was ACHIEVERS day at Big T a wasted exercise ?

I know of 5 youngsters ( 18 - 23 ) that were invited to big T today. I was told that the package included Free drinks ( don't know how many ) Free food, no doubt full buffett & all the trimmings plus a R 200 betting voucher per person. This is what I've been told 2nd hand !

I've since heard that Phum. have now WITHDRAWN THE FREE BETTING VOICHER ! Is this correct ? was there supposed to be free betting vouchers originally ?

At least 500 - 600 young achievers were expected / invited on course. If 500 achievers pitched up x R200 per head = R100,000 outlay by Phum / RA. Of this at least 50,000 would have gone back to P through loosing tickets - If not more.

If the above is correct, how can the powers that be, expect 1st time novice guests to " punt " from their own pockets ? It is insanely stupid to think that these youngsters would take out their OWN allowance / hard earned money to punt with.

A big blunder by P or R.A. I'm afraid. There's nothing better than novice punters having a flutter in each race with OTHER PEOPLES MONEY.

I will tell you what MOST of these youngsters will do - have a few drinks, EAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE - " THEN HIT THE ROAD JACK, betting NO MORE NO MORE, NO MORE "

Back In June I booked a table for 12 in the furios room, free drinks free food & R200 per person betting voucher was given. EVERYONE had a marvellous time, punting with " free money " our horse won on the day ( Gap Year for Frodo & myself ) & the whole table had a totally enjoyable day.

Can we say the same for the 500 achievers at Big T today ?

Scotia fill me in.

Take a 100 novice gamblers to the casino, give them A FREE DRINK, FREE FOOD & NO GAMBLING MONEY..... How long will they last ( only until the Free drink & FREE food is finished )

POINTS FOR IDEA / ORIGINALITY = 9 / 10
POINTS FOR EXECUTION = 4 / 10

Hi Elvis not sure of the detail, but imo a great day, I keep popping my head in and everyone having a great day?

pls check on your facts elvis - you vastly overestimate the budget and underestimate the intellect behind the plan

mr hawaii what are the correct facts ? please do tell, was there a change of plan at the last minute ?

I did say I has given this info 2nd hand.

I cannot comment further(for personal reasons) but i'm sure if you read the press releases on the RA site and those on this site you will not see any mention of R200 betting voucher per person - nor mention of an "open bar" Also you will note that the wine was sponsored (subject to a corkage charge) as were most of the prizes on offer(I know because MR Naidoo and myself spent ages with cap in hand trying to save the RA money!!) 12 ladies that entered the Miss RA competion each receive win R200 betting voucher while the winner,first princess, and second princess receive sponsored/cash prizes.

thanks Mr Hawaii for your reply. I am only relaying what one of the youngsters has passed onto me from the course. HE for reasons unknown to me was told beforehand that there would be a betting voucher per person. When he enquired at the course He was told that " PHUM had witdrawn the betting vouchers "

as Stan Elley would say " where do we go to from here " ?

Elvis I know you as a fair person, if anyone promised people R200 betting vouchers they were completely misinformed (not by myself or Mr Naidoo) Our main aim to get people to the track was the allure of the lease horse(funds raised through sponsorship). My take was if we could create 19 instant owners we would then suddenly have 19X25-50 people(1000 plus- mothers fathers, brother, sisters, bragging rights - I own a racehorse etc ) now involved(checking results, coming to the track, visiting the yard etc)whenever the horse ran as word of mouth is the best advertising in the world.

Well it was magic to see the hall empty and all the kids on the balcony screaming for the horses.
No doubt this was a great day for racing and the RA.

I think it was a great initiative; it's a pity if some goodwill got lost in the execution, however pratice make perfect - when is the next one?

Now if only the rest of the RA could follow the initiative shown by the merketing department (committee?) and do something for the CURRENT members; how about securing a slot on Inside Racing or Winning Ways covering the reasoning behind the woeful race program in Gauteng, or explain the seemingly confusing elimination rules using practical examples.

If Dean Finder can have a weekly (boring imo) slot on Under Starter Orders, why can't the same opportunity be given to Larry Wainstein (perhaps they can alternate)?

On a lighter note on this subject I am pleased to report that my nephew who is at University of Johannesburg ( surname NOT the same as mine ) was one of the lucy 19 youngsters who WON a share in the horse. Well done to him, & at last the " other " side of the family now has an interest in the horsey game.

He was not my informant by the way.

We now have a scenario where his cousin, is an appy jockey & he is a part time owner - can only be good for the game.... guess who he would like to ride " his " horse when it runs.

As Frodo said, a great iniative........ if the powers that be ( P & R.A. ) believe it was a success, then do it again...... 3 or 4 times a year.

Racing needs 3 or 4,000 NEW people in the game EVERY YEAR to keep us on the road to survival.

Elvis racing has been good to you - if another event were to take place would you be prepared to give something back to ensure the future of the sport?

I went down to get Ricky Wainstein's email address for a seperate function..boy oh boy was I surprised to see the buzz down there..it was great..was I surprised when 30 of them came up to the box after to carry on..all they spoke about was horses and what they gonna back next..jockeys Brown and Lerena came up to say high to the guys as did Shaheen Shaw and Cecil.

In my view it was an awesome success and I want to personally say to Mr H you did a great job my man..this was not just a free drink and goodbye..lots of the guys asked how much it costs to get involved etc

I think you won some hearts over today Mr H.