WHO REALLY WANTS TO RUN A…RACING CLUB?
- Hans Ebert
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Over the years, though knowing the answer would be a big fat NO, probably just to annoy me, I have been asked the same old question by two of the three women who have lived with me collectively and separately for almost four decades and know me better than anyone else: “Babe, if you were running a racing club, what would you do differently?”
Where does babe even start?
Firstly, babe believes that today’s consumer is far more savvy about what they want and also looking for answers, and those marketing what they have should recognise this. Babe doesn’t think that they do.
This is not aimed only at horse racing, but I think consumer behaviour is constantly changing more than ever before in, and if in marketing, it would be good to be aware of this.
To me, someone like Pharrell Williams is very much plugged into today’s youth market and is moving and guiding this particular fashion driven consumerism into very different areas.
As for horse racing, and leaving aside the wagering landscape, I really believe that racing clubs can always work on being more likeable, because if people trust you more, and clubs come across less officious, consumers buy into what you have to say more openly before committing to the final sale.
Plus, other than what’s already out there, I really don’t understand or know what the brand personality of horse racing is today other than being the usual mix of the punt and a coven of tipsters.
Is this enough to grow the current consumer pie?
The racing product is pretty much what it’s been for decades and, maybe, it’s caught between a rock and a hard place. If it wants to change, change to what?
Just to change the mindset, why not see if Conan O’Brien might be free to attend the Melbourne Spring Carnival? He could be Conancombulous!
Meanwhile I know that in a couple of racing jurisdictions jockeys are allowed to bet and only if this is on their own rides, but I would question those almost neanderthal rules and where jockeys cannot bet despite everyone else in their orbit being able to including family members.
Come on, people…
Meanwhile, if fortunate enough to be on one of those bulging colonial type expat packages in Hong Kong, a jockey’s domestic helper, chauffeur and everyone else down the food chain would be more than happy to help out by placing a bet for a small percentage of the winnings.
Un petit hypocritical, n’est pas, to show “integrity” in horse racing and can such an animal really exist?
Meanwhile, pretty much on the STUPIDITY cusp is the rule, at least if living in Hong Kong, is that if there is to be betting on horse racing by anyone in this city, this must be done through the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Which “Rainbow” believes that everyone adheres to following this rule, especially in this day and age of mobility, hi-speed streaming and free VPN access? In many ways, many of us have probably become legal hackers.
One can’t help thinking back to the old school goings on in Taipa when there was racing in Macau, where every now and again, there would be one of those “Sex For Tips” cases.
Meanwhile, towards the end stretch, odds on races in Macau tumbled when the horses were still around a hundred metres from home, something apparently choreographed and commandeered by those upstairs. And if one wasn’t able to rein in their ride and lose, well, there went another rubber tree plant along with the jockey’s riding licence.
Let’s also never forget all those warnings throughout the MJC on race days that “USE OF MOBILE PHONES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED”, though on every betting floor, mobile phones were in use and with the Club’s security officials coming over and asking if one had any good tips?
This was how Macau racing rolled with no one being really surprised with anything including why it closed.
So what’s the answer to the changing face of horse racing? Is there one or is it simply showing those drawn to betting that everything possible is being done to keep things on the straight and narrow and how, like life, there will always be a few rotten apples.
There really aren’t any answers nor reasons to curb playing against the rules except to turn a blind eye to certain things that hardly matter and just go with the flow.
Why create waves by raising unnecessary red flags in the sunset? This was one of those Dan Tan moments that brought about the end of horse racing in Singapore.
With the world having seen the cheating and corruption that openly went on between FIFA chief Giorgio Infantino and Donald Trump, and what appears to be nothing wrong with ongoing cases of sex, lies and videotapes and levels of nepotism never seen before, horse racing is almost an innocent and insignificant industry.
There’s no need for a Woodward and Bernstein and any voices of discontent to upset horse racing’s apple cart. It’s not worth the hassle to try and be a hero.
No one’s listening and no one cares if it’s hummus or Hormuz or straight or bent.
If heading up a racing club, I would simply send El Presidente Trumpelthinskin some fictitious peace prize in the shape of a golden saddle with an accompanying gold whip and a simple message like “Giddy-up”.
Baffle the old boy- and there are many like him in horse racing- so just play on with whatever and whoever makes you happy- I would like Keri Russell. We’re running out of time and we’re never going to change the world. Just take what you think is good wherever you land, and do your best to make it better.
Sometimes, pretending to take a defeatist attitude is the only way of winning.
Dedicated to the memory of Dolly Parton who inspired the world so much by showing empathy and sharing her amazing talents with the world with so much joy.
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