Alec Hogg’s email to Derek Brugman:
Hi Derek
Trust all is well.
No doubt you have seen Barry Irwin’s press release about his withdrawal from SA racing
(if not, I picked it up at http://www.africanbettingclan.com/forum/phorum-5.1.15/read.php?3,366612)
He is obviously referring to your clients (Klawervlei and Markus) when he mentions a “coterie of powerful and wealthy owner/breeders”. Any comment?
Also, he claims there is no link between stakes and turnover. Has this changed? And I’m confused about the comment re no private vet at the racecourse. Any idea what this is about (have private vets been banned by the racing operators?)
I intend blogging about this but need to clarify the facts before doing so.
Best
Alec
Derek Brugman’s reply:
Hi Alec,
Thanks we are well and hope you are too? I have no idea who Barry is referring to and would be quite surprised if he is referring to “my clients” as he breeds in partnership with us. I have no comments on the political tones of the article other than that it is extremely contradictory and obviously self serving.
As far as the link between turnover and stakes are concerned you are better off asking the CEO of the RA but to my knowledge the formula has been in place since before you served on the RA board and hasn’t changed since. Thus the more turnover from overseas racing the more stakes which is totally contradictory to what the article states.
I can’t speak for the NHRA. Denzil Pillay the CEO designate could answer your questions re private vets on the racecourse but to my knowledge there is no rule preventing any private vet from attending to a horse on a racecourse. It is up to the owner/trainer to arrange it should they require their vet to be present.
I have read through the rest of the article and there are several inaccuracies and contradictions but I have no interest in debating them with Barry and or defending any particular viewpoint. Barry is a commercial person and he must do what he believes is best for himself. My money says the day our export protocols open up Barry will be one of the most active participants in our market!
Regards,
Derek Brugman
Racing Manager
Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd
