Some positive suggestions for Phumelela

I think all of us who love racing would love to see more of the scenes we see in the UK locally. Even when we cover a little but beautiful arbitary track, the cameraman will focus on the crowd and the goings on. Always there seem to be so many people in attendance. Dad, his two mates, their wives and the kids running around amongst the deck chairs and even Grandma is there enjoying fish and chips. We need more of those Emerald Cup double racedays with good entertainment and racing that attracts a nice crowd.

I agree chainsaw too many people saying that they wan`t to promote racing,when what they really mean is they want to promote their turnover.

Get up and Go!!

the only people that could want to promote there turnover is bookies who offer the open bet

Racing starts with the people that have the money to buy the horses.

Racing first and foremost must be attractive to monied individiauls.

It is incumbent upon every institution in racing to attract these individuals.

This is done by providing a great racing venue and a great experience.

If enough monied owners support the game, the rest can follow.

But until racing is made attractive socially for these people, the sport will continue is decline.

Racing thrives and prospers where the on-track experience is the best, such as Ascot, Keeneland, Sha Tin, Dubai, etc.

Once the people that pay the money to buy the horses are on board, the rest is short strokes.

Phumelela cares not one whit for the live sport, which is why they turned it over to the Racing Association.

What is needed at Phumelela is a two tiered promotion plan, one that embraces the technology of the youth and one that recaptures the older generation.

I don't see that this has been done.

Retaining the least pleasant courses and allowing the popular Newmarket to die was hardly the best way to implement Barry's plan.

How about a forensic audit into the money grabbing scum that f%$#@ the sport for their own good

That would be very very interesting, toontony. But are our prisons big enough?

At least it might clear a little of this lingering ill feeling towards racing caused by very selfish individuals

Interesting suggestions, Mike, perhaps I can just repeat what seems to be the main stumbling blocks here; firstly I am sure the open bet is causing P a lot of headaches because it eats into their profits, but as Magic points out, there does not seem to be a lot that they can do about it; secondly your point about the racing experience and the contribution by the RA have been debated at length on several threads on the site; unfortunately P does not seem to care a lot about the racing experience (it does not affect the bottom line) or whether one has to venture off across the Orange River on occasion to see your horse run at a venue that is shall we say is not really customer friendly.

So I'm afraid I don't have any positive suggestions to contribute; the situation is unlikely to get better imo until a new organisation dedicated to improve the racing experence is born to live alongside P. So we have a choice, get on with the business of owning and racing horses, or get out; I for one still love the game enough to be looking for that one special horse at the sales next week. Yes, I know, I'm probably a sucker for punishment.

I am sure Prime Media will have a positive spin off.

Privatising the racecourses would be a great idea. Let people who are interestd in running a business take care of the race course properties. They would certainly attract more people. Only problem is they would charge people an entrance fee coz lets face it, businessmen are unscrupulous.

Someone should ask Phumelela (and the old lotto bunch for that matter) how they declare their "unclaimed dividends" accounts? Those accounts where all the cunclaimed monies get deposited into?

Imagine what the lotto peole got away with. Maybe that money (if phum is honest) could go to do some good for racing. My guess si they would deny such an account existing.

Oh well. Let me go have a punt!!! lol

I think Clyde's new position and him in it will have an impact..yes there are guys that wont agree but the more I see and listen to Clyde and his enthusiasm the more Im backing this venture of his to do well.

Phum are lucky to have a guy like him with them..hes a go getter..I think medium term hes gonna get it to work.