Tellytrack- we deserve better

Agreed - second independant channel is the only answer. Sell advertising space to breeders, feeders, vets, Fariers, transporters, trainers etc. Would be a nice way for industry pros to reinvest.

The remaining space to be sold to an industry not directly related to racing. Partner must be flexible though. Mentioned it before SA fashion has ties to racing and could probably use a channel (in the mould of Fashion TV).

Petition against cuts in BBC racing goes to No 10


FRANKIE DETTORI and Sir Peter O'Sullevan joined forces in London on Friday to deliver the government 184,740 reasons to press the BBC to think again about its massive cuts in coverage of horseracing.


The two giants of the sport led an official handover of signatures from racing fans and betting-shop punters in support of a Racing Post campaign against BBC cuts.

They were joined at 10 Downing Street by Philip Davies, MP for Shipley and a supporter of the campaign, and former betting-shop manager Lili Huang, now William Hill's e-gaming representative.

The number of signatures dwarfs the 67,559 of the most popular petition on the prime minister's official website, leading O'Sullevan, the legendary BBC racing commentator, to say: "Figures resonate with the BBC. People pay a licence fee and they're entitled to see coverage of what, after all, is part of our national heritage."

Huang, whose firm was instrumental in collecting the majority of signatures, said: "Every one of these signatures represents a licence-paying punter or betting-shop employee who reminds the BBC of its obligation to provide regular racing coverage."

Davies is to press the issue in his role as member of the DCMS select committee when it meets BBC director-general Mark Thompson and Sir Michael Lyons, who chairs the BBC Trust, next month.

BBC have abandoned racing only interested in 2 meetings a year,sure channel 4 racing was saved by a benifactor? maybe Sheik Mohamed?

My problem is that we are all(I presume) in a privileged position with DSTV at home regardless of the quality - The thing that would help racing is to get commentaries back onto an FM radio station as the present setup can only be heard by a select few and excludes the majority of punters that either have to phone for results or wait until they are published the following day(the guys that frequent the totes on a daily basis are obviously not working hence the time at their disposal)

Lets give it a few more months..this recession is gonna bite racing in SA big time in all areas.

What % of horses sold at the NYS have been paid for at this stage??

imo Shaheen Shaw probably one of the best guys to have in the studio on a racing afternoon & probably the best guy for under starters orders on a sat morn.

he asks the right questions to his studio guest or phone guest & asks where one can have a GOOD punt - be they right or wrong.

Yes agree Elvis..

Spot on Mr Presley.

Shaheen Shaw is the real Mccoy.

He is intent on finding winners - not smoke blowing and PR for his mates - problem with racing in general - it is the old boys club and jobs for mates story - and one cannot get away with that in a specialised broadcasting environment like TV. I'd love to see the Tellytrack employment equity ratios- other than Cecil, the tea lady, security guard and switchboard operator are people of colour. This was an excellent opportunity to get a top-class broadcaster in and raise the standard - remember Pretorius position is a managerial one so punting prowess is secondary really and how on earth does one expect the presenters to be top-class when the man responsible for the daily management is clueless? The SABC is in chaos - there must be a genuine broadcaster with managerial experience that they could have poached?

Next thing Pretorius will be at KImberley on Mondays and talking the taal.
And then there is July day - which is a fight every year and Laff and Dees are thrown out as all the main okes want to get a piece of the bright lights.
Its an amateurish joke - ask Bonski and Dees.
Would also like to know what its costing them to have Julie down there in KZN ?? They already have Laff, Dees, Sheldon, Craig, Kezia, Hawkins.............
Obviously money is no object in GC territory - except when we ask them to fix up a tote.

Yet another example while on the subject.
Just watched the Clairwood replays and had to watch a duplication of a long drawn out speech by the GC Chairman post the Pocket Power win - obviously a guy who loves the sound of his own voice as his 'speech' was a litany of repetition.
Their editing machine has had problems for easy twelve months - I recall phoning them. Pathetic

Racing UK reverts to standalone service


RACING UK on Tuesday announced it will revert to a standalone subscription service after host broadcaster Setanta went into administration.

The cost to subscribers will be £20 per month, which was the price charged when the dedicated racing channel launched in 2004. However, the channel will be free to view while the 55,000 existing residential subscribers are contacted to explain the procedure for resubscription. The £20 price tag also includes the monthly £9.99 subscription to RUK's online services.


Racing UK will aim to continue broadcasting on Sky channel 432. The channel is in discussions with Virgin Media to continue supplying cable customers.

Racing UK chairman Will Wyatt said: "We enjoyed a good relationship with Setanta since August 2006, and the current situation at Setanta is very unfortunate.

"Racing UK flourished as a standalone channel before Setanta, and now we have a stronger financial base and an even better relationship with our customers. Racing UK is sound, safe and assured of its future."

Each of Racing UK’s 55,000 residential subscribers will be contacted shortly to be informed how to re-subscribe directly. In the meantime the channel will be free to air.

All broadband subscriptions, plus the 2,350 pubs which subscribe to Racing UK will be unaffected, while the channel is in discussions with Virgin Media to continue supplying cable customers.

The best part...

have you noticed how the cameraman shows the horses that go down...
the idea is to see how the horse strides..
that will determine whether we will back the horse...

clueless....that's the cameraman...
as for the @#$%^&*()()*&%$ they speak, who cares...
if we listen to the presenters..we might become as poor as them....

You right Andrew - irony of us viewers relaxing at home on a Saturday arvie with a beer and our families, taking advice from a poor soul sitting in a studio imparting his supposed knowledge and wisdom - doesn't make sense - if the chap was so clever he would be the one relaxing in his penthouse in Clifton and not working for a pittance on a weekend.

Listening to Pretorius yesterday, he really needs to tone down the patronising nonsense - telling Punters about the philosophy of gambling and giving us lectures about horses striding out - " look Cecil - now that's what I want to see - the muscle, the stride, blah blah blah..."
Somehow enthusiasm and exuberance get the better of him every time.

We need to take a leaf out of the UK and get some people with a feel for the viewere - beyond the brilliant Shaheen Shaw.