Tuesday, July 14, 2015

A Worrying Trend

The Shadai Select Sale brought forth yet more high auction prices, but I see no reason to celebrate the fact - it's simply not good for the future of racing. As the prices go up, so does the risk, and the second something even remotely bad happens with the economy, the racing industry will be the first thing to suffer, as the chances of seeing any kind of return on horses costing millions of dollars are unlikely to say the least. The higher prices will also restrict true enthusiasts that have supported the sport for years (rather than the current breed of yuppie-types and those with more money than sense that are pushing prices up) to buying fewer horses. Less horses equals less work for a group of people that are already struggling to survive, even with the healthiest of JRA pots, while NAR winnings won't pay for even a fraction of the cost involved in buying, let alone running a nag. We need to look at the big picture before this high price trend gets out of hand...

PS. More than most - having paid a fortune for a useless Carrot Club yearling by Montjeu, for example - I know for a fact that high prices do not automatically equal good results. Even with a decent horse, there are injuries to consider, the ridiculous situation of entering unsuitable races due to the distinct lack of meetings in Japan, hefty insurance before racing careers start, and high monthly running costs. While profits are necessary, we need to stop this short-sighted greed and over-exuberance in its tracks, and knock at least one zero off prices to get things back to being realistic. If you are lucky enough to get a cracker, be satisfied with the winnings and potential stud fees in later life, knowing that that one good one will pay for the other 20 duds - the same 20 that will keep people in work, and provide a lot of value-for-money enjoyment in the meantime.

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