Judging by their posts, punters believe that they’re keeping horse racing alive and well in South Africa.
Chris van der Merwe writes in the Sporting Post Mailbag that he wishes to refer them to the ‘House of the Rising Sun’.
He suggests that punters certainly have an important role to play, and the industry needs their gambling – but they have a warped sense of entitlement.
On March 26 2025 at Hollywoodbets Durbanville a new breed of player arrived – people that believe they are bigger than the game. They are the jockeys. Some of them earn more money than executives of listed companies but, with respect, have infinitely less skill, qualifications, and decision-making abilities.
Allow me to cross reference this Sporting Post article – please click here
“By 2023, bookmaker turnover had rocketed to R417 billion on Sports and R9,75 billion on horseracing”
So let me make this short and sweet; Without owners there is no industry.
All other players won’t exist if people no longer buy thoroughbred race horses.
Breeders, trainers and jockeys won’t have food to put on the table, but owners don’t need any of the aforementioned to eat.
So better jockeys stick to their diets and riding horses, rather than making strategic decisions such as industrial strikes, for which they are totally ill-equipped.
Ed – feature image by Chase Liebenberg for illustration only.
