The Problem with SA Racing

racing doesn't need rocket scientists to fix it, it needs common sound business sense....which is not so common....and which cannot always be helped with education.

Another superb post Jack

Don, you are right but betting operators does have business sense which is why they have reduced their over heads, consolidated the number or race courses and diversified wagering operations.

The big issue is to restore a belief in the racing portfolio as solutions are sought outside of racing with a portion of this success returned to subsidise racing.

This is the core problem as there is no real effort to find racing solutions and if we continue along this route racing will remain a second rate citizen having to survive on hand outs and sub optimal budgets.

Faith in racing will only be restored if evidence can be provided that racing can still grow its customer base significantly. This has not happened for years and operators have given up on this as they see it as a bridge too far.

There are easier pickings being pursued at present and with many operators being listed companies the bottom line drives all decisions which will often exclude efforts in loss making or marginal operations.

The solution will be found in more entertaining product offerings as this will broaden racings reach and it will gain rapid momentum if such offerings are introduced.

Only when customer numbers shows real gains will racing become relevant again, both for operators and the media. The cycle will turn positive only when racing sees real gains in new cash from new involvement.

for sure LSU, this will come when the delivery chain is fully good, which it isn't at the moment - only partially so. What you witness on flagship days such as the Met, July and Sansui is good delivery.

Also, the reputation in the minds of the segment of the market who have + have not bought in (large segment is virgin territory - not talking about this segment) - delivery of a trustable and consistent product, on it's worst days. Meaning, delivery must be the same standard on a PE midweek as on a flagship day - bar the sponsor elaborate frills of course (I am referring to the core product only). And the image must be clean (eg. bad bad bad these first timers running....).

Experience and knowledge counts for a lot in a niche market. Of course, with the help of best business practice - input from business educated individuals, this can be made better and allow racing to take that next step up in delivery. The natural product is good - it's the delivery that fails, at various levels. Racing is competing with other competitors in the entertainment business on delivery. It is better to have a half-degree but full knowledge on operations lead than a professor who knows nothing about a horse, at the moment.

The poster who started this discussion had a point- racing is not steered by highly educated individuals in SAF, most have moved through the ranks and know the operations intimately and yes, mostly white (unfortunately this is true). This is largely because of SAF's political history (racing = Imperial) - and economic history. Just look on any flagship raceday - who is inside the parade ring, and who is outside on the fence looking in (racial mix). Racing is not deliberately keeping other races out of ownership - it is an affordability barrier and works the same way in any racing country. Ask yourself, at Ascot in the parade ring - the owners - who are they? And who is on the perimeter looking in? Is there a race divide or is it about affordability. It's just that in SAF, the two are linked, and that's a fact - but it is changing slowly.

Class / wealth divide...and those who have the money to buy horses are calling the shots and decide who is on the inside and who stays out...

with intent - you sure about that? any examples?

I'm old school and preferred the club system.......................although there should be transformation in the mix now if we had to apply this system again.

Now there's all the eggs in one [ 2 ? ] baskets unfortunately.

Sham Racing Wrote:

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> Messrs Basel, Hawkins and Wainstein have only done
> their best to bring racing into the public eye as
> well as support all facets of the industry. I will
> personally take up any racing related problem with
> them if the Forumites will put their name to the
> complaint.
> Mark


Mark

good offer,,, this does not need a pm,,,find out why the RA pulled their tiny R2500 pm ad on FORMGRIDS citing "we cant afford it"

Bushmanland Wrote:

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> Lionel Wrote:
>

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>

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> > So then sir, please tell me what's the problem
> > with SA soccer, athletics etc...
> >
> > Is it a question of race, or competency?
>
> The problem with soccer, athletics etc is that
> they were not afforded rebel tours at inflated
> prices which were sponsored by SA corporate
> companies and the apartheid government. Rugby and
> cricket players were always up to international
> because they played against some of the best
> international players, during isolation, on a
> regular basis.
>
> Do yourself a favour and watch the top rugby
> schools play each other on tv every weekend.
> Majority of the schools are sponsored by corporate
> companies as they in turn receive the necessary
> exposure. I was shocked twhen I saw that Paarl
> Boys are sponsored by Vodacom while some PSL teams
> don't even have a sponsor.The matches are
> televised - meaning Supersport pay the schools a
> certain amount for the rights to broadcast those
> matches. Rugby have a Beeld and Burger trofee for
> rugby schools which is sponsored by Media 24.
> Media 24 and Supersport are owned by Naspers.
>
> School rugby has now become semi-professional
> hence Garsfontein went on a recruitment drive for
> coloured players in the Cape. They can afford it
> because they are backed by their sponsors and the
> parents who have nop choice but to pay inflated
> school fees.
>
> The soccer administrators only woke up during the
> 2010 era and realised what the PSL brand and
> television rights was worth. All along they were
> paid peanuts by the state owned SABC who presented
> the argument that they wanted to broadcast it and
> make it accesible to the masses.
>
> As long as the disparity in sponsorship,
> infrastructure and television exposure continues,
> soccer will never progress in this country.
> Compare the facilities at KES, Parktown, Jeppe,
> Affies, Fourways to any previously
> disadvantaged/non-white school then you will
> appreciate what soccer players have achieved
> despite all the obstacles they had to overcome.
>
> I have never and I mean never seen a non white
> school with 3 fields, a gym, or their own school
> bus. Now if rugby and cricket had that headstart
> how long do you think it will take soccer to get
> there.

Our soccer team at 1992 far outperformed the teams thereafter. Please explain this, having said all of the above.
Agreed, the schooling facilities were not consistent. Has this been corrected with the new schools been built since 1994?
How many non-white owned companies are getting involved in sports in a big way, at ANY level?

Mister A,

Just spoken with Larry...
1 At no stage did you discuss the RA banner with Larry.
2 You spoke with Penny at RA office and told her that you had cleared the banner ad with Larry (this while Larry wasn't in the office)
3 On Larrys return Penny asked him to sign off advert and he refused as it hadn't been discussed with him.
4 At no stage was it mentioned that RA can't afford it. RA financials are very strong .

I hope this finally clears up this issue.

Mark

Very true, Lionel.
However, I have been calling, for a few years, for a racecourse to be built in or next to Soweto, up here. The potential sponsors are massive, the people will have easy access and real careers could be promoted in Racing. Not only grooms, who are vital, but also stipes, handlers,farriers, work riders, tote tellers and Owners, Trainers etc. We need a racing academy and govt would definitely assist if done properly and with good intentions. I would personally be prepared to help train Trainers.
This would be the greatest breakthrough fir racing in SA and I believe that this would ensure that we survive. A whole new community awaits. It must just be done honourably, fairly and properly.

Sham Racing Wrote:

---

> Mister A,
>
> Just spoken with Larry...
> 1 At no stage did you discuss the RA banner with
> Larry.
> 2 You spoke with Penny at RA office and told her
> that you had cleared the banner ad with Larry
> (this while Larry wasn't in the office)
> 3 On Larrys return Penny asked him to sign off
> advert and he refused as it hadn't been discussed
> with him.
> 4 At no stage was it mentioned that RA can't
> afford it. RA financials are very strong .
>
> I hope this finally clears up this issue.
>
> Mark

Mark, with respect , it means somebody is being a little liberal with the truth-how did you decide who that was?
The reason I ask is that I would then have to question the sanity of someone who would ask a question on an open forum if he knew that the truth would expose and embarrass him to so many numbers!