Quick Wins to save On Course Racing

[barryb 2,064]

I traveled over the Kaimai's yesterday to Gate Pa for a day in the Sun at the Races.

I sat up in the members area because of the cold wind and at 43yrs old I would have been close to the youngest person there by a wide margin. Now I know Tauranga is the grey hair capital of NZ but this is exactly why Racing is dying, most of the industry's participants are over 60 yrs of age.

How do we quickly change the demographic's and for as little cost as possible.

 

Problems faced are:

1) Many of the younger brigade are at home punting on the net.

2) They are at Saturday sports as they have little quality time with kids today with increased demand on time.

3) Often they are working Saturday's, far more so than 20+ yrs ago.

4) Far greater choice for investment $ in racing with many overseas options.

5) The totalisator as a betting medium is a relic of the past.

6) Poor facilities on Course.

7) Silly little entry fee charges.

8) Over priced food & drink.

9) Poor information on course about Horses/Sport etc.

10) Outdated Public address systems.

 

Possible Solutions are:

1) Introduce a universal Members fee applicable for all clubs except premier days (where additional payment is reqd on the day), no nomination reqd.

2) Remove entry fees or at the least free Racebook with drinks voucher.

3) Cap Food & Drink to outside market prices.

4) Introduce Free Wireless Broadband to Racetracks so punters can easily access via Phone or Tablet.

5) Members Lounges to have quality Wireless Headsets to listen to commentary and other information as desired.

6) Introduce even more childrens entertainment areas to encourage more families.

7) Shift a huge portion of Saturday Racing to Sunday Afternoon.

8) The TAB/Clubs to participate in a unique On Course only product of if you take fixed odds and your selection wins you get best of fixed odds taken or tote price at close.

[Kiah 13]

i settled with my wife many years ago that Sunday is family time. But i like the other things mentioned.  Would prefer gourmet food at cost prices as an attraction ...

[barryb 2,064]

Hesi agree with you, however it really doesn't take a rocket scientist or a multitude of time wasted on surveys to figure out that most of what I am suggesting is exactly whats wrong or whats needed.

I have been to the vast majority of tracks across the North Island on a number of times over the last 5 years and exactly what I saw at Tauranga yesterday is repeated at those venues, there basically is no succession planning going on for the industry.

[Tauhei Notts 1,413]

I like that idea of fixed odds betting best fluctuation if one is on course.

That sort of thing would do more to get me on course than anything else mentioned.  Trouble is, the number of racing administrators who know what best fluctuation means; you can count them on the fingers of your left hand.

[Leggy 4,077]

Succession of what we have now?

[Leggy 4,077]

I like that idea of fixed odds betting best fluctuation if one is on course.

That sort of thing would do more to get me on course than anything else mentioned.  Trouble is, the number of racing administrators who know what best fluctuation means; you can count them on the fingers of your left hand.

I think you might be missing a few fingers on that hand Tauhei.

[barryb 2,064]

Succession of what we have now?

 

There are plenty of young people (by that I mean anyone who can use a computer to place bets) who don't go to the races, get some thinking going on how we get them back to the track, succession from anyone over 60 who bets $2 per race.

[barryb 2,064]

I mentioned this is another thread, but the 2 other main forms of gambling entertainment, have sanitised and glammed up their GAMBLING product and spent millions over many years letting the NZ public know it.

While I am not knocking any suggestions, a lot of it is "re-arranging deck chairs on the Tiatnic' stuff, and it would be unrealistic to expect that it could make any difference.

To put it in a nutshell, Lotto is acceptable in any NZ family home, the TAB only enjoys that sort of acceptance on Melbourne Cup day.

 

Mate its not about marketing to new people, its about getting the 13-15% who like racing on a regular basis back to the track, get that deck sorted first and the newbies will tag along to see what the fuss is about.

I think this is 1/2 the problem, many are too focused on getting newbies into racing, just bloody get the racing people back first.

[barryb 2,064]

Hesi we don't need to take those 2 products on, they represent no competition anyway, the industry has lost those who are regular racing folk, they still bet but sit at home (like I mostly do) because of the few things I mentioned that piss people off about going on track.

Racing has a unique product that lotto and pokies cannot compete with and that's a 1/2 days fun entertainment with the thrill of an animal thundering down a track.

The industry just doesn't know how to get its own captive audience back on track and least of all any new people.

[barryb 2,064]

Hesi that is about the % of people who classify themselves as interested in racing, they may not bet every week but look in the racing section of the herald etc perhaps every 2 weeks, you know the types.

They are the experts on cup days but hardly ever venture to the track or TAB, but might have 1 or 2 bets per month.

These are the people who we need to drag back to the track, they might go along to the work Xmas party but that's about it, they know how to read form etc.

[barryb 2,064]

A suggestion just made to me that I think is a great idea with merit.

A Loyalty Card, perhaps an electronic one that you scan every time you buy a drink/bet/food or whatever.

