I feel exactly the same as this guy

oscar Wrote:

---

> Its sad really, I love the horses, I love watching
> a horse trying, Ive been lucky to have many
> triers..a horse that runs as fast as she can for
> as long as she can brings a tear to the owners eye
> believe me, whether she wins or runs last. Ive had
> many, even when the good Lord has given them
> problems to deal with ( a horse like Soul
> Searcher) or when they half the size of the rest
> of the field (like Pacific Line) they still run as
> fast as they can for as long as they can and try
> their heart out. It warms a persons soul believe
> me, they just flesh and bone not machines and they
> try to earn their food and lodgings.
>
> Now if I cannot watch that on TT because small
> human minds are greedy then I cannot own horses
> anymore and I don't punt in the true sense of the
> word so I will be out. How many in SA out there
> are the same as me? I wonder?

Really a sad situation
How many has already left racing?
Passionate people leaving a sport they love
And all because of a greedy few...

Too true. And so sad ... racing has lots of potential but it's marketed with little imagination.

When I was in Pmburg last Christmas I didn't go to Scottsville once. It used to be that almost the first thing I did was to check when the meetings were and warn my parents that I would be unavailable on those days. Not any longer.

It's only one track, but my experiences of Scottsville have gradually, insidiously, inevitably, put me off going there. Many small things, but they build up. And I never bet off-track except for the July.

Some examples: My very first time there I was accosted by a strange woman who said I wasn't allowed to take photos of the horses (I am a keen amateur photographer) and when I said I hadn't heard of that, told me it was on notices on the walls. I challenged her to show me one but there weren't any - she was lying. Then when I stood behind the seats in the grandstand to take a photo of the finish, she was after me again saying it was for "Media only", which is indeed painted on the wall. Not that there was any competition for places, haha! I challenged her to produce her press card, but she couldn't. This lady kept on harassing me at subsequent meetings. Small things, but she was weird and rather frightened me ... if I hadn't been so angry I would have avoided Scottsville thereafter.

No toilets at the main grandstand (at least, I couldn't find any, they weren't marked) only at the in-course area. I suppose the Members area is OK, but I am not a member, just one of the Great Unwashed. Later I found one at the Casino. Yeah, the Casino ... if I was just after a bet I would have stayed there and never returned to the racecourse.

Bad expensive food, served with a sneer. A woman on her own does not rate any kind of respect with these guys. So I brought my own lunch sarmies, except for one time when {stoopid, duh!!} I came to the course without them, to find the restaurant was closed, reason not given.

Can I say one thing? If racing does decide to do something to encourage visitors/betters/the public, they need to be a bitty more sophisticated than they have been in my experience. One time (years ago) Scottsville made an vague attempt at being people-friendly by offering a guided tour. The "guided tour" went nowhere further than the parade ring - heaven forbid that the Great Unwashed should be allowed into the Members' hallowed halls - and the lady that led it was taken aback when I asked something about horseshoes. She seemed not to be aware that horses wore shoes at all. In fact she seemed to know zilch about horses, full stop. Her attitude was also, like, "I don't want to do this flipping tour and I don't like you and I'm not going to smile or welcome you or talk to you or answer your questions and the sooner I get rid of you the happier I'll be".

I've never had a problem with the Tote or the bookies, but maybe that's still in the future ... if there is a future. Going by last Christmas, I can't say whether I'll ever go back. Maybe, maybe not. Never mind other calls on my spare money, going there is like visiting the graveyard, and I've better things to do than mourn over my dead love, Horseracing.

all of those things and more have been said on ABC, in tote, in Bookie Shops, on the training tracks and the racecourse for years and they have never listened calling anybody with a different viewpoint Lunatic or bitter - time to pay the piper

He is right about the tab staff. There is no training in customer care. The operators have felt that this not necessary. Generally the operators feel no need to invest in training and human capacity. It s no use having the best training tracks when your face to the punter who is funding your operations is rude and disrespectful. Any successful company will invest in the people that represent the company.

I think what has been said on this thread just about sums it up for me - after nearly 40 years of involvement in racing my only interest is to read comments on ABC and read the Sporting Post. Playing the P6 stopped for me with the change in the coupling rule and betting on Greyville meetings stopped for me with the state of the going since last years July meeting. I think Mr Jacobs missed mentioning that in his letter. I still think that messing with Greyville was/is a big mistake - the all weather track should have been built elsewhere - Summerveld would have been the most logical location. To read in statements that GC consulted Royal Durban's and a bowling club green keepers is ridiculous - as I mentioned in a thread in July last year an agronomist should have been appointed way before last years July when it was evident that the track was in poor condition. Talk about maladministration - I think the word came about to sum up GC and the racing authorities generally in this country - enough said!!!

oscar Wrote:

---

> Its sad really, I love the horses, I love watching
> a horse trying, Ive been lucky to have many
> triers..a horse that runs as fast as she can for
> as long as she can brings a tear to the owners eye
> believe me, whether she wins or runs last. Ive had
> many, even when the good Lord has given them
> problems to deal with ( a horse like Soul
> Searcher) or when they half the size of the rest
> of the field (like Pacific Line) they still run as
> fast as they can for as long as they can and try
> their heart out. It warms a persons soul believe
> me, they just flesh and bone not machines and they
> try to earn their food and lodgings.
>
> Now if I cannot watch that on TT because small
> human minds are greedy then I cannot own horses
> anymore and I don't punt in the true sense of the
> word so I will be out. How many in SA out there
> are the same as me? I wonder?

Bud I am ! I said to Gav S the other day, I cant wait for this year and all my horses to run. I feel like a kid who cant wait to open his Christmas presents. That is for the future ,what about my incredibly priviledged past and the joys my horses have given me ? !! UNBELIEVABLE !!

I have said on many threads in the past we must all try and do our bit for racing in SA . It does not help if we are doing our bit/bits for the game , but we now have to deal the "powers that be"and their incompetence in doing their jobs for which they get paid. They are bringing our game into disrepute now !! It is IMO a disgrace the way things are being handled on all aspects and on levels. We need to clean house !

Mr Jacobs has hit the nail on the head and to what degree this will have an effect ? IMO water on a ducks back. SAD !
Communication is non-existant between operators and us (people involved in racing) What about the general public ? (the punter)

I will be giving the game a period of time to settle down and the operator's a fair time to get their house in order before I make up my mind as what I need to do. How long this period is will depend on what progress I witness.

I am GATVOL to put it mildly.