Greg Bortz and Hollywood to takeover Cape Racing?

Hi Easy

Apologies for the late response. This is the first time I have been back on since I last posted. I completely understand and take on board your comments. I respect everybody's opinion, regardless of whether or not I agree.

As it relates to the comments re the bookmakers and the open bet, I understand the sentiment. I really do. That said, I am a big believer in a pragmatic, realistic approach to saving racing.

Over the past [20+] years (don't know the number - it predates my return to SA), the fights over the open bet / the operators v the bookmakers has played out. Whether over the open bet or the TV picture. Many years and many millions have been wasted on this fight. And the courts / regulators have done their thing, ruled, and we are where we are today. This matter has been settled.

Would we all benefit from higher Tote pools? Of course we would! But would I advocate or recommend fighting this fight ...AGAIN? Absolutely not. That war is OVER. It is POINTLESS to keep bashing your head against the wall, squandering valuable capital and valuable time. Especially now.

So my focus is on coming up with a realistic, pragmatic approach. One that focuses on the issues TODAY. There is SO MUCH to be fixed. Spending one minute digging up the dead bodies and fighting the same fight again is pointless. When dealing with turnaround situations, speed, energy, pragmatism and momentum is needed.

Furthermore, Hollywood's contribution to racing in terms of sponsorship, support, ownership etc etc etc is self-evident. Their infrastructure, areas of excellence as well as their market position make them an ideal owner and partner of Kenilworth Racing.

So, bottom line, I focused on a SOLUTION. Fighting another war with bookmakers was never on my list of potential life saving solutions for Cape Racing. Partnering with a passionate market leader, led by someone that is sicker for the game of horseracing than anyone I have ever met (Owen Heffer), most certainly was.

But regardless, I respect all opinions, whether or not you agree with mine. I do know this though - we all need all the operators (4Racing, Gold Circle, and Kenilworth Racing) to succeed. Any one fails / loses, we all lose. We need all to succeed. Otherwise collectively we are history.

Thank you for the message. If you want to know whether or not I have the winning solution - who knows???? I have ideas. I am investing a ton. And hope the fresh approach we have works. I have successfully turned around many businesses before, but none this challenging. Holy crap - I need my head read! All I can say is that I will leave racing in a better place than I found it, and if we fail, it won't be because of a lack of effort or money. Wish us luck!

Hi Mike

I completely get the logic in your suggestion. Definitely makes sense. But4Racing owns Turffontein, Vaal and Fairview, Kenilworth owns Durbanville and Kenilworth, and Gold Circle owns Greyville and Scottsville. So one can't just combine Fairview and Cape Town, for example. The assets are owned by separate owners.

What does make sense is that in time, the operators come together (subject to appropriate regulatory approvals). The industry is too small to divide the pie into three. In my opinion. But baby steps!!!

Best

Greg

Greg you are a proven business turnaround specialist.

You are a CA(SA), have common sense and you are sick for the game.

I wish you well in turning around our beloved Cape Racing!

Muhtiman

I agree with your sentiments.

I welcome all input.

It's funny - over the past month I have learned how much I don't know about racing. Before that, I didn't know what I didn't know! At least that is progress!

Point being, I regard every single input - whether positive or negative - as beneficial to me. Racing in recent history was ruled by dictators with an iron fist and heads firmly buried in the sand (and buried in a few other places as well!!!).

My commitment is to change that. That doesn't mean management happens by committee or popular opinion. On the contrary, strong leadership is needed - meaning one person ultimately makes the call. But decision making needs to be INFORMED. You can't make an informed decision if you don't ENGAGE with others, and if you don't LISTEN.

That is my commitment. To listen. We might up making many a wrong decision, but it will be a considered, measured decision. And if we get it wrong, we will hold our hands up and reverse course. Of that I am certain.

Point being, whether or not someone discloses their name on here, I simply welcome the engagement and input. I will use my own judgment as to how to incorporate (or reject) the information I have gained.

Thanks

Greg

Saint T

Thanks for your outstanding message / post. And apologies for not responding sooner - this is my first day back on this site since my initial post.

For the record (and feel free to share this broadly - I do not know how to do this), I absolutely regret using the term "Keyboard Warriors" because it inadvertently and incorrectly implied that I don't welcome criticism. That is absolutely not the case. I do not care whether or not someone's opinion in consistent with mine. And I do not care whether or not the author uses their real name or not. That is irrelevant. What I was reacting to was the uninformed comment that this was some "sweetheart deal" we were getting. For what it is worth, I do not believe I will recover much of my investment, and whatever I recover will take a long time to recover anyway. Meaning, that as deals go, this one suck!

I have been frustrated that there are numerous people (obviously Mary aside) that are of considerable means, and are involved in some way, shape or form with the industry, who have not put up their hands. My only affiliation with racing is as an owner. So I guess I ask myself repeatedly why on earth am I doing this!? I tell myself it's because I love the game so much. And as I get comfortable with my internal narrative, I read someone write about how we have done some amazing deal for our own financial interest. So I shot back with the term "keyboard warriors", which was a mistake. I should have rather called that one individual a "shit stirrer making comments without knowing the facts", as opposed to use the generic "keyboard warriors" which could be misconstrued in too broad a context.

