Kzn Racing

Could we have some comments regarding the quality of racing here since we ended our hospitality to outside trainers.

Has the standards here improved
What effect has it had on punters that preferred to concentrate on Kzn races

Are we not seeing a general decline in quality of races especially Maidens and MR 80 s and upwards
To me it seems horseracing is moving from one crisis to the other
Sad

Ben Hur, Kzn Racing is going very well. We had our meeting with Directors last week and trading above budget this season. The maidens are getting plenty of nominations and the 80+ MR the outside trainers can race in with pleasure. The only crisis if you can call it that is the lack of rain. This time last year when Greyville was putting in the subway we had so much rain that we could not keep working on the subway or at the training establishments. Kzn racing is very happy besides the rain.

Out of season racing in KZN is very thin because the better horses have headed to Cape Town or are being prepared for the Johannesburg Spring season. What's left behind is very average, hence the rough results.

Craig

What happens after you stop racing at Clairwood
Will Scottsville and Greyville be able to cope with the race programme

You speak of budgets
Would it not be foolish to use that as a yardstick to gauge the state of an industry.
Especially in a franchised one?

I didn't notice much quality from your maiden races yesterday.This was in spite of, if I recall correctly, two consecutive weeks of no midweek card.
On the positive side the number of people attending the meeting at weekends have improved.But I would not rush to credit that to anything you doing
I have my views on that

Ben Hur, by the time Clairwood closes we will have the polytrack in at Greyville so we should cope even better as we should not loose any meetings. Surely if our turnovers/profits are increasing we should be on the right road? Our maidens have up to 120 or so noms so I think we have plenty horses to run in those races. There are many people who don't want to see GC succeed and that is their problem. We are happy the way things are improving so we will keep going. I,the Directors and most Trainers believe we on the right track.

Craig, might be a stupid question but will trainers be changing there training methodology in order to get horses ready for the polytrack, ie more speed training or something like that cause of the short run in??

We are supposed to have our polytrack at Summerveld ready in December and then will have a few months to practise on that. We will have Mike De Kock to ask as he is working on them in the UK now.

I would be more worried about other regions

Now I am concerned
It seems racing is in the hands of accountants.
I don't know how you do your projections etc but to get over excited about exceeding profit expectations is silly.Especially when the ones that are doing so has everything to lose.Your company is under achieving by a country mile when you look at the potential of the industry .You are chasing your own tail.
Craig you mention the polytrack as a substitute for meetings that might have taken place at Clairwood.
As a punter I find this hard to accept in many ways.

Ben , what's the diff? JHB have better stakes but shit racing, the Cape has the best horses but shit racing and poor stakes,Flsmingo p has some nice people and not so nice people, PE us fantastically brilliant but a punters mare ...

KZN far the most exciting racing region even though their best track is closing soon

Great to see that Ben Hur1 is posting today(tu)

Ben

Just look at the pools. Do a spreadsheet if you must. You will see the proof.

Kzn racing has the biggest pools, hence showing the popularity of KZN racing.

Like Hibs says, the other centres are a worry.

Viva KZN Viva