What do breeders want from racing, and what do punters want?

In racing, while most owners, breeders, and wider connections are punters, not all punters are owners, breeders, or anything like a connection.

So how would a breeder run an industry, as compared to a punter?

There a number of aspects of racing which all stakeholders want to see maintained or improved – with integrity one of those. Ensuring a level playing field at all times is crucial for all players.

There’s general agreement that big crowds are good for racing. The more at the track, the more for everyone it would seem. Bigger pools for punters, for revenue for clubs, and less costs for owners – in theory.

But there are a number of areas that differ, drastically.

Breeders are, generally, far more interested in horse flesh and bloodstock than a punter. In consultation with industry types, this is how things could be.

What breeders want:

More prizemoney
There’s no doubt money on the table attracts people to sport.

Riches are exciting and a huge lure, no matter the odds of actually winning. That’s why lotteries work despite the likelihoods.

Black type racing and more racing at Group-level
The term ‘Black type racing’ refers to races being given listed or better status, based on race ratings (more on this later).

A horse that is able to collect black-type is inherently more valuable. Even if the horse is a gelding, that result flows up the ladder to the sire and broodmare, giving their progeny not just winning status but winning status at the highest levels.

Restricted black type
Restricted black type races (restricted based on age or sex) square up the ledger.

One argument would say that creates a best amongst equals performance.

Another argument would point at it being an easier way for fillies and mares to collect less meaningful black type.

Incentives for owners
There’s no question that owners deserve a certain status in racing. Some bookmakers offer better odds to owners.

Victorian owners are given an owners ‘gold card’ providing a range of complimentary privileges and VIP treatments. Giving owners preferred treatment is great for keeping owners involved and incentivising new owners.

Prioritise two-year old and three-old racing
While the grandest of Australian racing is at open level – the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup – huge amounts of money are poured into two-year old racing. The 2016 Magic Millions raceday will be worth $10 million across nine races, with $2 million each for a restricted two-year old and three-year old race. No race is longer than 1800 metres.

A quality two or three year old is retired once the potential stallion fee exceeds earning potential on the track – racing for prestige and thrill of competition is rarely considered where businesses are concerned. Racegoers and punters aren’t considered.

Shorter distances
On the theme of younger racing comes shorter distances. Australia’s racing rarely extends beyond 2400 metres. The only other time Flemington races to the Melbourne Cup 3200-metre distance is in late May, when the Andrew Ramsden is run.

Australia thrives on sprint races, with the 1600m or mile distance as far as most young horses are pushed. Internationally, our sprinters are feared. Our best stayers don’t come anywhere near the quality of European or Japanese horses, where a Group 2 winner like the unfortunate Admire Rakti can avoid the best of Japan’s horses and come and win one of Australia’s best staying races.

Keeping stallion fees high
Stallion fees are as high as they are able to be. Simple economics suggest that sale prices for yearlings, which are a function of demand, prizemoney and ongoing fees decide the cost of a stallion service fee. Fastnet Rock demands the highest stallion fee in Australia – so high that stud owner Coolmore don’t publish a price. In 2014, that fee was $275,000 and is rumoured to be around $300,000, with some negotiation depending on the quality of broodmare.

That fee was raised to stratospheric levels due to the sales of his progeny – with 38 sold for an average of over $300,000 at Inglis Yearling Sales in Sydney in 2013.

This year, 352 yearlings from all comers from were sold in a single Inglis session at an average of $290,881 – while the 47 Fastnet Rock progeny sold at the leading average price of $476,809.

What punters want:

Information, education and analysis
There’s no secrets here – the more data, the more timely, the more accurate, and the more freely available, the better.

A form guide that included a trainer comment for each horse would surely elevate it and provide more context for the run of a horse – answering questions around a race being a cobweb clearer, or noting if a horse wants a wet or dry track.

Above all else, punters need accurate and timely racing information.

While a loaded formguide full of acronyms and jargon is often a barrier to entry for less committed punters, racing bodies need to provide data for every level of punter.

Data that goes as far as accurate sectionals and veterinary information, timed barrier trial results and stewards reports are not just useful but for considered punters, essential. Results need to be published in full.

In-race sectional times displayed on video footage and referenced on radio calls are essential.

The worst discrepancy exists for maiden racehorses in Victoria, where there are no official jumpouts for first-time runners. Punters that don’t realise this is a poor betting proposition are disadvantaged.

Even quality tipping that offers an educational basis would go a long way.

Are broadcast and regular tipsters help to any sort of long term benchmarks, quality of their tips, and overall profitability? While Sky Channel is devoted towards encourage punters to make a bet, and not necessarily help them win every time, the quality of certain regular tippers leaves plenty to be desired.

