Once again,taken from the mighty Freeracer`s website!!
The gospel according to Clyde
An interview with Racing Association CEO Clyde Basel
The future of racing in Gauteng and South Africa
“RA is not a toothless dog, we have more power now!’’
“Phumelela is ready to give back to the game.’’
``RA has taken over the complete race day experience.’’
“We are working towards one owner’s body and one racing company.’’
``We will not relax our efforts, we will be consistent.’’
RACING Association Chief Executive Clyde Basel, under fire from some quarters despite making a quick and significant difference to Gauteng racing, answers questions from freeracer in this exclusive interview.
Give me a rundown of what the Racing Association has achieved since the new RA Board took over a few months ago:
Rome wasn’t built in a day. People want to see huge changes overnight. We have a dedicated board and we’ve already made big strides.
1) We negotiated with Phumelela the R600 subsidy for trainers visiting Kimberley.
2) We negotiated the increase of Grade 1 races in Gauteng to a minimum of R1 million each
3) We revamped the Elevation Room to a race day facility of international standard.
4) We entertain winning owners on race days in the RA private suite, where an RA director is present, and we’re educating new owners by showing them around behind the scenes, like in the Stipes Room and at the starting gates.
5) We instituted a Happy Hour after races in which all racing’s important players get together to mingle and discuss important issues. This includes trainers, jockeys, owners, members of the Stipes, NHA and Phumelela. The goal is constant communication.
6) We have created a top class website with news, lead-in photos and race videos.
7) We have launced after partieds on big race days. On Classic Day, when the National Yearling Sale is on, the after party will be jam-packed, it is very popular and a great social occasion for industry players.
Owners and trainers agree that the Elevation Room is now a satisfactory dining facility comparable with the best. What are you doing to keep your finger on the pulse? There have been a few complaints about table service and catering.
We aim at constant improvement and consistency and we are committed to not letting anything slip. Our seven race day hostesses have now been trained to serve tables as well. We have Claudia Johnson as maitre’d keeping an eye on them, they are popular among our guests. Add to the seven we have 12 waiters and waitresses, all put together that means a waitress for every three tables to serve drinks, which is adequate. Remember that we serve a buffet meal, there is no service required for that.
We have instituted strict access control, we won’t allow T-shirts and running shoes, our clients want the smart race day experience and we have already shown people away. We’re not going to compromise.
There are six runners who take bets for clients in the Elevation Room, also a consistent row of tote operators just outside the entrance. We have three new, hand-held betting machines, operators move around for late-minute bets.
Alpheus Sayola has been appointed manager of the Elevation Room and Patience Rantso is at the door, they are there to serve, to address any and all queries.
The proof is in the pudding, I can tell you that the Elevation Room is fully booked, two weeks in advance. Last year at this time, on the average Saturday, the Elevation filled only 20 tables, now we’re filling 50 plus!
What is the plan with Randjesfontein? I, for one, don’t believe it will be as popular as people seem to think. What’s this nonsense with a racecourse in “The North’’. Randjes is situated off the worst highway in the land. It’s a real schlep getting there, traffic is always bottle-necked. Who would want to go there except on a Sunday?
We are committed to a third racecourse, yes, one in the North of Johannesburg, Randjesfontein. We have applied for racecourse rights and there have been no objections, no opposition. We are going ahead as planned. Note, however, that Randjes is intended as a “boutique’’ racecourse. The intention is to have selected meetings there throughout the year as a back-up, not to race every week, not at all. As for the North, there is a need of course, people from the surrounding areas and Pretoria would prefer racing there. There are hordes of racing people in the area. The fun days will continue, the boutique style course will be developed.
Now here is a contentious point, the Randjesfontein tracks. You want to start a racecourse there, but according to various trainers the training tracks are appalling, the grass track cuts up quickly. Wouldn’t you need a major investment in the tracks first?
I am not aware of any serious complaints at this point. We have a Trainer’s Liaison Committee in place consisting of Alec Laird for Randjes, Lance Wiid for private trainers, Geoff Woodruff for the Vaal and Brian Wiid for Turffontein. I have had no complaints, in fact I can give you a list of what, 10 trainers who are very happy with the tracks!
Are you aware of a meeting between Phumelela and the Randjes trainers last year at which various issues were raised?
Yes, Graeme Hawkins was present and he reported that good progress was made at the meeting.
I have spoken to Graeme. He said that it was decided at the meeting to replace the red track in August this year, and to look at replacing the base of the ``beach track’’. I I have the names of five trainers who haven't used the black track in at least the last year! Surely that proves dissatisfaction?
I have not had any official complaints since that meeting.
Let me put it to you this way. Mike de Kock has already given notice on one of his barns, with two more to come. He says the tracks are appalling, he is moving to Summerveld shortly as a direct result of this. Charles Laird has set up at Clairwood. Mike Azzie and Sean Tarry have noted that they too will consider moving in future. Alec Laird, too, is said to have applied for boxes elsewhere. Does it not worry you that there might be an exodus of Gauteng’s top trainers to Durban?
The word among trainers is that Mike de Kock is seldom here and that his comments are overblown.
Well, that's trash talk about a champion trainer. If you speak to Randjesfontein’s veterinarian Dr Crocky du Preez he will confirm that the rate of horses breaking down there is serious, worse than ever. Crocky says he hasn’t treated as many bruised soles, fetlock joints and jarred knees in 20 years, he puts it down to bad tracks!
All I want to say is that I am quite surprised by these comments and that we are fully approachable and will investigate and address this matter.
You were saying that the RA has been given more power in regards to making racing a more pleasurable experience. What, we’ve heard this before!
Don’t go there, this is a brand new development which I am proud to announce. Up to now the RA was charged with the Elevation Room and the Elevation Room only. But Phumelela has decided to give us charge now of the full race day experience! This is a huge achievement for us, because Phumelela are standing back now. They have realised it’s time to give something back to racing!
What does this entail?
We are excited about this, we now have far-reaching powers. We have been placed in charge of everything, write than in capital letters, EVERYTHING, from the entrance of the racecourse, to security, to garden maintenance, to picking up rubbish and cleaning up, to revamping all the floors of the grandstand, to eateries, supplying good food at various points on the course. Simply, Phumelela has relinquished these functions, it is up to us now!
Clyde, more detail please!
Let’s start with security. We will have a boom installed at all entrances, there will be security searches to ensure that bad elements and weapons don’t get in. This is important for night racing in particular, people must feel safe to come over. We will arrange police escorts away from the track to all the highways, watch it happen!
Also we will soon be launching a piazza area in the Marble Arch area where we envisage a food court, café’s, coffee shops.
Look at what we’ve done on the second floor of the grandstand, and now also the first. Just go look how clean, fresh and modern it is. These areas will fill up in time.
We will be moving the parade ring to the front of the grandstand, this will make the experience more intimate, like Newmarket used to be. Trained officials will be on duty all over the track on race days, to address any problems and queries that may arise. We want to turn Turffontein from a “ghost town’’ into “pleasureland’’. We know that people won't come back to the racetrack until all these things have been done. It will take time.
Sounds good, it really does, hope you can pull it off. Anything else?
Yes, another scoop for you. The RA has been given the full go-ahead to drive major race days. This is something Phumelela did not have to do and it proves their commitment to improving the race day experience.
Let’s discuss night racing, there is an outcry about the costs of erecting the lights.
The delay surrounding night racing has caused this predicament. Firstly the lights and generators have been paid for, but because of the lengthy hold-up there will be increased cost in laying cables and construction work. This was unavoidable and surely anybody can understand that! All things going to plan, and considering the availability of contractors, we hope to relaunch night racing with a 12-race extravaganza on Summer Cup day in October.
Race programming seems to be a sore issue. What are the developments here?
I am pleased to give you even more good news. The Racing Association has won the Chairman’s seat on the new programming committee. The committee consists of myself, Gavin Brown, Joe Soma, Brett Warren and St John Gray, Patrick Davis is likely to represent Phumelela with Alf Little. The committee will meet three times a year, by current supply and demand we will be focusing on lower handicaps. The programme will be drafted by the Racing Bureau.
I can see complaints coming from trainers about a swing away from programming for top horses.
No, that won’t be the case. Remember that soon we will have an extra meeting per week, when night racing starts. There will be more races available, we will try our best to keep everyone happy, things will even out.
There are industry players, punters, people with interest who are skeptical about Chris van Niekerk and Markus Jooste. Did they use their former RA positions to get onto the Phumelela Board as shareholders, to make money, to drive the shares for their own interest and that of their friends on the Phumelela Board? Do they really have the interests of racing at heart?
This is a sad and almost vindictive point of view. Between Messers Van Niekerk and Jooste millions, billions, have been invested in racing. They are very wealthy people, they have ploughed enormous amounts of money into racing and continue to do so. They have introduced new syndicates to the game, mostly wealthy people who are much needed. Importantly, let me tell you, these astute gentlemen have brought their business skills to racing. They are presenting avenues of revenue to us which will propel racing forward. We cannot afford to lose them and let me assure you, racing is their number one priority. They care for the sport, the thoroughbred and the owners, they love the game and obviously their involvement here depends on their full participation. Isn’t their good will so patently obvious?
More good news, Mr Basel?
Indeed. It is this: We have formed the National Industry Liaison Committee, this is he RA and the various Chapters of Gold Circle, with the specific aim of driving the racing industry to the formation not only of one owners’ association, but also to an amalgamation of Phumelela and Gold Circle in the interests of racing. One company for racing! Our first meeting was excellent, we’re on a mission to drive racing forward relentlessly.
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