Top Tote Conference to be held in Cape Town

Kenilworth – busy preparing for Saturday’s richest raceday, the Sun Met, and Frankie Dettori – will play host to its first International Tote Conference on Wednesday.

The tote is the engine that provides the huge financial power the horseracing industry needs and this is serious business.

“The funding of the sport is under severe pressure in most racing jurisdictions around the world,” points out John Stuart, international executive director of Phumelela which is organising the conference.

“Tote turnovers in most instances are declining and, when you combine this with the rising costs of staging horseracing and its betting, racing’s business model is under threat.”

Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Macau are among the countries which will be represented.

All are members of the Asia Africa Tote Association in which South Africa is a key player.

Britain will be represented by Richard Brooke, chairman of BGI Racing, which transmits its racing coverage around the world.

Seemingly the tote is also under threat from disruption and Dion Chang, founder of international firm Flux Trends, warns: “Our research shows that disruption comes in waves, especially the knock-on effect of connected industries. Disruption comes at you from the most unlikely sources.

"And in today’s challenging business climate simply keeping your head above water is a badge of honour. "But it’s no longer enough.” Chang will be one of the key speakers on Wednesday and his input is guaranteed to have his audience almost as much on tenterhooks as the runners in the Met three days later.