BULANA FOR GAUTENG?

Lets be honest!!!! Bulana had more subsidy and assistance than any other starting trainer ever.How much more help is needed before he will be regarded as having had an "equal opportunity". How much start is regarded as equal.

You right he doesn't but I'm only human and every right to get angry
On a closing note could you enlighten us as to what difference bennet has made to the lives of the grooms , has he started any transformation projects
Or any future plans you or him may have so we can see it materialise

I do agree with you that change needs to take place but at the moment racing is bleeding to death and transformation should feature when there's more funds available

@rob faux :

Firstly, Bulana is not the first (or only) black that I have been involved with regarding upliftment rather than transformation. Also, my involvements are/have not been restricted to blacks only.

Secondly, that Bulana had such a 'kickstart' can be seen to be valid.

However, consider:

1. If he passed the exams for being a trainer, do we fault him or the body?

2. Whilst he came from the Polo Pony Club background, horseracing would have been a different kettle of fish. But, there was a mentor in Buller Benton. Did Buller ensure that Bulana learnt everything (vortually) about the game? Should GC (or the NHA) not have inserted performance levels and tested Bulana at intervals?

Should he not have been given a probation period and his skills/ability tested before proceeding?

If that was not done, then the whole exercise is faulty from the outset for which Bulana cannot be blamed entirely and raises more questions as to why it was done in the first instance!

(Keep in mind that blacks were not permitted in this sector from 1969)

3. Even if Bulana (and Buller) were up to scratch, was his budget justifiable for him to really get off the ground? From what I noted, he had a mediocre bunch from which some winners came !

4. What efforts were made by GC to market Bulana to make blacks aware that (those who had the means) could now support a fellow black (at the least)?

Herein, syndicates / clubs could have been launched amongst blacks in numbers, with the horse/s under Bulana. GC could then have had get-togethers (braai, at the tracks, etc) for the members, encouraging those who wanted to get their own horses to get into leases or purchase their own.

In this way, Bulana would have had a client base to tap into.

Besides, there have been at least 3 other black grooms who I attempted to have admitted as trainers. I would have to conclude that, for the industry's credibility, only Bulana mattered; these grooms received no support from the authorities whatsoever....in fact, nobody wants to know they exist!

In conclusion, we have to accept the fact that (due to exclusion), blacks have a vague idea of horseracing ownership...they only know to 'udlala ma-hashi!' (play the horses).

As much as this might sound racist / sanctimonious / prescriptive, the industry is an organism that requires to grow to survive and sustain itself. By merely exploiting the black majority as betting fodder and not involving them directly in all aspects of the industry is shooting one-self in the foot. Compromises, education, transparency and honest efforts have to be made for a holistic approach towards transforming the industry, without ruffling anyone's feathers.

Right now, we have this squad of elitists (white and mostly Indian), who control the industry to the exclusion of not only the majority blacks, but also other whites.

Therefore, I maintain, a person like Bulana (who is on the field already) needs to be supported, guided and promoted ....warts and all!

Of course,as in all walks of life,and all kinds of people,he might simply not have the ability/drive/work ethic or whatever it takes to make it,ie.he might not be good enough.I dont know him but he would appear to have been given every chance.
Is it not perhaps somebody else's turn....I have no problem with the principle and there must be plenty others crying out for the opportunity.

@rob faux :

I like that one '.he might not be good enough'!

At least one politician comes to mind!

Then, of course, those that run the industry!

Umlilo,you stated that you put pressure on Nairec"to give him a licence" but also question whether the whole exercise was faulty from the outset.Did you not have some idea of his abilities before pressurising for the licence?
You ask "what did GC do to advise Prospective black owners that they could now support a fellow black" I ask "what did Bulana do to advise prospective black owners they could now support a fellow black" How do other trainers get their clients.
Success needs a little effort....a badly misunderstood concept!

Rob:

Maybe I phrased the points incorrectly- rather, they/we could have.

My statement was (and still is) we need more black owners, trainers, breeders, etc) yesterday, not today or tomorrow!

My underlying justification is (not transformation, per se!): for the industry to survive, we need to broaden the base of direct participation.
The supermarket chains have a lesson for us (somewhat): the bulk of their ciustomers being black, they employ blacks wholesale (pls, don't throw the one about gum chewing, loud-mouthed, lazy, etc!).

