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Unfortunately, local horse racing continues to bleed customers of all ages. Very few of the millennial generation are sufficiently interested to invest in a tote that extorts 30% of stakes wagered in win and 40% in exotic pools before declaring a dividend; in purchasing horses that cost a...
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The Jamaica Derby’s 99th running is scheduled for tomorrow but Public Opinion deadlines mean readers must be satisfied with a very early preview. I’ll be looking at the horses I expect to be running as, at time of writing, declarations won’t be final for a few days. The public...
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If horse racing isn’t to die with its aging fans, two vital factors need to be added to its crash cart: namely marketing and availability. Currently, racing is limping along without the assistance of either. The marketing team seems unable to attract a decent number of new sponsors...
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In order to rise above the ordinary, punters must understand that racehorses are people too. It’s just that they can’t talk. But they eat, sleep, think and need, just like us! They have off-days and on-days. Most importantly, intelligent punters understand that horses’ performances can’t be predicted by...
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At least the bare bones of live horseracing have returned to TV via simulcast on PBCJ. This is a good thing. As I wrote last issue, horse racing’s major investors, without whom the sport can’t survive, are punters. Unless racing can attract new bettors willing to wager their hard-earned...
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A horse racing industry is a three-faceted construction made of investors, contributors and regulators. Investors (breeders, owners, punters and promoters) are the foundations. Contributors (trainers, jockeys and grooms) are bricks and mortar and regulators the roofs. Breeders invest in land; infrastructure; and bloodstock. They provide the sport’s competitors....
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So Tiger Woods, unquestionably the best golfer of all time, is back! Eleven years after he last won a Major (US Open at Torrey Pines); after FIVE back surgeries including spinal fusion; at least two failed come-backs (one in which he couldn’t even pitch the ball on...
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By the time Public Opinion’s next issue is posted, Jamaica’s first classics will have been run so readers must be satisfied with this very early preview. 1.000 Guineas This one is troublesome as new ante-post favourite, Lady Blue, presents something of a puzzle. For some unknown reason, she was...
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The new horse racing promoter has tried manfully for two years to revive a dying sport but CPR isn’t working and there are no defibrillators in sight. SVREL’s unaudited accounts claim almost $200 million in capital expenditure has been made but fans aren’t seeing the money in the...
