Is the end nigh for harness racing in SA?
After discounting the SA Pacing Cup by $40k, Harness Racing SA are now dumping trials in an effort to save another $40k even though it's a service that encourages participation. (one of their strategic objectives)
"The reality is that while trials are a popular mechanism, utilised by owners and trainers to prepare their horses to race, the costs borne by HRSA in funding these trials meetings has becoming increasingly prohibitive"
What's this going to do to stakeholder / customer participation?
This short term financial benefit will quickly affect breeding, ownership etc. and ultimately revenue.
There must be better solutions to than to simply stop trials.
Where is the leadership?
See HRSA's 4 yr strategic review. It's 13 pages with big spaces and images. These 13 pages actually only amount to less than 1500 words. i.e. 2.5 normal pages in a word document. It's a joke. The board members present at that time apparently published it.
"In February 2016, the Board of Harness Racing SA Ltd (HRSA) developed a new draft Strategic Plan for the next five years."
Current board members who were present at the time incl; Chris Hartwig, John Levy, Roland Roccioletti, Luciana Larkin and Lauren Giorgio. Some are doctors, accountants, solicitors and apparently business leaders and thinkers. They appear to be well credentialed and would have strong networks. They need to do better or resign.
http://www.saharnessracing.com/site/...rsa/our-staff/
The website is a dogs breakfast. See http://www.saharnessracing.com/site/. It needs to be better.
They need new strategy, leadership etc. and lots of help before it's too late.
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=37397
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/...6a451391a4fdbf
http://www.harness.org.au/news/uploa..._FINAL2016.pdf