Should They Hand In Their Licenses?

With the Durban July now merely days away it is absolutely staggering to note that the local trainers have managed to contribute not one single runner to the field.

'But what about Lion's Blood?' I hear you asking. Can we honestly count a horse acquired from a Gauteng trainer in May? I don't think so.

The topic of Durban trainers has been raised before but surely the time has now arrived for a comprehensive investigation into the decline of this region as a training force. The excuses have been flying thick and fast for a number of years now but consider this :

Durban trainers have actually managed to beat a 'universal law' with their training accomplishments - the Law Of Averages. Given that breeding horses is part science, part guesswork and part good luck it is impossible that one major centre cannot fluke its fair share of good horses. Irrespective of horse prices.

I note, too, that the vacuum created by the underachievers in this region is now being filled by sattelite yards and long term visits from out-of-town trainers. Which is hardly likely to improve the lot of the locals.

Interestingly Gold Circle continues to reward this region with a higher stakes pot than its Cape cousins - surely a rather strange state of affairs despite the Cape appearing to churn out a vastly superior succession of performers. Not all of whom are owned by offshore interests as many would like us to believe.

I guess Durban trainers can thank their lucky stars that there is not some kind of 'minimum standard' attached to their licenses as is the case in many sectors of the outside world. If there were I am sure that they would required to hand in their licenses.

Possibly it is time to critically test the water and send a raiding party of the best Durban horses down to PE to establish just how good ( or bad ) they really are outside of the coddled comfort of their home tracks. I fancy they might discover they rate a little below par even against that less exalted company.

So despite their pompous self importance ( Racing Capital Of Africa! ) they appear to be the Capital Of Racing Sheltered Employment. Or so the statistics suggest.

Food for thought, Garrick.

Handing in their licenses might be a little drastic or premature methinks.
One would think that GC KZN would be alarmed at the situation, investigated the root causes and tried to address and rectify them.

All the more pity cause it appears Natalians have a greater interest in horseracing than most other regions.

ALTHOUGH I AGREE with what you say garrick i suppose owners have freedom of choice who they send horses to and many natal based owners have sent horses to trainers based outside kzn...as for myself who is based in kzn i am very happy with the trainer i have so no complaints from me..

Garrick do you follow a football team?

Are they one of the better sides - if so, why do the other bunch of w**kers in the lower divisions bother? I mean they will never make it to the top, who are they trying to kid, might as well give it up ...etc.

Need I say more - lol!

The exodus of prominent owners not helping Kzn tainers viz. Mrs O, Jaffees,
C Treger, Salzman to name a few

Strategic News

Difficult times ahead for trainers and breeders..I see problems coming on cash flows..many will fall out.

Jim, I think what Garrick is getting at is the collective poor performance of the region. I agree we do have less talented or performing trainers in every region and they are needed. However stats prove that the Kzn region is languishing below the other major cebntres for too long now.

Biggest mistake that Durban trainers did was not to invest in Lizard Islands.

Unfair to lump all trainers together.Some decent horsemen in KZN.The problem is that most have KZN breds in their yards.And I exclude the Summerhill horses.
Also without a shadow of a doubt the horse does better in Cape Town and PE while maturing.
KZN has the worst climate for horses due to the humidity and heat.
Everybody booms the big trainers but they have numbers,big yards in JHB get 50 to 60 TYO's
each year and race only 50% of them. Most KZN trainers dont get 20 per year.

Quite right Bravo.Was just about to say KZN could be saved by some more Lizard Islands.

Oh no sorry was thinking of another stallion.

Mmmm.. you banana lads have the knife out for poor Lizard. Ever heard the one about people who live in glass houses? Ol' Lizard has had at least 10% winners to runners in Kzn this year. That's not to shabby for an admittedly bread & butter stallion. Want to compare to the local sandwiches?
LOL