A vibrant first-time stakeholder engagement meeting hosted by the Kenilworth Racing board on Thursday evening probably raised more questions than answers, with role players clearly concerned at a lack of direction, perceived poor communication,non-existent operational management, and the spectre of a rationalisation of assets.
Facing a loss of in excess R25 million in the current financial year, Kenilworth Racing clearly have more than a mountain to climb in a dismal economic climate and testing times for the industry.
Former Chairman Robert Bloomberg set the pace and the tone for the evening early on, and while he was cut short with many of his revelations clearly touching the bone, he had raised the curiousity bar.
While smarting from being cut short, Bloomberg said that he was happy to ‘sit on the sidelines and munch my popcorn’.
“My only interest is what is best for horseracing. I have no agendas. Everybody is entitled to know all the information that they are entitled to know. I am happy to share it with everybody,“ he said, while adding that he did not believe the media was the route to go to expose the background history.
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4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe called the evening an eventful discussion, but said that she was not prepared to entertain personal jibes.
She rejected the Bloomberg forecast of a financial brickwall looming for 4Racing.
“People do not have the correct information. So they shouldn’t be making statements,” she said, reaffirming her company’s commitment to transparency.
Recently retired jockey MJ Byleveld called in and said it would have been good to have heard the entire Bloomberg address.
In a broad reference to Bloomberg’s contribution and wealth of experience, owner Gary van den Bergh pointed out that institutional knowledge was vital and he urged the board and all present to bury any acrimony as ‘we all need to work together’.
National Horseracing Authority CEO Vee Moodley said that all involved needed to ‘get real’ and that a national operator was the only way to go.
“If we don’t find a way to establishing a national operator sooner rather than later, we will be sitting here next year and the year after that, talking about the same things,” said the racing regulator boss.
Owner John Finlayson said that he felt that the number 1 priority was to answer the question – what is supposed to drive the income for racehorse stakes?
He said that ‘rather than looking to one family to save racing and begging around here and there for a few big race sponsors’, that the tote infrastructure was an obvious starting point.
“Surely we should be checking whether the tote infrastructure is adequate or ideal? Tote security is poor, the tote service is poor – and online they are poor.”
Leading breeder Pippa Mickleburgh said that communication was non-existent, that sponsors had disappeared as they had not been looked after, and she bluntly said that the raceday experience at Kenilworth needed a review.
“Tell us what’s going – we don’t know what the heck is going on. And why have we forgotten the customer? We need to sort out the betting customers and racecourse visitors. This building – is there a General Manager for the course and buildings? The place is boring, cold and unwelcoming. The last time we were here there were no drinks, no tea to be had, and no racecards. There can be no excuses for that. There are many people in this room who would bring friends. But why would we? A leader is needed urgently,” she added to a round of applause as Chairman Brad Ralph said there were operational issues.
“No excuses. It was the first meeting after a month,” retorted Pippa.
Newly appointed NHA Director John Kinsley raised hope that there were first steps being taken.
“But you don’t have a lot of time. Do you believe we can take concrete steps to a resolution?” he asked.
Director Wehann Smith said that he believed that there was time and that covid and the last two years may sound like excuses, but it was a reality. He also conceded that there could have been better communications from the board.
Veteran owner-breeder Ken Truter said that he was glad the meeting was being minuted as it would lead to accountability.
“I am an old owner of many years and there has been an extreme lack of transparency in recent times. I come here every meeting – but there is no communication. And while I have no issue with any individuals, I must question the composition of the board. In days past we had Rodney Dunn who fought night and day for the Cape. That fell away with the RA, and while I am glad the ROA have representation here, we need a provincial representative. Nobody is fighting hard enough for the Cape. We have been ‘dissed’ – as John Freeman mentioned, the Cape plays second fiddle as meetings get moved at a whim.”
Truter closed by saying it was important to know whether there was any intentions to bond the properties. “ The properties were always sacrosanct,” he added.
Former NHA Chair Susan Rowett questioned general transparency and whether the public was entitled to direct questions of the Racing Trust. Wehann Smith reponded in the affirmative.
Chairman Bradley Ralph said late in the meeting that the ‘band aid has been ripped off completely’ and that 4Racing would probably be available to entertain questions after the local racemeeting on 11 May.
Ed – the above snapshot does not represent all of the views expressed. We were not permitted to record the proceedings via Zoom. Minutes will be published. These will be made public when available to us.