Build up credit to invest, get a free drink or food throughout the day or you can save for the next meeting at anyone

of the tracks who use the universal membership idea.

 

Come on NZ Racing none of this shit is that hard, start turning out some ideas to get this industry moving with the times.

[tasman man 11 979]

Plenty of ideas there and I guess most of them will get a few extras back on track.....but......people these days ,especially young folk have hundreds of things to spend their time and $'s on ,many struggle financially and try to budget eg stop buying their daily cup of coffee.

There is not a 'hope in hell 'they are going to attend a race meeting in NZ ,watching a field of mostly maidens run around a track once every 40 minutes for 6 hours .

It ain't gonna happen....especially as 95% of us old farts lose our $'s anyway.

 

Once or twice a year on first Tuesday in November or on Cup/Derby/Kelt day they will lash out to socialise but horses racing around a track is a dying pastime in NZ.....I'd be really pist if any of my kids showed an interest in horse racing.

 

I know dozens of people who watch Trackside on TV regularly yet never bet......and judging by the 5mins I heard Trackside radio today I'd say hundreds of folk simply listen to Des on a Sunday...he had a competition and some of the first callers thru had no idea ,they couldnt even give the name of one of the horses that was a possible answer !!!!! Classic !!!

[barryb 2,064]

Plenty of ideas there and I guess most of them will get a few extras back on track.....but......people these days ,especially young folk have hundreds of things to spend their time and $'s on ,many struggle financially and try to budget eg stop buying their daily cup of coffee.

There is not a 'hope in hell 'they are going to attend a race meeting in NZ ,watching a field of mostly maidens run around a track once every 40 minutes for 6 hours .

It ain't gonna happen....especially as 95% of us old farts lose our $'s anyway.

 

Once or twice a year on first Tuesday in November or on Cup/Derby/Kelt day they will lash out to socialise but horses racing around a track is a dying pastime in NZ.....I'd be really pist if any of my kids showed an interest in horse racing.

 

I know dozens of people who watch Trackside on TV regularly yet never bet......and judging by the 5mins I heard Trackside radio today I'd say hundreds of folk simply listen to Des on a Sunday...he had a competition and some of the first callers thru had no idea ,they couldnt even give the name of one of the horses that was a possible answer !!!!! Classic !!!

 

Yeah ok lets just give up then, nothings going to change, throw 40,000 people supported by racing out of a job.

 

You would be really pist if any of your kids showed an interest in Racing?

Is that because you're a loser and don't want them to turn out like you?

 

Its exactly old fart losers like you who don't want to experiment/change that the problem exists in the first place.

Its never to old to learn how to win Tasman man, if you send me a private message I will even assist you this weekend and the next 3 to show you what its like to win.

[porky 900]

Don.t stress Barry B...There is a generation of negative old farts out there...majority of them sitting by the Trackside at home with a tenner in the TAB a/c at home because its too cold,too hot,too windy,too nicer day to be spent at the races (gardening to do)...in reality they cant afford the entry price.

 

The general public refuse to pay entry prices!... Entry for what?

 

I reckon NZTR should fund improvements on course, instead of clubs having to, from gate takings.

 

Bring the ameneties at Clubs up to date...Merge if necessary.

 

Market properly to the young and get em on course!

[von Smallhaussen 3,226]

Use facebook and txt messaging ......

tell em there's a party at Hastings Saturday 12 noon...they'll be there in their thousands.

[Guest 2Admin2]

First things first - we don't need people on course to sustain an industry - it may sustain individual clubs but not an industry.

 

Our only option is to make betting on race horses the gambling option of choice.  

[tasman man 11 979]

Yeah ok lets just give up then, nothings going to change, throw 40,000 people supported by racing out of a job.

 

You would be really pist if any of your kids showed an interest in Racing?

Is that because you're a loser and don't want them to turn out like you?

 

Its exactly old fart losers like you who don't want to experiment/change that the problem exists in the first place.

Its never to old to learn how to win Tasman man, if you send me a private message I will even assist you this weekend and the next 3 to show you what its like to win.

 

Really........40,000 people out of a job !!!!!

 

I doubt if bouncy castles and cheap gourmet food can save 40,000 jobs !!!!

 

If you can win money on bog tracks ,or any tracks for that matter ,you are a very clever person.

Most of the big punters    on racing I've known about , have won a small fortune by investing a large one !!!

Many are locked away !!!!

[porky 900]

Use facebook and txt messaging ......

tell em there's a party at Hastings Saturday 12 noon...they'll be there in their thousands.

 

You might be onto it Von...

 

Free Entry, Party pill from the corner dairy and a complimentary latte at the gate...Piecings,tattoos and have Noel leemings sponser the day for free advertising...

 

Seriously though, Have talked to Jason Flemming who has given me a good handful of free gate passes.

 

Horlicks lounge,/ Public Bar

 

.Live music between races

.punters club

.losing ticket draws

.selected 2 for 1 beers

.Free Nibbles

.Spring Carnival Ticket giveaway.

