I have waited for as long as possible for others to either ask the questions or for the official think tank and other associated parties to inform us, but alas as usual we know nothing.
I also acknowledge that I am, but a mere keyboard warrior, so perhaps my questions don’t deserve to be asked and perhaps, heaven forbid. even answered.
I’ve been sitting on these questions, writes Keyboard Warrior in the Sporting Post Mailbag.
- The Pools
With social distancing and tote outlets being closed as well as people feeling a massive financial burden, what are the bookmakers planning to do with their take on the open bet?
By law they cannot pay more than the pool. So if the Pick 6 pool is R200k they will be limited to that dividend if the results are horrendous. Yet they could be holding R1 million in open bets.
So my question is – has anyone in the inner circle attempted to reach out to the bookmakers to assist racing by feeding the take into the pools short term?
- Jockeys
We know it’s a tough gig. Has anyone asked if they are going to take a pay reduction? Or indeed if they will take a reduction in percentage on stakes? Has anyone even bothered to reach out to them?
- Vets / Farriers / Feed Merchants
Has racing as a collective tried to negotiate a short term solution to alleviate cash flow problems? Or is it down to the individual to sort it out?
- NHA
Has anyone asked the NHA to lower the fees for new owner applications, as one example, during a time when there is potentially an exodus of owners?
- RA and nominations
Why are owners still needing to pay for nominations during these tough times?
Surely the fact that we fill race cards even with lower stakes shows that OWNERS and TRAINERS are again willing to come to the party, operationally and financially?
What effort has been made by anyone in power to get the other participants in racing to do the same?
