Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

  • Bob Brogan
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Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867346
Gold Circle apologises unreservedly for the inconvenience to racing fans, stakeholders and all of our valued sponsors after a jockey protest led to the abandonment of the final three races on the Hollywoodbets Durban July card on Saturday.

The unanticipated implementation of power outages was made contrary to arrangements with the City Of Durban which ultimately led to the jockeys citing unsafe conditions as the reason for their refusal to ride. This was entirely out of our control and a full investigation has been launched. The day remains an unqualified success with over 45 000 people in attendance.

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  • oscar
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867347
A circus
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  • Mac
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago - 1 year 11 months ago
#867423
My thoughts going forward in 2024:
- remove the July jockeys’ cattle parade;
- remove the dancing and other theatrics in the interval between the previous race and the July; and
- remove the one-hour interval and return to the 35/40 mins interval to the July race.

Do we really need or want the National anthem?

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Last edit: 1 year 11 months ago by Mac.

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  • Felix
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867426
My thoughts going forward in 2024:
- remove the July jockeys’ cattle parade;
- remove the dancing and other theatrics in the interval between the previous race and the July; and
- remove the one-hour interval and return to the 35/40 mins interval to the July race.

Do we really need or want the National anthem?

I totally agree with you Mac, a wise old man once told me "In order for your business to thrive, you need to give customers what they want or like, not what you as the owner like or want"'.

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  • zoro
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867427
My thoughts split the July into a 2 day event similar to Royal Ascot which is a 4 day event. We can then split the gr 1 and feature events into the 2 days starting at 12 and finishing at 5.Also adding extra races onto the card to make it Saturday 8 races and Sunday 8 races each day and cut out the floodlights bullshit. Still Focusing on the JULY as the main event. More profitable for Durban tourism etc and not such a long day for all.
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  • Elmo
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867435
The July Vibe on course was not the same as previous years and I think the theme out of this world was a flop. More than 90 percent of the attendees did not dress to the theme .Maybe next year HW should get ideas from the racing public.
No KZN trainers won a race on July day so the abandonment of the last 3 races was not good for them or the sponsors and not to mention the loss of turnover for GC. Punters were also left in the cold. I fully agree with the Jockey protest after the first time the lights tripped there was no going back .So where does that leave night racing for the future?.
Going forward July should be split on two days ,think that's the way to go.
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  • thisotherdude
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867437
Absolutely share the sentiments of posters above. Make it a 2 day event. Sadly for me seeing all the '1 day a year racegoers' feels a bit contrived. 90% of those that attended probably didn't know the difference between a swinger and a trifecta and was merely there for the pomp and ceremony. Everything looked and felt rushed. For me, the camera work at times was poor. A camera will follow a horse side on cantering to the post and then suddenly the shot ends where the camera is fixed on a balcony??? :blink: Few times hotties in a race didn't even feature in the canter past because they had to switch to some noise in the stands. I don't know, maybe i'm just old....lol....But look at the spectacle Royal Ascot was, out of the top drawer. I was captured by every race and even grabbed at times by the fashion. Get an international race caller for the occasion too please. I'm so tired of hearing about people telling us about it being their 100th July call etc. And don't get me started on the tote and the load shedding debacle :pinch: I can go on and on but my rant is over. :silly:
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  • Sammy Silver
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago - 1 year 11 months ago
#867452
The July has lost its sparkle. It now caters for the out of town Tenderpreneurs

I was in a tent with no TV and all that the "Tenderpreneurs" and their guests did was get pissed. Some cotched in the tent!!! They had zero interest in horseracing

I remember the old days when my winning post picnic site was such a vibe. The picnic sites was full with people that loved racing!!!
Last edit: 1 year 11 months ago by Sammy Silver.
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  • alterego
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867457
Municipality stuffed up, but what is Gold Circle’s contingency for power outages in general. Unplanned outages are common these days so it’s not just load shedding that leaves you in the dark.
Did the general contingency plan kick in on the night?
Did the battery provide uninterrupted power to the lights for a few minutes?

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  • Elmo
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867464
The July has lost its sparkle. It now caters for the out of town Tenderpreneurs

I was in a tent with no TV and all that the "Tenderpreneurs" and their guests did was get pissed. Some cotched in the tent!!! They had zero interest in horseracing

I remember the old days when my winning post picnic site was such a vibe. The picnic sites was full with people that loved racing!!!
Agree 100%,the vibe was not there.

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  • Bob Brogan
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867467
Watching on TV it looked a fantastic event
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  • Craig Pienaar
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Re: Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

1 year 11 months ago
#867475
Was on course and there was no vibe, and all that i met told me they wont be back next year

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