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When did racing lose its soul?

West Australian Racing
PerthTurfTalkPerthTurfTalk    3,054 posts
edited April 2014 West Australian Racing

The following article (to use the words of someone famous) has no basis more reliable than my own meandering thoughts and experiences and has no scientific evidence to back it up! It is not intended to offend anyone nor give weight to a liable suit!!!!

The article is sure to ask more questions than it answers. What more, I don’t profess to have all or any of the answers.

What I do have is a genuine love for the racing industry and an ingrained dislike for what those in charge have turned our industry into. Whilst I have been involved in the industry for some forty three years, I accept that there are some who have been involved for much longer and have seen or achieved much more than I ever will. I also accept the inevitability of change. Habits, society, ideals, in fact most things change.

As we wander down the many twists and turns of memory lane, I would dearly love to know… Read the complete article here
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Comments

  • DamienWyerDamienWyer    8,008 posts
    Fabulous read. Well done Lou
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  • CarlosaCarlosa    1,287 posts
    Yes, excellent!
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  • primemoverprimemover    141 posts
    Agree!
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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    :-c
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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    LOU for the commonwealth literary prize thanks for the trip down memory lane can still remember the old concrete rail platform that ran the length of the ascot car park by where the pool stands now getting a 1/4 chicken @ chips at the top shop and having a game of pinball when you could go from carbine street to davis street through the stable alleyways and lanes the rope swing out of the tree behind the water playground I could go on but it woul take all day once again great piece LOU
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  • RIORIO    14,902 posts

    oh well I'll go against the grain of all the previous posters ...wouldn't be the first time.

    Whilst it was a well written and emotive story/article it highlights how far removed from todays racing industry some who are heavily involved in it are. Here is a person who has made his wealth from this industry and he isn't connected to how it is currently run. As we get into our later years we can all reminisce about how it used to be, but if you aren't embracing how it is and aren't in tune with it, then it is probably time to move on and let the next generation come on through..As Lou is sort of doing with Dion's heavier involvement in his racing operations.

    The past is gone, and if you don't focus on the "product" and maintain the percentage - or hopefully grow it - of the punters dollar we wont have an industry...

    A good article.....and I know as the years roll by it is hard to accept and understand why things need to be so different...But they do.

    therealkramer, Meathead, trevydards, Gilgamesh likes this post.

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  • TheDivaTheDiva    13,248 posts
    You could adopt this to most things in modern life.  Times have changed. I remember when i used to like to go watch the WAFL and we used to kick a choc milk carton around on the hill and collect budgets after the game. Then we'd go to the smoke filled bar and if you were lucky, you got to hold one of the footy player's beers while he socialised (= got p*ssed). 
    I have fond memories of those days too, but they're not coming back. 
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  • RonaldMcdonaldRonaldMcdonald    10 posts
    He couldn't be anymore correct
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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    edited April 2014
    RIO said:

    oh well I'll go against the grain of all the previous posters ...wouldn't be the first time.

    The past is gone, and if you don't focus on the "product" and maintain the percentage - or hopefully grow it - of the punters dollar we wont have an industry...

    A good article.....and I know as the years roll by it is hard to accept and understand why things need to be so different...But they do.


    Totally agree, Rio. I'm not an owner but I'm guessing for those who do own racehorses they see it as an investment. Some may view it as a hobby, but all would like to make a profit on that investment and have a bit of fun doing so. Terms like 'product' might sound a bit harsh or cold but punting revenue must grow for the sport to flourish. It's similar to the argument about corporate bookmakers banning winning punters-if you don't stand an even chance why would you bother?
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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    think you missed the point RIO I didn't see it being about percentages and punting dollars more about how it used to be you stated the author isn't connected to how it is currently run yet last time I looked he still attends the trainers association meeting who I would believe voice theire opinions to rwwa about certain aspects of racing KRAMER you say you are not a owner which is evident my mates and I that do own a few and pay trainers fees each month don't see it as a investment rather the opposite if I put that money into fixed bonds accounts etc I would see that as a investment race horses are a exspensive bit of fun with your mates the big spending owners they may view it as a investment not us but we have no illusions at the start from the purchase to the end of their racing that is if they get to the track that it will be a investment
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  • ErrolFlynnErrolFlynn    46 posts
    Similar to Rio and The Diva- things change, life moves on. You could apply that analogy to almost any aspect in life. 

    At the of the day, like it or not, if the the punters decide to drop tools and not bet then I'm pretty sure the participants race for a blue ribbon. If Lou Luciani can find another way of generating the mainstream income for the industry by all means share it with us. 

    Doubt Lou Luciani would have used a thing called the "internet" to publish that article back in those so-called halcyon days.


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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    @spinking- that's great and in a perfect world all owners who don't recoup their investment would pay the training fees on time. But we know that just ain't the case.

    notapunta likes this post.

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  • RIORIO    14,902 posts

    Hi Spinking. I have a lot of respect for those who have been in the industry well before myself and have made it such a wonderful place to have a bit of fun as I do. But the modern day owners have different things that drive them to be involved compared to when Lou came into the industry.

