Scotia "in my life"

Good morning to the Clan, it’s time to spare a thought for a few old racetracks that brought back memories (in my life) Newmarket, Bloemfontien, Germiston etc……..watch this space for more to follow (not to be mistaken for the Winning Ways 3 to follow).



In My Life by the Beatles

racing going through hard times, can we recover (in my life)?



As the operators continue to sell assets of the sport we love “where do we go from here”?



I am sure we all understand that money makes the world go round and I have also been involved in making harsh decisions (in my life) where the bottom line has to take priority over emotional feeling’s and in horse racing we clearly have two camps, so where and how can we reach a balance?



The one camp is the “operators” the other is the “purists”.



The operators are driven by turnover and the bottom line (like most business) and the purists want to watch the sport they love, preferably local.



My thoughts are that when a punter wakes up in the morning he has a fixed amount that he/she can wager for the day, whether it be a R100 or R1000 and no matter how much the Tellytrack presenters push the pool size at Ngong or some obscure harness meeting with no form, once he has done the “kitty” he has to switch off (unless he goes to dark places of desperation that we won’t visit for the sake of this post).



My input would be to reduce the numerous options to the punter and give them the best quality, with maximum form lines and information (including fixed odds betting) to “invest” his kitty and increase his chances of turning his money over and each time he places another bet the operators and industry is a winner, not forgetting the punter.



It would not need a brain surgeon to ascertain what is good and bad racing venues.



Naïve might come to mind when I make the next statement but I am a firm believer that if we look after the “sport” of horseracing the bottom line will look after itself.

Promote the sport, syndicates, etc. people will go racing if they have a share in a horse. I spoke with trainers in KZN who are trying to get owners in the game by introducing a low financial entry scheme and should be in motion soon, watch this space……………



Note! The word “invest” should not be used in racing and much rather go for “have fun racing and treat as a social event”.


she lives to fight another day

On the subject of owning, sorry about Miss Diana last week but I am sure she will recover the losses and yes it was a long drive back. In this game we always live to fight another day. Must add apart from the results at Scottsville it was a great day.

We might also have Igugu staying on our shores due to quarantine regulations so it’s a case of good news and bad news at the same time.



will she go or will she stay ?



As far as local racing we have the Mercury Sprint from Clairwood and remember our Interbet competition

Well done again to Sportingbet for early betting including the Gold Cup



The site continues to let the “punters” have a say and here are some highlights from this week.



1 Delpech vs Marcus the banter continuesn>

2 The Open, in-running

3 Come racing



“great race in store”



As far as overseas racing the classic will be the Sussex Stakes where Canford Cliffs and Frankel have the battle of the giants and its possible to have joint favs at around 10/11. As Frankel is such a “hyped” horse the “value” on Canford will probably be with the tote? I just love that word “value” and the way it’s used, everyone looking for value, what rubbish the only value for me is when your horse or sports bet WINS, its value because you made a “profit” at 5/10? Which is far better imo than backing a value bet at 10/1 that gets beat.



So the Sussex is on the 27th of July at Glorious Goodwood and the King George will be run at Ascot on the 23rd July where the money is pouring on St Nicholas Abbey 12/10, 3/1 Rewilding and 5/1 Workforce.

The ARC still has Pour Moi at 4/1, Workforce 6/1 and if you think St Nick will win the King George take a bit “value” now at 12/1…………….lol



The Irish Oaks is on Sunday where Wonder of Wonders 1/1 has to beat Blue Bunting 11/2 but we might be watching Ngong? However we are sure to have the race replay on the site as we do with all other major races.






Golf: is under way and the 1st round lead is jointly held by young amateur Tom Lewis and Thomas Bjorn and they are 40/1 and 16/1 to lift the Claret Jug. If you still have to make your picks there is still plenty of value around.

R McIlroy 12/1 M Kaymer 12/1 G McDowell 12/1 L Westwood 14/1 L Donald 16/1 T Bjorn 16/1 MA Jiménez 20/1 S Stricker 25/1 I Poulter 25/1 L Glover 25/1 S Garcia 25/1 W Simpson 25/1 A Scott 33/1 P Mickelson 40/1 C Schwartzel 40/1 DJohnson 40/1



Rugby: Tri-nations and World Cup betting where the All Blacks look hard to beat (I am sure I have said that before) at 6/10 and 9/10 and I am sure your bookie will manage a Springbok double at around 60/1. I am aware if you take a same horse double there is a deduction factor, but not sure about sports so maybe just check.



