree with you, based upon what I do know. However, my facts could be wrong, so I have written to John Stuart who handles the International side and will post his reply in full.

One of us definitely has his bum up his backside. If its me, I will remove it and apologise.

I often find horses that haven't run in the July often do well in the Champions Cup as the "July" horses were at their peak for the big race and can run a bit flat 3 weeks later.

Hi Louis,

The statement certainly does not reconcile with our market intelligence. I will give you a quick update for those three countries you mentioned as well as our other major trading partners.
1. Hong Kong - up until 5 years ago Hong Kong at 7 consecutive years of declining horse racing turnover. It was only their offering of fixed odds bets on football that turned them around and into growth mode.
2. Singapore - they, just like the industry here in the late 1990s, have literally been hammered by the opening casinos. Unofficially a decrease in racing turnover of above 30% has been mentioned.
3. Mauritius - I know for a fact that turnovers this year are down 3% while there is massive growth on fixed odds football betting. I don't have the exact number with me today but I think that this decline comes on the back of two years of double digit decreases.
4. Sweden - a decline in the last two years of around 5% per annum. Football betting is still strong.
5. Italy - turnovers in the last 5 years have declined by more than 50%.
6. France - this year they have a decline of around 2% but this has been compensated by them having an on-line licence to offer poker and fixed odds on sports.
7. UK - in a bookmaker dominated country turnovers on horse racing have been declining while that on what they call FOBts(fixed odds betting terminals but essentially games like roulette) are growing exponentially.
8. USA - over the last 5 years they have experienced a decline of over 30%.
9. Australia - they are slightly up year on year but on the back of a massive import program....on their international channel they have a race going off every 3 minutes.
10. Japan - in a tote monopoly country turnover peaked at around Yen 4T and are now around Yen 2.3 T, I think that this happened over the last 10 years.

So around the world horse racing turnover is under severe pressure while the growth in sports betting, and in particular on football, and online casinos is massive. It is interesting to note that in counties where operators are allowed to diversify they have been the most successful in either maintaining turnover levels or showing moderate growth, namely France, Hong Kong and even South Africa.

Hope this helps!

Regards

John Stuart

Rob, I am inclinded to agree with you, that here we have a multi-million Rand industry run by probably the least educated "group of people" in any industry in RSA. Thats not to say they are not qualified to do the work, but it really makes one think. This can however be perceived as a contentious issue that it is the "root of all evil" in our industry or not ? The only real issue for me here is that everyone who has an interest in our industry is entitled to an opinion positive or negative. We are not all in a position to change the industry but we are entitled to criticise/comment/voice our opinion on what ever we see fit. Those that are being paid to do the work should use this information in more of a positive light so as to change our industry for the good of all. The grass however is not always greener on the other side but comparisons are good as a guide and then used or changed to suite our industry locally. IMO we are all striving for a far more efficient industry and those in the paid jobs need all the help they can get to achieve this result. Thats why opinions/criticism is good for all aspects of our industry, from choosing the correct fields to profitability etc. Long live the sport of kings !!

louisg Wrote:

---

> @ Rob Faux,
>
> Your post is interesting, in that it slates the
> management of the operators (as usual) and blames
> them . You say that Racing in Japan, Hong Kong ,
> Singapore and even Mauritius are thriving and that
> there is a common denominator which nobody is
> learning from in SA.
>
> I disagree with you, based upon what I do know.
> However, my facts could be wrong, so I have
> written to John Stuart who handles the
> International side and will post his reply in
> full.
>
> One of us definitely has his bum up his backside.
> If its me, I will remove it and apologise.


Louis,it is the financials that reflect that the local product is failing.............and for those who can't interperate them,the CEO confirms it.
It is not a matter of opnion,unless of course you disagree.
Let me ask you the basic question?.do you accept that the local product is presently uneconomical?
Where Mr DuPlessis and I disagree is that he believes that only legislation can turn it around.
There are examples of management issues that suggest that effective cost savings and increased efficiency may well do the job!

I await Mr Stuarts response BUT the question I am sure we would all like an answer to is,that at the introduction of co-mingling,HE stated that the bigger pools would lead to bigger dividends.We know that it hasn't and has lead to general dissatisfaction of dividends,including laughable explanations(lucky numbers)............explain that first to restore the faith................ and lets take it from there.

So hong kong declined from 10000000000000000 to 100000000000000.


Shocking


Brother louis,


The question to john stuart really is which is the healthiest racing juristction.

All the factors above like casinos tc have affected everyone but i have no doubt that racing in hk is better than in sa. For starters a tote only system
is brilliant

Interesting that france ( for me this is the benchnark for super succesful racing punter/ owner/ horse/ ) only saw a 3% decline


I have spoken to richard branson and they are doing a flight on the 4th october that u can smoke on, so come to the arc and see for yourself

U know me too well Easy.....now all we need is to find a way for me to sit still, in one seat for so long....

But, u hit the nail on the head, in terms of a tote only system for Horseracing - I think this is what the CEO of PGL is referring to when he speaks of legislation.

So you saying no bookies, only a tote system??