    There are also different things that attracted me to this industry than what my Grandfather, or in deed his Father were attracted by.

    By saying Lou is disconnected I meant by the way the industry is being managed and the direction it is going in. He is 100% connected with some industry participants, his owners and indeed many people and organizations within the industry. He would have to be still connected to write such an accurate and insightful article. As Lou stated in his preamble - no disrespect to anyone inferred or intended by my comments.

     

     

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  • Piston_BrokePiston_Broke    2,047 posts
    If anyone considers owning a racehorse an investment they are away with the fairies

    thefalcon, Thoroly_Bread likes this post.

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  • SPUDLEYSPUDLEY    1,584 posts
    Louie you are absolutely 100% spot on.
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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    Piston_Broke said:

    If anyone considers owning a racehorse an investment they are away with the fairies


    Whether you make money or not owners are entitled to expect the industry is doing its best to maximise whatever return they do get. Would you rather lose a little or a lot?
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  • rot8inrot8in    1,881 posts
    Piston_Broke said:

    If anyone considers owning a racehorse an investment they are away with the fairies




    Well i certainly didnt tell the mrs that im gambling on a racehorse .... Can we consider it a high risk investment .
    Great article ...I know time moves on and things change ,but not always for the better

    Legless, thefalcon, squid69 likes this post.

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  • LeglessLegless    5,108 posts
    rot8in said:

    I know time moves on and things change ,but not always for the better

    =D> My thoughts exactly
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  • BobbyDavisBobbyDavis    916 posts
    Wonder if Lou likes Dions hair do
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  • VoodooVoodoo    1,389 posts
    edited April 2014
    Senfrigginsational......certainly brings back to my mind, what I used to love about the Ascot area.
    Well done Lou.....


    cheers
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  • trojanhorsetrojanhorse    345 posts
    I do not think that Mr Luciani is just telling stories of old times and reminiscing, I think he is high light the difference of where the racing industry is now as to where it came from and was .   Like the title is saying  Where is the heart and Soul of racing now ....I am agreeing that Perth racing is very bland and the rwwa doesis not in touch with the people of its industry. 
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  • PuntingTragicPuntingTragic    1,141 posts
    Piston_Broke said:

    If anyone considers owning a racehorse an investment they are away with the fairies

    Correct it's a hobby an expensive one you put in expect to lose money period most do few win but it's great fun however owning horses is a very exy an mostly unrewarding game
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  • PuntingTragicPuntingTragic    1,141 posts
    edited April 2014
    Ps Lou looked pretty chuffed when sass n glam got up today he's porked up to Lou too much mamas cooking ?
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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    KRAMERsounds to me that maybe your a trainer with a few outstanding accounts
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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    edited April 2014
    spinking said:

    KRAMERsounds to me that maybe your a trainer with a few outstanding accounts


    If that was the only thing I needed to worry about if I were a trainer then sign me up. Maybe it is different there in Perth but here in Sydney there are always rumblings about owners not paying. I'm pretty sure there was a proposal for the race clubs to withhold winnings of owners with outstanding training fees and pay the trainers that way.
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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    KRAMER those rumblings I am sure are heard in every state of Australia not a bad idea about the clubs withholding stake money to settle training fees but not all owners have stakes to be withheld I once leased a horse here and the lessee withheld my 33% I went to the turf club about it only to be told they where not a collection agency my argument was that seeing the person in question was licensed by them thay surely could do something drew a blank maybe a more workable situation for trainers would be that any outside services such as vets farriers even noms etc those bills could be sent directly to the owners if they were not settled in the correct time frame wherever the bill was issued from could follow them up by way of summons I am sure they would then get sorted

    PuntingTragic likes this post.

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  • TheDivaTheDiva    13,248 posts
    witholding prizemoney is a great idea... problem is, most of the ones that dont get paid up for, are too slow to earn any....

    Thoroly_Bread, Tivers likes this post.

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  • AndrewCarterAndrewCarter    2,171 posts
    Great article and Lou is spot on the fields that are going around now are crap, yesterday with Wednesday meeting highlighting that fact.

    I couldn't even be bothered to have a bet as you wouldn't feed most of them and could buy most them for a couple of hundred so why bet. I thought sandpiper would win but I was busy doing other things and didn't bother.

    We need desperately need welters again they used to provide the regular highlight of midweek meetings and were a great betting medium midweek and on Saturday meetings and they gave open class horses who aren't  up the better ones a chance to earn.

    Welters or something similar are desperately needed as those higher rated horses who aren't quite up to it currently have nowhere to go.

    Then again if we had Welters with reasonable prizemoney on a regular basis PR and RWWA couldn't hide the reality of how poorly the industry is going and its systemic problems by stacking the program with crap restricted class races for far less prize money. 

    JayJay likes this post.

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  • RIORIO    14,902 posts

    I like the idea of withholding prize money for delinquent owners. But in this current era of so many horses being syndicated I couldn't see that being applied evenly or fairly.

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  • PuntingTragicPuntingTragic    1,141 posts
    There was did they not withhold padnacks winnings to pay outstanding bills ?
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