So remember this weekend ask the question “what can I do for horseracing” not “what can horseracing do for me”





Good punting and may your God be with you



scotia

There is still a deduction Value in sports betting dave....

Workforce needs rain to run next weekend

De Kock


He said: "I am not going to put horses like Igugu, Mushreq and Safwan through the long and tiresome process of being shipped via Mauritius and spending more than 150 days to get to their destination.

"If they can't fly from Cape Town to get there within reasonable time, they won't go at all."

De Kock hit out at what he sees as intrusive quarantine protocols immediately after Igugu won South Africa's greatest race, the Durban July, as Greyville two weeks ago.

"There is no scientific evidence to support the current protocol, yet it remains in place and we are essentially stranded," he added.

"The existing situation will have grave consequences for the racing industry's trade with the rest of the world and it will result in a loss of income across the board. It is up to our trading partners to show the scientific and political will to assist us. We are hoping that good sense will prevail."

Nice one Scotia - A few things about racing that strke me as an outsider:

1. Cagey-ness - What is the overall strategic plan for racing in terms of the operators responsibilities? This is held very close to the chest. It creates an environment for all and sundry to speculate in. (generally negative speculation). I can understand this approach in a highly competitive envrionment. For instance, I could understand this approach if our two operators were competing. They are the monopoly in horseracing and yes they do compete in the leisure Rand industry against the likes of Lotto and Casino's but there must be certain strategies and directions that could be made public to show the "purist" what the long term objectives are.

2. Secondly, the state of our stadia is poor. We would never invite the likes of Phil Ligget, James Allen, ESPN's Curtis Strange, Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo. . The worlds best commentators; into our racing media centres; I never pretended to belong, but I did as an average Joe, "Joe Plumber "see what the best of racing media has to offer. - I Must add, Sheldon Peters is an exceptional race caller with a drive and passion for horserasing that most of us will never understand! A true proffesional working, whilst the rest of sit and bask in an event. I will never forget his calls on Fighting Warrior. I was on Givemethegreenlight! What a Pro!!! In fact every call I witnessed from less than 5 meters away was a master piece! There are many more within the racing industry, Helen amd Gill in partcular, that could launch this into somethimg special!

The Dubian's have torn down a facility to replace it with another only because they realised the need for a multiple use facility. We need facilities that can sustaine themselves outside of racing through office parks, shopping malls etc. We need courage in racing, leaders who will lead, who will take ownership and drive all stakeholders interestes. even the R6.00 punter!

We have passionate poeple, we have the drive, we have the desire and the likes of Mick Goss, Mike De Kock, Herman Brown,the onwers who are preapred to risk it all. They have proven that SA's racing industry, has what it takes to be World class. We need to back the winners and drive a common purpose devoid of our own interests in the R6.00 or ten grander in this game!

Cheers Al, not much on site but have had a few calls/emails and have a meeting this week, will keep u posted.

I am sure we are aware we have an excess of horses and not enough cash to share, the cash generator for racing is the tote and due to the poor service its losing market place rather than gaining.

Have to start somewhere, and the concern is that the operators regard the forum or Clan as an anti tote secret club?
The "fact" is that this forum is only a platform for punters to voice their opinion on racing matters and the tote are basically ignoring "their" customers (not mine), the bookies treat the customer as king, same as a casino.

"Service delivery" is the name of the game, its only the Government that is in a position to "ignore" their customers. lol

Took some 11/2 Dancing Rain some people have short Memories

What the hell was that from Italy? Bob what is happening in Ireland ..................txs

Blue bunting won @ 5/2 they finished i a heap

Txs bob the replay would be great ?

scotia Wrote:

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> Txs bob the replay would be great ?


Only replay i could find Dave...You can also watch from ATR if you register Race Replay

Cheers Bob a flying finish and ironic in Italian (thats what we were watching) lol