Yet, all our commentators, studio staff (except for the odd appearance of Cecil only!), officials, etc are white whilst our customer base is black?

I have writtten volumes on the type of questions you pose and presented a model for gradual integration (transformation): soon, hopefully, it will be time to officially apply them in the absence of an enabling vehicle within the industry!

Umlilo,it is no secret what I think of the standard of most areas of management within the industry.I believe that the whole industry needs a zero based make-over,and whilst I would normally support a principle of self regulation,I think that regulation is presently non-existent &/or self serving and I would like to see the competitions board re-assess what corporatisation has created.
The industry needs greater participation from a far wider base of people,but to be successful,merit,at each level, has to be the final measure.

@rob faux:

Concur fully.

Unfortunately, most discussions on this issue are easily confabulated with BEE, transformation, equity, etc, leading to subjective responses and emotive reactions by conjoining one with the other as justification.

We need to identify the inherent issues that impact most on us as owners, punters, breeders, punters, etc, and then, collectively present them to the relevant body/ies for actioning. Herein, I am referring to the whole concept of corporatisation:

1. Was it legal?

2. Did the MEC have the power to invoke such a decision?

3. Was the MOU applied?

4. Could assets have been disposed of? How?

5. Should punters (non-colour holders) be granted membership of the regulating and other bodies (NHA, RA, etc)?

6. What of withholding of licences for operators if certain standards, norms, are not met (eg accountability, transparency, EE, etc)?

7. What of licensing a second (or third) betting operator?

8. Should commingling be stopped?

9. Should the NHA be replaced with an independent Commission (like the Media Tribunal) with quasi-judicial powers of arrest, trial and sanctioning?

etc...etc...etc.......!!!

Or, seeing that the odds are stacked...we just walk away from it all?

Merit based approach is fine I suppose, but it has its flaws. You have to create a standard to justify a merit based approach. There is no standard only family secrets. Have a look at how in the training ranks, it is mostly a family business filled with family secrets which are not passed on to anyone outside of the inner circle. (probably a worldwide phenomenon). There needs to be a school of excellence for trainers such as we find in the jockey schools. The MDK's, Bass', Driers, Marcuses, Smith and Greef etc have a wealth of knowledge which needs to be documented and taught through theory and practicle internships. Flunk the theory or their criteria and you are out. Imagine the amount and level of world class trainers we could create if more studied and competed at a higher level.

Transformation should take on an inclusive approach. How about setting up a seta for the industry. This will benefit trainers in the industry through rebating or learnerships through this horse racing "seta" and benefit those juniors trying to have a go at it. A points system could be introduced for BEE scoring and larger rebates could be afforded to trainers for encouraging new black entrants. This is not a game for cry babies and the strongest and most commited will make it and merit is then a justified approach. Stereotyping will not help anyone. There are some really committed people who have overcome adversity to succeed.

Leaving the staus quo will result in nothing more than the first names of the trainers (the sons of the current crop of trainers) changing.

Al,I suggest the merit system which is opposite ,and I think preferable,to the "spoils system",regardless.
I think the transformation which needs assistance is in regard to employment and employee conditions.
There are no barriers,by race, to being a trainer.
There are no barriers to ownership either...............except good sense of course lol.

@rob faux:

'There are no barriers,by race, to being a trainer.
There are no barriers to ownership either'

I am reminded of Bernard Shaw's cultural transference writings!

That statement of yours to 'no barriers' (as even Alcaponee pointed out) is (I wont say untrue), but misleading!

There are no barriers to being a business man!

Yet, note the success of Indians and Jews when it comes to business; it is their immediate environment that has nurtured this acument by learning from their parents and family from a very early age! Yet, the cleverest no-Jew or Indian, given all the assistance (financial, training, education, facilities, etc)...will fail miserably!

Therefore, we require a vehicle which entails not just Indians/Jews (sic), but one that sees all races as part of the cultural / hereditary transfer, a process of sharing, mentoring, encouraging and then weeding out the chaff.

Unfortunately, we do not have leaders that can see beyond their noses besides playing to the gallery... whether in horseracing or politics! In fact, horses with blinkers do far better!