 

Be there or be square. 

[NoNippin 0]

I spotted one of these free passes for Hastings at the local TAB and grabbed one, Is a great idea and hopefully they get the rewards for it.

[bestbets 206]

Every club should have free entry, don't see the casino charging me each time I walk in there doors to throw my money away. Oh they have a reward system that gives you many rewards, many competitions to win large cash prizes and cars and even discount food. 

 

What does the racing clubs have? Got to think about this one for a bit... Oh that right high gate charges and expensive food. 

[barryb 2,064]

First things first - we don't need people on course to sustain an industry - it may sustain individual clubs but not an industry.

 

Our only option is to make betting on race horses the gambling option of choice.  

 

Yeah thanks for that, very helpful.

Gambling on horses is not going to be the option of choice unless you create a desire or interest in it in the first place

& that desire is NOT created in the TAB or sitting at home on the couch, it is created on course.

Many who do take up more of an interest (then become TAB or on the couch racing followers) do so because of being introduced to a meeting on course after being invited by a friend/colleague etc.

We need to start getting the friends/colleagues etc back to the track so the flow on effect happens off course.

Any amount of legislative/taxation changes will not save the industry if no one has the desire to attend/bet in the first place.

No entertainment industry can survive if attendances are in a decline, Rugby wont survive if we all stay at home and watch it on sky, its the same with Racing.

Any business that constantly focuses on its competitors (lotto/pokies) is doomed to failure, they will be seen as followers and not leaders.

The racing industry needs to become inventive, take some risks and change a few things at the risk of upsetting a few.

Having just the TAB here in NZ is a noose around the industries neck, just imagine what marketing and interest upswing something like Betfair coming here would create. Yes we all know that its easy enough to bet with them now from here, but in reality the vast majority of even regular racing folk have little idea how they operate etc.

We have to work with the lot we have and whilst creating small interest on course may seem not much and a lost cause its a hell of a lot better than sitting back moaning watching the decline.

[tasman man 11 979]

Yeah ok lets just give up then, nothings going to change, throw 40,000 people supported by racing out of a job.

 

You would be really pist if any of your kids showed an interest in Racing?

Is that because you're a loser and don't want them to turn out like you?

 

Its exactly old fart losers like you who don't want to experiment/change that the problem exists in the first place.

Its never to old to learn how to win Tasman man, if you send me a private message I will even assist you this weekend and the next 3 to show you what its like to win.

 

Are there really 40,000 jobs at stake....where did you pull this number from ????

 

In another post you state that rugby won't survive if folks don't go but simply watch it on Sky.....really ????

 

I assume you rate the gate charge as vital to rugby yet ,like many on here , you resent paying a small charge to visit a race track !!!

Rugby gets huge sponsorship money.....it's our number 1 pastime ,a huge business yet still regarded as a sport.

 

Racing has a problem where it is seen as a industry /business yet many 'volunteers ' still involved and many participants see it as a hobby........but it's reputation is considered as suspect by many ,always has been always will be.An RIU unit on every corner , the Queens involvement ,Kylie Bax or even the Pope as the patron saint won't change that.

 

But the main point of this post is to ask you to justify where the 40,000 jobs are ????

 

Thanks.

[Ashoka 1,179]

Tasman Man...

 

The booklet entitled "The Importance Of Racing To New Zealand", put out by the New Zealand Racing Board some years ago, states that "More than 40,000 people are involved in the racing industry".

 

It further states that "The work undertaken by the 40,000 participants equates to more than 18,000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs".

 

Cheers.

Ashoka

[Uriah Heap 481]

Yeah thanks for that, very helpful.

Gambling on horses is not going to be the option of choice unless you create a desire or interest in it in the first place

& that desire is NOT created in the TAB or sitting at home on the couch, it is created on course.

Many who do take up more of an interest (then become TAB or on the couch racing followers) do so because of being introduced to a meeting on course after being invited by a friend/colleague etc.

We need to start getting the friends/colleagues etc back to the track so the flow on effect happens off course.

 

 

 

My desire for horse racing was kindled as a youngster sitting at the kitchen table with my Dad on a Saturday, listening to races on the transistor radio. 

 

I try this with my sons (transistor now replaced by Sky TV, Trackside), but am having little success. They will bear it, and even have a pick or two, but I am not hooking them onto horse racing as I was. One of the reasons is too many distractions, by way of other channels,  Nintendos, Smartphones, etc.

 

Some things do get through. for instance

- they know of Black Caviar and were interested when she raced.

- They do like a day at the races, especially a Family Day (to their credit Trentham put on a great day in January).

 

However it hard going and I despair somewhat.

[Turny 1,224]

_{The young ones (sub 30) that i speak to have no interest in spending a day at the races, from 11.30to 5.30}

_{they would be happy with a 2.30pm start, finish at 6.30 then onto music and dancing till the wee hours with food and grog on the menu. The latter is the main event for them.}