what is racing's allure?

what is it that attracts you to racing and keeps your interest? what do you think would be the element or elements that would attract new people to racing?

Mare drink lol

Times moved on ,it`s too late to attract new people to racing

Im sure if you allowed pimps prostitutes and drug dealers into the course the place would be pumping.

I think if you do not have a family member that starts your interest when you are young you will battle to get new blood in the game and even that is not fool proof - I had two siblings who had as much desire to punt as I had for seeing my dentist - It's like stamp and coin collecting which have been replaced by the iPod and Xbox -
The youth have very little desire for Racing unless a good few young Celebs start owning - Imagine how much new blood Justin Bieber(not the Trainer in the Cape) and heaven forbid Kim Kardashian would bring to the game if they owned and punted a few horses BUT then it would only be a fad - Remember the rise in popularity of "Teacup Dogs" after Paris Hilton flaunted her Handbag Filler to the World Media? That desire to own the dog changes once you get it home and it craps all over and later grows up and barks insistently - Obviously Racing and owning are more involved than a pet dog so youngsters/newbies are often scared off when things don't go to plan ie losing bet, horse does not run to form etc.
Primarily an addiction and there are many books on how to cure addiction but not many on how to create addiction.

for me is very simple. you have the desire to gamble or you no have this.

There is plenty desire to gamble. Poker has exploded, for eg last year a online company shared a $million when they played their 100 billionth game. That table got $100K plus, and the other 800K got shared with the 9700 people online at the time.

Racing is my preferred avenue because you are rewarded for study or knowledge (albeit inside), for loyalty (following a good horse or yard or sire), the neat blend of predictability and chaos, and that there is a beginning and end to most plays (unlike a casino).

Sport doesn't do it for me, 90 min for 9/10 the pair, it's too long and marginal..win 900 or lose 1000. Horse racing is the only place where I can find a real 4/1 shot and maybe get 20/1 so you have a real chance at 10K/500. The only reason something like that can happen is you might think a 2/1 favourite won't get the trip and is really a 16/1 shot. No other game gives you these wild anomalies every 15min or so, not the stock exchange, not property, not banking, not business not casinos.

Why do we fail to sell this product better? Well the answer is on practically every thread here. Around the tables where mighty empires are run we see horse(men,& women), super rich breeders, lawyers, accountants, ceo's from other businesses, bloodstock agents, tons of owners...so basically no one who has stood in a queue because the fever has you and you are sick for a bet on a card you and your mates studied backwards and forwards for hours already. Pretty much the ultimate in being out of touch maybe.

apart from owning a horse and betting.

Think of F1 racing. As a spectator. You won't own, and let's say you don't bet - why would you attend a race? even if it is only a feature race

thanks Mr H, and Hibs, yes, racing needs to re-invent itself and attend the various levels of market.

is the appeal:
the horse itself as an animal - the beauty of the breed
the interest in the sport and the history thereof - the legacy
the spectacle at the course with the beautiful lawns, colourful jocks etc
the social factor of having a good time with your friends
mastering the game - i.e. working out form

anything i'm missing??
next question is, what is the allure for men, and what is the allure for women.

I keep hanging in for the next winner, it's a great feeling when it happens (tu)

Don Wrote:

---

> apart from owning a horse and betting.
>
> Think of F1 racing. As a spectator. You won't own,
> and let's say you don't bet - why would you attend
> a race? even if it is only a feature race
>
> thanks Mr H, and Hibs, yes, racing needs to
> re-invent itself and attend the various levels of
> market.
>
> is the appeal:
> the horse itself as an animal - the beauty of the
> breed
> the interest in the sport and the history thereof
> - the legacy
> the spectacle at the course with the beautiful
> lawns, colourful jocks etc
> the social factor of having a good time with your
> friends
> mastering the game - i.e. working out form
>
> anything i'm missing??
> next question is, what is the allure for men, and
> what is the allure for women.


one thing you are missing is Winning(not only monetary) - This is the competitive nature of man coming to the fore and that with the mental challenge it produces is the major attraction for me - The red carpet trappings of fashion and beauty have no bearing on my personal love for the game. It is form, ped and sometimes a hunch that keep me involved. Nothing beats the thrill of finding a winner just like I suppose that famous sleuth of Baker Street felt when he solved an impossible case.

Dear Jack Dash,

If you find 80 - 90 minutes for 9/10 the pair too mundane then I have a solution for you ( and you won't have to swallow 'took no interest', 'left in the pens', 'saddle slipped', 'spread a shoe' etc and do your money in cold )

Have a punt on a rugby match 'per point' at, say, R 1500 a point. Then every time your side scores a converted try you win R10,500 and vice versa every time you concede.

Most rugby matches involve quite a lot of scoring even if the final points difference is not always that great. You'll get your 'thrill-a-minute' I can assure you!

Just don't EVER count the cash before the final whistle. I have seen plenty R30,000+ 'due to me' amounts erode away to R 5,000 'due by me' in the space of a few traumatic minutes.

The difference between sport and racing is that there are fewer opportunities to lose in sport due to circumstances that you knew absolutely nothing about or which were deliberately concealed. With emphasis on the word FEWER. This is why there is more likelihood of me (and many others) regularly wagering R50,000+ on a sporting event whereas my MAXIMUM on a horse race is unlikely to exceed R 10,000. And preferably less because, as you correctly state, the recurring opportunities come quick and fast.

Don , racing has it's F1 two or three times a year

July/ Met