Urgent Leadership and Reform Needed in the Racing Industry

The Crisis of Common Sense in Racing

In today's world, where media often manipulates narratives, the racing industry desperately needs strong, sensible leadership to secure its future. Without immediate action, the sport faces significant challenges, particularly from animal rights activists, inexperienced decision-makers, and issues surrounding gambling.

The Problem with Gambling

Gambling is the lifeblood of racing. However, many key positions are held by individuals with little to no understanding of gambling. This lack of knowledge poses a serious threat to the industry. The gambling model must be fixed urgently to prevent racing from becoming as relevant as a game of backyard Badminton

Political Appointments and Lack of Experience

Sports, including racing, have become big businesses dominated by political appointees more interested in personal gain than the sport’s welfare. This trend needs to change if racing is to avoid declining into obscurity.

Case Studies: Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales

• Victoria: The industry has been plagued by infighting and ineffective leadership for decades. The turnover is down, and prominent trainers are moving interstate due to poor conditions and the governing body their cant even find someone for their top job
• Queensland: The state operates with outdated practices and leadership lacking real-life business and gambling experience. You think QLD racing you think 1950's car boot sales
• New South Wales: Peter V’landys has made significant strides, increasing prize money and revitalizing interest. However, concerns remain about the sustainability of his efforts and the part-time nature of his role and just how long will he be around

The Distinction Between Gambling Types

A crucial step is distinguishing between racing and sports betting versus poker machines. While responsible gambling on sports and racing can be profitable and intellectually stimulating, poker machines are designed to ensure losses. The negative stigma around all forms of gambling must be addressed, with proper education provided to promote Smart and intelligent gambling -. The Pokie machine rooms around the country are not called the "mentally challenged rooms for nothing" if the government was serious about problem gambling they would shut these down immediately as they are blight on the entertainment industry but with the hoteliers association that will never happen whilst every they are racking in billions of dollars.

However if racing could start to promote the fun - excitment and many additonal benefits the past time can have ( ie its been proving it helps ward of Alzheimer’s ) then we can open this sport up again and make it socially acceptable and cool then we might be a chance to introduce a new generation to the sport. The biggest gambling machine we have in the world is the sharemarkets and that is seen as a highly reputable profession despite the trillions of dollars that are won and lost every day on the worldwide sharemarket 

The Need for Industry-Controlled Funding

Racing must control its funding model. The current reliance on corporate bookmakers, who often act unethically, is detrimental. Many punters face account closures and bet restrictions despite modest winnings, highlighting the need for industry-regulated betting models.

One interesting story I had this week was a retired pensioner who has a 2.5% share in a cheap horse rang me to get my opinion- each Wednesday and Saturday he bets $30 per day with Ladbrokes and BET365- ( having just opened up a Bet365 account) . 6 weeks ago Ladbrokes contacted him and said he is banned from all promotions and fixed odds betting as in the last quarter he had turned over $847 and was showing a profit of $41.15 cents ( don’t get me started on the blatant fraud that is the rounding down) – yes that was his profit but he has been banned from just about all betting options because of his results. Not to be deterred he decided to open a Bet365 account – his first 5 bets all lost without one collect ( mainly $5 bets) but he too got an email to say he will be banned form all future promotions and fixed odds ( unless they feel under the MBL ). As a industry we need to protect these punters and this level of disregard and service needs to be stamped out

Now if a retired pensioner is making Ladbrokes and Bet365 shake in their boots the whole industry is doomed. Unfortunately this is not a one off story – I could name at least 50 such stories ive heard from people in the last 6 months. If you multiple these stories over the whole of Australia just how much money is the industry losing !! Its gotten to beyond a joke and needs to be fixed- the simple answer is for the Racing Bodies to run their own betting model and choke out these foreign betting companies that are like a poison to the industry and they are here for one thing – that’s profit- its not for the betterment of the sport but our illustrious leaders are all failing to see this

The TAB's Role and Failures

You might say the TAB is there – but the TAB has been one of the biggest companies that has been limiting or rejecting bets . We read this week that the TAB now is losing market share and wants to increase taxes on punters further- which is typical of corporate morons running a once thriving business into the ground. Only last week the TAB couldn’t bet on some of the ASCOT races simple because their system cant handle more than 24 runners – HELLO – its 2024 ! Again more money going out the door that should be going back to racing and now one is doing anything about it

To ensure the survival and growth of racing, the industry must:

1. Revise the taxation and gambling model. Separate racing and sports betting from poker machines.
2. Promote & Educate punters to transform losing habits into potentially profitable ones.
3. Regulate the funding model. Establish industry-controlled betting to reduce reliance on unethical corporate bookmakers.
4. Improve leadership. Appoint leaders with real-life racing and gambling experience, who prioritize the sport's long-term health over personal gain.

Without these changes, the future of racing looks bleak, with reduced prize money and declining interest.

The time for action is now.