The Japanese Racing model

Well done Hibby

thanks Hibernia =- wish they'd have mentioned the betting turnover and % put back into the industry, or did i miss it?

On the subject of Japan, I see Scenic Blast got blasted yesterday.

Scenic Blast last of 16 in Japan's Sprinters Stakes

ROYAL ASCOT winner Scenic Blast finished last of 16 behind Laurel Guerreiro (Mitsugu Kon/Shinji Fujita) in the Sprinters Stakes, the world's richest sprint in Japan on Sunday.

The King's Stand Stakes winner almost fell mid-race, losing all momentum in the 185 million yen (£1.29m) contest at Nakayama.

Scenic Blast had been chasing a $1m bonus on offer to a horse winning three Group 1 legs of the Global Sprint Challenge in any three different countries.

The five-year-old travelled in midfield but faded after stumbling badly at the last turn. "That was the end of the race for us," said jockey Mark Zahra.

There are only two Grade 1 sprints in Japan and Laurel Guerreiro, a 13-1 shot, has won both them in 2009 after his victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo in March.

In front from the off in front of a crowd of 46,000, Laurel Guerreiro drew three lengths clear towards the end of the back stretch before just holding the late thrust of B B Guldan by a nose.

The favourite Ultima Thule, winner of the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes, faded to finish fifth.

Laurel Guerreiro had finished only 14th in the Centaur Stakes on September 13.

"His last performance left a lot to be desired, and I definitely had my doubts for this race," said winning rider Shinji Fujita.

"He lost by too much for a Grade 1 champion, and because he is a Grade 1 champion, I didn't want to blame it on the 59 kilograms he had carried.

"He breaks well as he always has, but he's been really struggling to pick up the pace these last two races. I think if we went up against a pure speedster, he probably wouldn't be able to grab the lead.

"There's such a hugedifference in his result today from the last race that I don't know what to make of all this.

"He was in much better form for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen; there's no comparison. For him, I think it's better that he stuck to 1,200 meters rather than running in the mile. But full credit to him; he really toughed it out today."

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint on December 13 is a possible target according to winning trainer Mitsugu Kon.

Hibs,it isn't the one I had in mind ,but I remember that one of the aspects that they regarded as vital to the turnaround was the trust issue,so those regulations must have been the result.
How different to our lot who don't seem to do much more than "take the p!ss" :

After my stint at the Gambling Board, I searched (the net was very slow those days and analogue connection.... totally unreliable!).

The Hong Kong model impressed me (20% towards social causes.... hospitals and education).

Beraing in mind our 'transfromation' dictates, I drew up a model. The emphasis was on educating the mass and instilling in it a senses of awareness of the horse and horseracing. Therefore, I looked at a model that would entail large syndicates at minimal cost (which Gavin is doing now).

To titillate the buds, and limit financial commitment until the bug got into gear, I suggested at initially sponsoring these syndicates for X number of years. Add in grant from Government or income for a Trust Fund to do so.

Nobody looked at it because it came from the 'wrong' person.

Yet, Graeme Hawkins, who asked for the document (and was full of enthusiasm for my model), hijacked it and launched it via the RA in a different format; restricted to those who could afford the big shares!

I maintain that if racing reverts to a Trust/Section 21, it can still be run as a business, together with benefits all round, ensuring horseracing's survival.

However, I am tired now & pissed off with our 'caring' politicians!!!!

The Irish racing and punter involvement has also been highlighted on the site over the years and the punters have a say in the running of racing in the form of a "racing forum"

aplologies... posted on wrong thread!!!



btw

During the corporatisation process, Bain & Co presented us with an impressive slide show of facilities in totalisators for punters.... all that the Japs have; state of the art seating, screens, auto tellers, etc.


That's where it stopped after corporatisation. There was also an undertaking that all tote (TA outlets would be outsourced to PDI applicants (BEE).

In terms of the MOU, there was never an indication that the operator would be in total control of the betting and facilities (the 'event' and assets)!


I trust that sensible forumites will munch on this.... and then understand why we are where we are!