KENILWORTH FRUSTRATIONS

Guys, think that there could possibly be room for all wether + 2 Turf tracks @Turffies?!?

Although I've only been there twice and haven't walked the entire track I believe that it could be possible with a little 'tweaking' and willingness to acheive - no?

Respectfully, Jim.

Jamster

I am in agreement that we need an 'all-weather', just not at the expense of the turf track; not sure if there is enough room at Turffies; I have already stated before that I believe that Randjies may be the ideal venue for an all-weather.

Any other opinions?

Rumour has it that the Yanks did not sign the contracts for our satellite feed and has put our night racing off track,I suggest we let the RIGHT people comment,as we could be grasping at straws.

Just between us, I suspect that a Polytrack replacing the inner course at Turffontein is looking like the more likely option at this stage, and will be funded from the R40 mill that would otherwise have been spent putting up the lights.

I would also argue that the right place for a Polytrack would be inside the inner course, and not on top of it. AW tracks by definition are tight affairs which lead to fast-and-furious racing, and off the top of my head I would imagine there is enough space for a third circuit inside Turffontein. It seems, however, that at the present time the powers-that-be don't agree with that and have instead suggested dividing the Vaal turf track into two separate courses.

However, this is all up-in-the-air at present and none of it should be taken as gospel, or even close to gospel. Time will tell, but Phumelela's recent history does not exactly fill me with confidence.

Sad, but true.

As I understand it, the Vaal racecourse is not owned by Phumelela, it is leased/rented from some organisation; not sure about the rental terms (or when the agreement expires), but don't think it would be wise to invest more money (by putting in an all-weather) in a property that is now your own.

But then we are talking about Phumelela; so I suppose anything is possible.

As Magic says, time will tell.

Going back to the Randjies option, I haven't seen any back-track (or confirmation) on the big announcement made a couple of months ago about the 'boutique style race course' to be built there, so if that option is still on the table, why not put the AW track in there? (OK, I am biased as I live close by)

Frodo, again I hope I'm wrong, but I think that is also going into the cold-day-in-hell department.

Tough trading conditions.
Cut Capex to ensure divie to us shareholders.

So no good news today then

Exactly Magic - I believe that there is room for a '3rd' track - which afterall could be used as a gallop for training as is the case in the US.

And then who knows we might even get the 'electric section timing' to go with it + the barrier trails that some crave. . .

Jim.

From the perspective of an American racing in South Africa, please note the following:

1. We Yanks HATE all-weather tracks and don't like to bet on these races.

2. We like to bet grass races with the largest number of runners possible.

3. I think Phumelela cares diddly squat about live racing.

4. Milnerton training center is a total embarrassment. Anybody like Mike Bass that can train champions there has to be a genius!

5. The lack of suitable grass opportunities for young horses will drive a guy like me out of the country. I am only in this game to develop young talent.

6. The single worst thing about racing in your country is the layout of the race courses. Where else in the world of big-time racing have you seen the draw as important as it is in South Africa? Your courses need restructuring badly.

7. Sectional timing is needed by your racing, as it will introduce an element that will help gamblers and horsemen alike.

8. Whatever you do, NEVER let the horses race on medication, especially LASIX.

Bad weather, dis-interest, poor stakes, abandoned meetings, fewer meetings, no alternative plans, no re-scheduling of meets, West coast development on hold, and as mentioned by Barry Irwin, "Phumelela cares diddly squat for live racing".
The Phumelela take-over of Gold Circle cant be far off.
Capetown is at their mercy now, begging for help, with 'big brother', rubbing its paws and viewing the (property) spoils.

The two benefits of an AW track are that, firstly, as its name implies, it is usable when conditions make it impossible to race on grass. It allows the wheels to keep turning, and gives owners, trainers, jockeys etc. a new opportunity to earn some dough where they would otherwise be twiddling their thumbs. It won't offer any protection against Gauteng's notorious lightning, of course, but it will make itself useful on other wet days.

Secondly,it offers an alternative racing surface, which some horses will love and which will give some horses an opportunity to earn money they would not earn racing on grass, or even the Vaal sand (which is as different from Polyrack as cheese is from chalk.) I firmly believe that the more alternatives there are to place a horse, be in terms of different types of races or different types of racecourses, the better.

AW weather racing is firmly entrenched in Europe, and not only in the UK, where not long ago the famous old Jubilee course at Kempton was dug up and replaced with a Polytrack. For instance, there are now AW tracks at such venues as Deauville and Rome, which not only serve the purpose of allowing the sport to continue in the depths of a European winter, but also create "specialists" who can boost their connections' finances by racing on these tracks all year round.

I agree that racing on grass is and always will be racing in its best form, but there are good reasons for offering AW venues as well. (Cape Town sure as hell could use one right now!) This is why, given the choice between spending the available money on either a Polyrack or erecting the lights, I personally would go for the former without hestitation. Night racing is great fun, but even leaving security concerns aside night racing on grass is still racing on grass. A Polytrack will give horses a shot at a whole new career, much in the way as the Vaal sand has done for a great number of animals.

What Phumelela think of night racing needs no further comment, escept (for what it's worth, which is nothing) that it mirrors what I think of Phumelela!