Barry Irwin comment on Sporting Post

What a well thought out and concise post regarding the state of the industry. Spot on. Obviously I repost this from SP hopefully they will not mind

Barry Irwin says:
DECEMBER 11, 2017 AT 2:56 AM
Michael Jacobs, you wrote: “The editor is clearly censoring comments and shielding the big owners like Jooste, Plattner and Moodley. The establishment is closing ranks and Sporting Post is part of the establishment. Roy Moodley and Hasso Plattner have been in the news lately, and a few of my comments linking these 3 big stories have not been published. It looks like “WMC” is well shielded by the racing press!”

Here is my reply:

As far as I can see, the racing press consists only of Sporting Post. You are dead wrong if you think Sporting Post is part of The Establishment.

We currently have what I will call a classic “barnyard” moment, as chickens are all about to come home to roost. This is not, contrary to what I have read herein, a “chicken little” moment, because the sky is not about the fall. Quite the opposite, in fact, will be the case, because the holes will eventually be filled by many of those driven from the sport of horse racing by those who are now departing or by their disgust with how the actual Establishment shirked their duties and moral obligations to do what was was in the best interests of the sport and its participants.

It is axiomatic in the global sport of horse racing that no one man is bigger than the game. When that happens, there is no game. Rather than 4 or 5 guys playing poker in a smoke filled room, the game now has one last glorious opportunity to save itself.

I hope the true sportsmen and women and stakeholders finally show the courage, passion and intellect to stand up, make themselves heard and take back their game, because if they do, they surely will be rewarded.

I have not been to the horse sales in South Africa in years. I know plenty of others like me. If all the dominoes do in fact fall, look for a resurgence in buying, selling, racing and breeding.

Bravo Mr. Irwin

.....yes Barry's stance on the way the local racing was being run when Jooste emerged to "capture"
it in it's entirety.... is well documented by the many more comments on this matter in the SP....he warned continuously that it was not at all "healthy"..... and when he announced that he was scaling down his local interests due to the perceived manipulation of the industry....the Jooste bedazzled band lamented that had done so because he could not be the top dog..... :whistle: ...
well in my view....Barry has always been genuine in his support and in no way has tried to manipulate, influence and tried to control any aspect of this industry....I actually believe in certain instances paid too much for his local purchases....I hope his message in the SP and re-posted here...prompts the right people to now act and take back the game.... ..

Mr Irwin, very reputable and had a large input into a US racing scene that found itself in similar circumstances due to the situation on prohibited and non prohibited substances - I recall he made a submission to an inquiry into US horse racing some-time ago - which gave me the view of a very balanced individual with genuine interest in the sport globally. -- Incidentally in that submission he had high praise for a 74 year old South African conditioner who never sent him a veterinary bill.

Gleaned this correspondence from the web..... an e-mail between Alec Hogg and Mayfair Racing manager

Quote

No doubt you have seen Barry Irwin’s press release about his withdrawal from SA racing


(if not, I picked it up at www.africanbettingclan.com/forum/phorum-...15/read.php?3,366612 )

He is obviously referring to your clients (Klawervlei and Markus) when he mentions a “coterie of powerful and wealthy owner/breeders”. Any comment?

Also, he claims there is no link between stakes and turnover. Has this changed? And I’m confused about the comment re no private vet at the racecourse. Any idea what this is about (have private vets been banned by the racing operators?)

I intend blogging about this but need to clarify the facts before doing so.

Best
Alec

Derek Brugman’s reply:

Hi Alec,

Thanks we are well and hope you are too? I have no idea who Barry is referring to and would be quite surprised if he is referring to “my clients” as he breeds in partnership with us. I have no comments on the political tones of the article other than that it is extremely contradictory and obviously self serving.

As far as the link between turnover and stakes are concerned you are better off asking the CEO of the RA but to my knowledge the formula has been in place since before you served on the RA board and hasn’t changed since. Thus the more turnover from overseas racing the more stakes which is totally contradictory to what the article states.

I can’t speak for the NHRA. Denzil Pillay the CEO designate could answer your questions re private vets on the racecourse but to my knowledge there is no rule preventing any private vet from attending to a horse on a racecourse. It is up to the owner/trainer to arrange it should they require their vet to be present.

I have read through the rest of the article and there are several inaccuracies and contradictions but I have no interest in debating them with Barry and or defending any particular viewpoint. Barry is a commercial person and he must do what he believes is best for himself. My money says the day our export protocols open up Barry will be one of the most active participants in our market!

Regards,

Derek Brugman
Racing Manager
Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd

Un quote

.....cant seem to find any follow-up on this.....was Hogg satisfied with the reply.....or eventually put under the Jooste spell.....