Something big is happening

Don this is a great start and for me anything is better than nothing. My problem is however, one "right" and sixty "wrongs" dont make for a sound industry.
I dont witness any "house cleaning" and until that happens all the "right" will bring, wont amount to nothing in the long run. IMHO that is.

Thanks Don. You seem to have a little knowledge of this, are you involved personally?

And can I ask, is that it for phase 1? A new website?

Neigh, we'd like to think its the first step of many rights that will get the ball rolling to getting a lot of it on the right track. Yes there are fundamentals to get right, very aware of these.

Dear Englander, I represent the Thoroughpedia Team and part of what we are going to help deliver is the value and analysis information, and bridging the understanding of racing to beginners (and experienced punters etc). So, essentially, helping people understand how to read form which is a major barrier to entry for racing. We are also into getting people to know the history of racing and understanding it in context, and building a fan base. If you look on the website you will notice five flagship race days, this is where the physical roll out will happen. This effort is a first for the industry doing something together so we are expecting teething problems in achieving the different goals. We'd like to think it will work and can only give it a good try. Phase #1 will mostly cover introduction and adoption of the new brand and the goals, one of which is to experience racing - on various levels - so its a website, social media and more communication, physical delivery of hospitality service, and a little bit of learning about the science of racing.

Best of luck Don, it has to start somewhere. It's easy to be negative and let's face it, there's plenty to be negative about. It's in everyone's interest to promote the sport, if things were to continue in the way they have in the last six months, pretty soon we are not going to have a sport.

I firmly believe racing is a sleeping giant, you only have to look at what's on some of the satellite sports channels to realize that; If racing can get its act together, not just in South Africa but in other parts of the world, there is every possibility that it can get back into the public consciousness.

We are now entering the age of 4K television. Because of it's relatively small scale, South African racing is ideally placed to revolutionize the way the sport is broadcast. It does not need to cost a fortune and the South African broadcast product is in desperate need of radical change. I fervently hope that this is going to be part of the plan, if it's not, then someone in a position of influence needs to make it part of the plan and soon.

Thanks Donna and all the best, please feel free to continue to use ABC to help promote or highlight anything via the site

Cheers

Dave

Well let's hope this converts new, and especially younger punters to punting on horses-that is the measure of success of any marketing of horseracing.
I have become very cynical of the " entertainment" angle of horseracing !!-for years we saw the biggest crowd of young people, anywhere in the country-at the Cape Met- and yet turnovers reducing in that area?? So unless you link the party to an interest in the "punt" which is ongoing,it's just more of the same!
I do however hope like hell that this initiative achieves that goal, so good luck to all and "cheers" to bigger pools and turnovers.

For the new website to get a lot of hits there should be a link for live streaming on all South African horse racing on it. How can new horse players get a rush if they can't watch their selections run? Just my 2 cents worth...

8 hours ago they had 23 followers on twitter now they have 23 followers on twitter

Who ever is doing their twitter is not doing it properley

Please follow at get them moving @racing_itsarush #FF

They have missed a trick

Horse ownership should have been a big part of this launch,the "it's a rush" racing club should be launched

Hats off to the guys for trying something different, will be interesting to see what sort of advertising campaign accompanies this.

I personally support the entertainment angle to involvement but perhaps more from a participation perspective rather than an attendance based outreach.

We have seen with big racing events that the turnout is good but the conversion rate into participation is virtually non-existent.

The only way that this will be addressed successfully is by the introduction of more entertaining and exciting products, especially in relation to the initial and early racing experience.

Without a change to the product mix there will never be a real breakthrough with lasting benefits to the industry.

Get people to play as it turns them into instant fans and spectators.

rob faux wrote: Well let's hope this converts new, and especially younger punters to punting on horses-that is the measure of success of any marketing of horseracing.
I have become very cynical of the " entertainment" angle of horseracing !!-for years we saw the biggest crowd of young people, anywhere in the country-at the Cape Met- and yet turnovers reducing in that area?? So unless you link the party to an interest in the "punt" which is ongoing,it's just more of the same!
I do however hope like hell that this initiative achieves that goal, so good luck to all and "cheers" to bigger pools and turnovers.

I agree Rob... an excellent point