Although his comments pertain to a different breed of horse racing conducted on another continent, the words of William Hill CEO Ralph Topping still find relevance with many aspects of the North American industry
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In an article on telegraph.co.uk, Topping, head of the online wagering giant, sounded off after betting turnover on the recent Epsom Derby was down significantly.
In the piece, Topping also criticizes the racing industry for when it holds some of its most premier events; and for demanding more money from offshore gaming operators via the Levy, yet not doing much to help itself by reassessing and adjusting its own product.
"While racing demands more income, it demonstrates no pragmatism whatsoever," Topping was quoted as saying. "It must become far more innovative in the scheduling and timing of its races and position itself in order to give media an opportunity to focus on the key events and maximize public interest."
He also went on to say that "it (racing) has to change its way of thinking big time and fast."
Topping had other sharp comments in the piece, one being that "the demand for more money from bookmakers is incessant: the willingness to accept that things have to change is absent," and "how much more of a wake-up call does racing need before genuine reform takes place?"
(With files from telegraph.co.uk)