FOOD FOR THOUGHT

There is an advertising loop running on T/Track for Queen's Plate Day.
For R 650.00 per head you can sit in a tent and have 3 course lunch buffet and CASH BAR :dry: You can then go to a roped off area where you can see some old crocks,some yuppies dressed in gear you wouldn't be seen dead in and FOOD and DRINK outlets :dry:

Racing is not really a draw for outsiders is it?

My friend went to the dogs the other night,had a great laugh,great food spent a fortune on drink

and never had a bet

If racing thinks attracting a few new faces will get them all heading to the totes and online accounts then they are in for a shock..

Racecourse attendence in the uk is booming, but the bookies and totes are toiling to take a bet on racing..

Just before I came to South Africa I had a temp job in Southampton with a chain of Bookmakers.
I worked as a floating Teller as I was only temp, waiting to go out here.
We had a shop in Bassett,very upmarket,that did small business and with the overheads didn't make money.
Shirley,Woolston the Docks were working class areas and the shops were absolute gold mines.
Derby Day and Grand National we had boxes filled up with bets that we were settling after the shops closed up to midnight!
The bulk of punters come from the working classes.Check Randburg,Paarl and Nelspruit Totes which are not in the most solubrious areas.Packed out.
Upmarket Tents with vintage cars and youngsters parading about in clothes don't bring in new racegoers and punters.
Phumelela and Gold Circle must target and support the ordinary working man/woman who likes to have a bet.

I agree

But the racing community Needs to accept it that the punter is King and stop treating us like pawns or shoe shite

Bob Brogan wrote: I agree

But the racing community Needs to accept it that the punter is King and stop treating us like pawns or shoe shite

Mushrooms, Bob.

They treat you like Mushrooms.

They keep you in the Dark.

And they feed you SHIT !