Anyway, bottom line, anyone and everyone is welcome to have their opinion, and I TRULY look forward to hearing it. I already posted my cell online (082-523 7591). My email in case anyone wants to share any ideas or criticisms or advice is greg@gmbi.co.za. God know we can use all the help there is!

The only think I can promise is transparency and maximum effort. Whether or not we know what the hell we are doing will only become self evident in the next year or two or three!!

Wish us all luck!!!!

All the best

Greg

Thanks Sammy! Hope I can justify your confidence!! All the best, Greg

Tigershark

Your comments are on point. No question.

Literally everything you mentioned is on the "issues list". But damn, this will take time. But know this - the intestinal fortitude to effect change definitely exists.

It is a little overwhelming knowing where to begin.

Some of the key early initiatives will include getting the stakes up, broadening the programme to include races for the lower rated horses so that weaker horses don't need to leave to find races, rewarding trainers for running their horses, helping get the numbers up for the smaller yards so that the big trainer / small trainer imbalance is not so acute, as well as numerous other initiatives.

But be in no doubt about this - Cape Racing is in a SHOCKING state of affairs in EVERY regard. It will take a Herculean effort to turn this battleship around.

And know this - if we fail (not an option, but hypothetically speaking), it will NOT be cause of a lack of effort.

And to the owners out there, how about this leap of faith....please send the Cape some horses. Please take that leap of faith. Stakes will go up. The programme will broaden. You can race your horses often. And there are brilliant trainers in the Cape with capacity. It WILL be a brilliant place to race.

Call me and I will be happy to help!

G

To clarify - 4Racing is responsible for Vaal, Turffontein and Fairview, Gold Circle for Greyville and Scottsville and Kenilworth Racing for Kenilworth and Durbanville. When I said "own" I was meaning "responsible for", as opposed to necessarily referring to the legal ownership (as in some cases, some of the properties are leased, partially owned, etc).

Greg,

you have already succeeded , success in racing will be measured by many barometers....you will find that communication is one of the key barometers and you have nailed it.

Now I suppose the hard work starts but I have a sneaky feeling that it will end up being a bit easier than you think. That is because a problem shared is a problem halved and your communication with all of us and allowing folk to call and email you means that collectively we can make a difference.

So again mazel tov

ps: as for the open bet, I seriously could renegotiate it in 10 days and it would not cost a penny.

KENILWORTH RACING APPOINTS NEW LOCAL HEAD OF RACING OPERATIONS
Kenilworth Racing (Pty) Ltd (“KR”) is delighted to announce the appointment of Justin Vermaak (of Vermaak Equine) as the Head of Racing Operations with immediate effect.
In KR’s recent history, Racing Operations has been managed or overseen remotely under management agreements by third parties on KR’s behalf. Given the critical nature of this role KR as a matter of priority and urgency sought to bring this key position in-house. Having Racing Operations locally based will go a long way to improving and enhancing communications and engagements with owners and various industry stakeholders.
The role of Racing Operations is extensive, and includes essential functions such as scheduling local fixtures, developing an optimal racing programme, initiating strategies and developments to increase the horse population in the province, developing initiatives to increase field sizes, working with trainers to ensure the calendar, programmes and initiatives are optimized, as well as general oversight of racing related activities on the ground.
The necessary skills and knowledge required are highly specialised and include having an outstanding knowledge of handicapping, race grading, programme development, the racehorse life cycle from breeding to racing and thereafter, the ability to communicate with regulators, handicappers, owners, trainers, punters, sponsors, and the public at large. And in Justin Vermaak, KR has secured the absolute ideal candidate.
Justin’s knowledge of all equine affairs (on both a global and local basis) is unparalleled. His love for racing started as a 4-year-old and has continued to grow exponentially ever since. Justin started his career in the equine industry as an assistant trainer, before going on to build a successful agency serving some of the country’s top jockeys. Thereafter, Justin was hired by the National Horse Racing Authority to serve as a handicapper, and was the youngest official handicapper in the world at the time, being only twenty-one years of age.
Thereafter, he was recruited by Dr Andreas Jacobs to serve as the Racing Manager of one of the country’s top breeders, Maine Chance Farms. Additionally, during this period, Justin successfully founded the racehorse syndication company Green Street Bloodstock, and so began his parallel path to becoming one of South Africa’s leading bloodstock agents, selling South African horses around the world under the “Vermaak Equine” brand. As a bloodstock professional and racing manager, he has had extensive dealings with most of the trainers, owners, operators and breeders throughout South Africa, and consequently will be able to provide the perfect link between the industry role players and KR as the operator.
Justin will be exclusively focused on KR’s racing operations and will play a critical role in the renaissance and rebirth of racing in the Cape. Work has already begun on broadening the programme to cater for the current horse population in the Western Cape, and developing exciting new festivals and concepts, with the aim of attracting new horses, owners (local and international) and trainers to Cape Town. Justin will also help to oversee the continued upliftment of the grooms and work riders in the province, which has been a longstanding focus of KR over the years.
KR wishes Justin all the success and looks forward to sharing many more positive upcoming developments with all stakeholders in the near future.
-ends-
For further information, please direct queries to:
Racing Operations: Justin Vermaak, justin@caperacing.co.za
Commercial & Events: Donovan Everitt, donovan@caperacing.co.za
Media & Marketing: Kirsti Lyall, kirsti@caperacing.co.za
#CapeRacing

....a very good fit....Wow ...theses guys are already out of the pens...:woohoo: