It would be interesting to obtain a comment from the racing operators or Tellytrack as to their policy regarding their personnel or paid contractors utilising the television medium and the operator’s intellectual property to promote or advertise their own business interests.
Neil Pretorius blatantly advertised his and his partner’s interests in a filly for syndication in the preview of the Durbanville third race on Saturday. He even had the guile to publish his email address and invite the public to contact him.While the exercise boomeranged to a degree as the filly, which he tipped to win, ran unplaced, this cannot be acceptable in any industry.
I have never heard Rod McCurdy marketing his security business, other than during paid-for race sponsorship, or Neil Andrews even advertising his Public Speaking or MC options. Next thing we will have Shaheen Shaw marketing his Fish N Chips shop in Hillbrow or Molly selling his second hand golf-clubs or sports jackets.
Not that these top guys have ever been guilty of this lack of tact. Common sense surely says that one just doesn’t act in this way.
My partners and I, as well as many others in the industry, spend money marketing and advertising our horses – and products – and Pretorius should not be permitted to abuse the privilege of his position. The precedent set by this brash self serving behaviour is frightening and needs to be set straight immediately.
There is no excuse and it is not even a fine line – it is unacceptable.
The action is tantamount to Riaan Cruywagen telling SABC viewers on the 7’o clock news that he is selling his second-hand Mazda for a great price.
via email – Free Spirit, Cape Town
