Why did Dave McGillivray resign from the NHA

Citing "Personal reasons", Dave McGillivray has resigned from the Control Executive of the NHA, effective January 2015.

The full Article appeared in the The Citizen's Racing Express Extra on Tuesday 1th November 2014.

Now this is a man with over 25 years of stipendiary experience.

This is how McGillivray summed it up :

He touched upon how different the world was 25 years ago.

He pointed out 2 aspects of Society, "Discipline", and "Respect".

These have changed for the worse, and as a result, life was generally a lot tougher these days.

"You just have to look at the way people dress to go to the Races these days", he said.

"And you can also look at something like this years July objection". Here were three highly qualified Stewards making that decision. And that was their opinion, he said.


"You don't have to agree with it, but it should at least have been respected".

Now, If only ALL Posters (Both those in the INNER Circle, as well as those OUT of the Circle) only recognised and accepted this as a FACT !

Bottom Line : In today's World, most people haven't even got respect for themselves anymore, so HTF can they have respect for anybody else or anything else !

He won't say he leaves nicely

But hearing he has tried his best to make changes but got no back up

Leseding wrote: Citing "Personal reasons", Dave McGillivray has resigned from the Control Executive of the NHA, effective January 2015.

The full Article appeared in the The Citizen's Racing Express Extra on Tuesday 1th November 2014.

Now this is a man with over 25 years of stipendiary experience.

This is how McGillivray summed it up :

He touched upon how different the world was 25 years ago.

He pointed out 2 aspects of Society, "Discipline", and "Respect".

These have changed for the worse, and as a result, life was generally a lot tougher these days.

"You just have to look at the way people dress to go to the Races these days", he said.

"And you can also look at something like this years July objection". Here were three highly qualified Stewards making that decision. And that was their opinion, he said.


"You don't have to agree with it, but it should at least have been respected".

Now, If only ALL Posters (Both those in the INNER Circle, as well as those OUT of the Circle) only recognised and accepted this as a FACT !

Bottom Line : In today's World, most people haven't even got respect for themselves anymore, so HTF can they have respect for anybody else or anything else !

I think Racing is the CLEANEST I've ever seen it - We have live racing on television so much harder to pull one up, better veterinary systems and technology to aid - What we need though is stronger application of the rules especially re In and out running and races being used as training gallops.
Many of the rules need updating and simplification in application.

I found the interview in the Citizen very interesting,and concerning -we all know what "personal reasons " mean in that context
I also had correspondence with him during his tenure and I believe he really was committed to better,more consistent,regulation.
Have to assume he received opposition to that position from " he who pays the piper"??

Did he want everyone to wear a suit and tie to the races lol??

oscar wrote: Did he want everyone to wear a suit and tie to the races lol??

No. Oscar. This is where that small element of self respect comes in.

If you haven't got it, you haven't got it !

Oscar, Don't let little things like this worry you !

must say when you watch Mauritian racing every male owner or trainer is wearing a suit

Leseding wrote:

oscar wrote: Did he want everyone to wear a suit and tie to the races lol??

No. Oscar. This is where that small element of self respect comes in.

If you haven't got it, you haven't got it !

Oscar, Don't let little things like this worry you !

So you need to dress in a suite and tie to have self respect - What rubbish! Tell than to Gandhi, Mandela, The Dali Lam, and any baby born naked in this world etc - What a dress code has got to do with policing racing is beyond me! 30 years ago Racing ownership was in the domain of a select few - times have change.d and the Noble Toff and his ideals have no place in the modern world - Some of the most honest and decent people I have met in Racing have no airs and graces even though they can afford top price yearlings. Dress as you like but don't try to force people to do as you do in the name of self respect and pompous tradition

I totally agree with dave McGillivray and if you race in most places around the world people take pride and get dressed up when they go to the races even for normal meetings ..

Imagine the scene if tomorrow all fans wishing to attend the Springboks vs England match are told they need to dress in a suite and tie to get in - Empty stands !! Move on the days of yore are gone - Wear what you want but don't for one moment think that going backwards will bring back crowds to Racing

gee its so hard these days to actually look respectable at the races ..go attend some meetings in oz mr hawaai where people actually enjoy getting dressed up going racing ..one of the reasons racing is so stuffed in sa is because many traditions are thrown out the window and really how can you expect to attract new people when if they come racing they see people dressed up like trash...

we all marvel at how well turned out the snaiths grooms are so is it so hard to dress respectfully when going racing?