SA RACING DOOMED ?

We know that things are bad allround in Racing and whilst we all work hard at facing the challenges, it appears that Racing in SA is determined to destroy itself from within at the earliest convenience....
Here are some points
1)Individuals who milk the game, being paid for their efforts on "projects" or "workshops" etc. (It would be great if these yielded results and did so prompltly, but that is anything but the case)
2)operators who only see turnover and nothing else.
3)Governing body which appears aloof, arrogant and out of touch.
4)a handicapping system that punishes the consistent and rewards the opposite. This means that horses must run poorly, in order to get points off their ratings.

Whilst this rot continues, the Punter and the Owner carry on, funding the Industry. And they won't be doing this for much longer, as numbers dwindle, turnovers drop and Owners reduce their spend.

It's time that somebody tells the full story. The rot must stop.

Well that is a sobering thought for a Sunday morning Louis and the trouble is that you are probably correct.
Any thoughts on the best way forward?
I have always felt that we have made enough constructive criticism via this forum to try and make a difference but sadly we have plenty politics in racing and too many power struggles which tend to over ride the actual real concerns and changes required to turn the game around.

Louis this is an interesting post and a brave one seeing that you are a participant in the industry. What I have to say should be understood from the point of view that I am a punter only and owe no part of the local industry any allegience. My views are simple. The local racing offers me less chance of showing a profit than some overseas venues and I for one would have absolutely no problem seeing local racing cease if I could still bet on European racing. The reasons for local racing offering me less opportunity have been well documented and you list some of the reasons in your post. I owe the local racing industry nothing and would rather back a horse in Mauritius than here.

Louis your first point is so true and its a trend you see often in governance

Racing was doomed the day it was handed over on a plate to the current operators. They got everything for nothing and have failed to protect the legacy they were given. Instead of nuturing and protecting racing, they have stripped it for their own benefit only. Punters, owners and ultimately workers in the industry have all paid the price. Whatever they have built is on the back of everyone else. Sad days indeed.

Too many power hungry so and sos

There are many good people in the game with hands tied behind their backs .

louisg wrote: We know that things are bad allround in Racing and whilst we all work hard at facing the challenges, it appears that Racing in SA is determined to destroy itself from within at the earliest convenience....
Here are some points
1)Individuals who milk the game, being paid for their efforts on "projects" or "workshops" etc. (It would be great if these yielded results and did so prompltly, but that is anything but the case)
2)operators who only see turnover and nothing else.
3)Governing body which appears aloof, arrogant and out of touch.
4)a handicapping system that punishes the consistent and rewards the opposite. This means that horses must run poorly, in order to get points off their ratings.

Whilst this rot continues, the Punter and the Owner carry on, funding the Industry. And
they won't be doing this for much longer, as numbers dwindle, turnovers drop and Owners
reduce their spe

It's time that somebody tells the full story. The rot must stop.

No...................I promise this isn't me pretending to be Louis...............lol

Louis just be careful of what you say,you may have someone from the RA phone you and threaten you that he will personally come and F you up like they did to me.I was only in cape town at the time and he was in JHB, thank god I'm out of the game ,gave my colors in after 15 years, I don't deal this criminal's ,I just love to see the fall of them at the end.

I am a nobody in this game. A punter with an opinion...

My impression is the B I G owners are also the shareholders in the operators. This is a recipe for disaster. They run the show only for their own benefit

Why else would they do it? How else do they add to their already filled trophy cabinets?

Sad, becoz it is a really nice game to play

Yup and look what some big owners are trying to do to the TBA

ALL bad for the game

Yes very, very sad.....the TBA is a local racing institution and in its time of weakness the real power behind racing has chosen to attack and sink them.....I really feel for the chairperson Mrs Rowett who under her watch they lost Tom and now Mick Goss is running rings around them.....it would not surprise me that even she after serving her 2year tenure will eventually side with CTS as the pay days at TBA are over.....they lack the backing of bigger breeders and we will see a total polarization of breeding area's competing against each other.....the poorer KZN region against all that are under Phumelela's thumb.....and tricky Mick skipping between the 2....the last place that there should be any instability is at the point of sale....customers will simply choose not to go shopping..... :ohmy:

Louis you are totally correct.Every big wig in racing is only looking after his own interest,He is at the trough eating like a pig with no thought for the future.We have an industry that is loved by millions around the world,(Michael Owen just won the St Ledger).We cannot afford to sit back and sling mud at each other without getting to the facts.Racing in South Africa needs a top class person like a Brian Joffee to come in, get rid of all the dead wood,jobs for pals ,employ professionals in their fields and go forward.Dont take shit from any of the would be kings.RACING MUST SURVIVE.The advert in the Natal Mercury on Tuesday says it all.Britain sold their tote for 180 million pounds to a bookmaker and it is doing very well.180 million pounds is something like 288 million rand and we sell ours for R1.00.Govt must be stupid or they used a genie to pull this one out of the bottle.Now we all have to suffer the arrogance of the directors and staff of Phumelela who walk over everyone and everything.TBA being the latest walk over.It reads like a Dick Francis novel,but its true.