One tipster infamously told listeners recently a horse “looks well enough, should run well” – yet it was scratched and not in the yard at all! You have to wonder.

Tipping the favourites in order is occasionally unavoidable, but anything more that occasional doesn’t bode well for finding value.

Affording more air time for education would be a long-term win.

Easier ways to watch and improved coverage
Without attempting to again dissect the TVN/Sky Racing/free-to-air TV and Racing NSW vs Racing Victoria, the punter really only wants two basic things.

The first is obvious: a reliable, free way to watch the horses they want to invest in, that doesn’t require a high level of digital knowledge

Second, a channel that is properly dedicated to feature racing and can offer discussions with trainers, jockeys and real analysis of how they present in the yard.

Protection: Punting that’s fair
While no one expects bookmakers to offer a free ride, too often punters are offered one thing and then given another. Corporates had their hand forced by Racing NSW and the NSW Government to accept certain bet minimums on large races, but closing accounts remains an issue.

One current promotion for new accounts is regularly advertised, but isn’t open to those anywhere but the Northern Territory, ACT, or Tasmania, representing a small minority of the population.

A more technical argument to be made is one that requires markets to be framed only to a limit, where that limit cannot exceed 125 per cent.

Another technical argument could be made for rebates on betting – a system Hong Kong made popular and actually boosted wagering.

On course: Cheap entry, drinks, food
Getting people to the track remains a key for clubs. Punters will pay a fair cost for fair amenities, but the question must be asked: why does Hong Kong charge less than $2 for entry, while Australian tracks charge many times more?

Beer and food must not be allowed to be priced at unreasonable levels, with the AFL correctly reducing costs in recent times. While clubs are always attempting to be profitable, food and drink at a basic level should be priced to encourage visitors, while higher-end services are open to those willing to enjoy more premium comforts.

Horses they know and love running
As mentioned, while breeders want to get their stallions to win enough and then into the breeding barn, punters want to see them race.

No one vested in racing first could be happy to read the list of this year’s retired (or soon to be retired) crop which includes Dissident, Hallowed Crown, Hampton Court, Sacred Falls, Shooting To Win, Adelaide, Brazen Beau, and Wandjina.

At least Frankel beat everything by so much that it was obvious he was the best in a very long time. Black Caviar was very fairly raced around Australia by Peter Moody and owners.

We saw all too little of So You Think, Pierro, All Too Hard, and Adelaide, in no particular order.

One of the reasons geldings are celebrated by punters is that they’re much more likely to there again next year – the incentive is on the track only!

Punters would ban thee-year old retirements if they could. There’s a middle ground.

Ensuring that Group 1s remain true Group 1s
Group 1s must remain the pinnacle of the sport. The best meeting the very best.

There are currently 72 Group 1 races in Australia. And while some may wax and wane in quality depending on the season and some unique circumstances, not all Group 1s are considered equal.

In 2011, Australia agreed to be bound by the Asian Pattern Committee rules, known as Ground Rules. Those rules establish that races that are run at a Pattern Race Rating of 115 or higher can become Group 1s (with some other parameters for certain races, such as lower ratings required for female horse only races).

The number of races attaining Group 1 status has led to a push both internationally and locally for a higher ‘Super Group 1’ tier to emerge.

It remains a controversial but generally supported issue. 60 per cent of Asian Racing Conference delegates voted in favour of the creation of Super Group 1s back in May, 2014.

The International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) haven’t made a move on this idea, nor considered publicly raising the bar further for Group 1 racing.

Roar writer Alfred Chan listed five races in 2014 that could be dropped back to Group 2 status which generated much discussion at the time. However, these races qualified according to the rules because of the rating of horses running.

Some suggest that we should celebrate that Australia has such a high quality of horse. In 2013 146,649 Flat races were run worldwide, and just 459 were considered Group/Grade 1 races. Australia is fortunate enough to have around 16% of the world’s Group 1 racing.

How many of these Group 1s races would qualify as Super Group 1s? Australia has 26 of the top 100 races, but our best race was only 22nd – the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), while our best sprint was 27th in the Lightning.

The Melbourne Cup could miss Super Group 1 status, if only the top 25 or 50 were given Super Group 1 status, as it ranks just 69th on the world scale.

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Racing is simple: the fastest horse wins. But racing’s complexities are what create more than just fans – punters, owners, trainers, historians, judges, stewards, and so many more.

Much can happen politically, off the track, and behind the scenes. But when the gates crash back on the stalls, everyone is an equal at that moment of pure competitiveness.

This list doesn’t attempt to cover all aspects of racing at the forefront of a breeder’s or a punter’s mind. It’s just a taste of the litany of demands from each side of racing.

Ensuring that some are not more equal than others is the key to ensuring racing continues for everyone.