When did racing lose its soul?

SLIPPERGOLDEN · April 2014

We are all familiar with the term colourful racing identities... there is no colour but BLACK

Brubaker · April 2014

Look Slip.... I'm not covering their backsides. I along with you have said after the umpteeth suspension, er permanent disqualification??? But sometimes good comes from bad. Connell injected thousands into country racing when no one else would. (Admittedly it wasn't his money ha! ha!) But there is a couple of country clubs doing alright today that wouldn't be here without Rothwells contribution. As I said earlier. That's what makes the racing industry unique.

SLIPPERGOLDEN · April 2014

Yes Brubaker I understand your point. You state it wasn't his money and as Shakespeare would've said "Aye. There's the rub"

For me I would not give them a second chance. You cheat once and you are out. Sadly there are multiple offenders who still partake in the racing industry today.

Legless · April 2014

Ngawyni said:
The footy's on telly as well but people still go each week.

If you mean AFL, they have worked very hard to maintain crowd levels. They have changed the rules so much that the game is not anything like it used to be, it wont be long before the players strip is a tutu.
They have targeted mums and kids and without knowing actual numbers it seems to have been successful, just by looking at the demographics of the crowd on TV it seems to me that there are a lot of under 18's at the games.
If the game was still played with 18 men, no interchange and the biffo of yesteryear was still prevalent I think things would be different.
Under 18's cant punt so is not really a market for racing to chase

I agree with a previously mentioned suggestion that Perth Racing should target 3 or 4 days a year and try and get crowds of around 20k. They have Perth Cup and Railway Day, maybe they should put more effort into Karrakatta and say a day in winter - maybe Roma Cup (Italian Day).

It will be an uphill battle though - look at the promotion that just went into "The Championships" and they got 25k on each day

lame · April 2014

attract the ladies and the men will follow ;)

TheDiva · April 2014

I think legless might have nailed it.

I went to the footy last night and of the 6-7 seats right around me, 4 of them were kids of about 10-12 years old.

The AFL has successully been able to recruit youngsters into liking the game (helps when they can play it also).

Granted, racing is going to find it hard to compete in getting the younger generation interested. Not many can participate (ie riding or training), and as legless said, they cant bet, and its nowhere near exciting as the footy to watch for a kid.

Mountain · April 2014

To quote the fictional Tony Soprano "remember when is the lowest form of conversation."

TSS · April 2014

20 minutes between races would be ideal for every type of race...harness, gallops, dogs.

DamienWyer · April 2014

TSS said:
20 minutes between races would be ideal for every type of race...harness, gallops, dogs.

I don't think that is possible in thoroughbred racing. Most horses leave the mounting yard with 7 minutes to starting time, post race they are at least the same after weighing in. That would leave just 6 mins for Jockeys to change colours and other tasks in getting ready for their next ride.

Wouldn't work.

Aquanita · April 2014

20 minutes is good in theory from an on course point of view but will never happen while Sky Channel control the race clock and all states are dependent upon the churn from racing around Australia.

PuntingTragic · April 2014

Plenty of young people on track at Dongara last week in a crowd as big as WA derby day

Keep saying it free entry entertainment for the kids cheaper food n drink

It's not that hard PR try it

matty · April 2014

The old saying nothing changes nothing changes! I believe Night racing would be fantastic here

PuntingTragic · April 2014

Agree it's ready made Perth for nite racing for sure we just need better transport links to Ascot lights an wallah the people will come

Night racing is awesome

PuntingTragic · April 2014

lame said:
attract the ladies and the men will follow ;)

Hey I'm doing my best I reckon I pull at least 50 ladies a week to Ascot

The fashion on the fields crap is just that it's a wank fest now blokes in no socks wearing Italian loafers lol

Your right the women want something for them maybe free brazilians on track or a manicure between. Races

RIO · April 2014

night racing has really captured the support of the patrons at MV...
:^o

Radman · April 2014

PuntingTragic said:

Your right the women want something for them maybe free brazilians on track...

I'll volunteer to personally run this initiative.

PuntingTragic · April 2014

Radman said:

PuntingTragic said:

Your right the women want something for them maybe free brazilians on track...
I'll volunteer to personally run this initiative.

Well done your first customers are a bunch of 75 yr old ladies from Mandurah bowls club lol

Have fun

PuntingTragic · April 2014

RIO said:
night racing has really captured the support of the patrons at MV...
:^o

Yep even Cranbourne gets a few Friday nite racing here in the summer would be awesome swap GP to sat nite

Nite racing is the future

RIO · April 2014

Last race at 7pm - equals 10pm on the east coast - and what impact will that have on tote turnover???? 5 race program from 4pm- 6pm may work at Belmont...Millions of dollars required for a trial though..

Nevershowsurprise · April 2014

"Nite racing is the future"

No it's not

PuntingTragic · April 2014

Nevershowsurprise said:
"Nite racing is the future"

No it's not

Yes it is we have the climate younger people will embrace night racing throw in entertainment fine dining an it would work in Perth forget the east coast for turnover we have Asia on our doorstep

Ou narrow minded people would think nite racing is not suited to Perth it's a perfect place to have it

Legless · April 2014

PuntingTragic said:
forget the east coast for turnover we have Asia on our doorstep

:-? something that does not seemed to have been discussed too much.

In lieu of spending the $$ (promotion, flights, free noms, etc etc) trying to attract ES horses here for carnival time - why not put the effort into getting horses from the Asian countries here. I'm sure if a few topliners from Singapore, HK etc rolled up the horses from the ES would get here on their own accord. Pretty sure if we got the top horses the better jocks would also follow them here.
The local punters up there are sure to take a lot more interest if there are a few of their own going around

With a bit of foresight as part of the Belmont redevelopement an AQIS (Quarantine) approved facility could be incorporated into the plans. Overseas horses would have a ready made 1st class training facility that would meet the quarantine requirements.

In addition such a facility could also become a revenue earner as it could be used for the rest of the year for quarantine of other animals, both those leaving and coming into the country.

DamienWyer · April 2014

NIght Racing has limited future prospects in Perth. Perth Racing are not prepared to fund the project themselves 100% because fundamentally they don't believe in it. One of the over riding concerns in anything that Perth Racing do, is payroll. They simply do not take chances where it will cost them money.

They would make a case for RWWA or the State Govt funding the project, because spending someone else's coin has always come easy for them. But why would anyone want to throw more money at them anyway ? They have plenty of opportunity afforded them week in week out, with stakes support far beyond the level of product they offer. Pound for pound, Bunbury and Pinjarra are miles ahead in returning a complete package of entertainment on course, tote turnover off course, and corporate involvement making those Clubs an integral part of their local communities. Nothing like that can be said for Perth Racing.

What needs to happen in the metropolitan area is a rebirth of the code. It has to start with the removal of the committee that has guided the Club to the edge of the abyss. Successive CEO's have whispered that the level of interference from the committee, has handicapped any progressive idea, and furthermore, the ideas that have been instigated have come mostly from the Chairman in his quest to run the sport from his office alone. What has happened is that city class racing has become as exciting as the crowds that flock to see it. The absence of carnivals at cultural moments of significance has become tombstone of this administration, and the gouging of the racing public's purse being the coroners finding of the cause of death.

So don't ask for funding for half thought out ideas, because it ain't gonna happen.

PuntingTragic · April 2014

It's the very reason you describe Damien that half thought out ideas need to be implemented anyone who thinks we don't have the climate an the Asians to boost turnover on the same time zone or close are nuts we need to get involved heavier with the Asians have a Australia v Asia series night racing it would go off the Asians would flock to Perth races it could become a awesome event run over the summer carnival at nite

If Cranbourne cab get lights an pay staff so can bloody Perth Racing nite racing is popular at the valley

Why is it that we have a massive Asian population yet not many Asians go to the races ??

lame · April 2014

beach racing would be the grass roots future if they put the hard yards into getting through the red tape

RIO · April 2014

PT, do you really think this hasn't been tried???? Seriously?? The Asian market has been there for over 30yrs. And we have spent millions of dollars over dozens of years trying to generate an interested up there. The last report i read - sorry didn't tag it so cant post it here - described how the Asians (Singapore, Hong Kong and even Malaysia - thought our standard of racing was laudable.

We do business with a Malaysian Prince who owns more horses than run in a month of races at Ascot. 18 months ago he was planning a trip down here and i asked if he wanted to include a weekend of racing at Ascot? Cant repeat his exact words but it was interspersed with so much laughter that it was hard to understand him. Suffice to say he said he'd rather come here early in the week and be back on the plane before Friday to spend time with his family on the weekend.

So if they have business activities here, own race horse, love to punt...and were here on an all expenses paid trip and still didn't want to spend time at our races, how in the hell are you going to get therm really connected with us??

Night racing. $2-5 million for the lights, and potentially attract another 500 drunken yobs to the races on a good weather Friday night ...IF you can get the trots to agree to shift to Saturday.. All the time risking turnover due to the east coast punters not being awake to bet on a second rate field at 10pm at night!!!!!

Having said that i do like the concept..Find a way to ensure that it is a profitable enterprise and I'll be behind it 100%...AS there is no more cash left i the kitty, no more assets to sell off. If it fails Perth racing will be in an even worse position than it currently is.

RIO · April 2014

lame said:
beach racing would be the grass roots future if they put the hard yards into getting through the red tape

A carnival at Bussselton over a 3 week period in January would be ideal..

DamienWyer · April 2014

Night racing could have been easily achieved. But Racing turned down the opportunity to relocate to a tri-code facility South of the City completely funded by the State Govt, instead preferring to enter into a high risk land development deal that is already behind schedule. The facilities that were offered by the WA Govt would have been comparable to anything that Perth Racing would hope to complete in several years time but without the level of debt.

lame · April 2014

RIO said:

lame said:
beach racing would be the grass roots future if they put the hard yards into getting through the red tape
A carnival at Bussselton over a 3 week period in January would be ideal..

Forrest Beach , their goes 3/4 of the red tape as it's Private property ;)

RIO · April 2014

Wouldn't that be ideal?????

4 races on each day..overnight tent ground..ran on a Saturday..on course bookies...

Or pick a long weekend and racing on Friday twilight and Sunday arvo. 4 or 5 races each day.. And camping allowed for the whole weekend...

beach racing is a real novelty and sounds a lot of fun that would suit our summers perfectly.

G'day Punter!

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When did racing lose its soul?

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