Springbok Rugby has been a lesson for everyone. Even just this week when the incumbent Springbok Flyhalf was ridiculed in the media and social media for missing just one kick, it showed many who the real fans are.

After winning three games to a World Cup victory by a single point each, it would have been interesting to see how much abuse Handre Pollard would have copped from the public had he missed any one of those points. The level of abuse Saturday's starting Flyhalf against the Argentines at Mbombela Manie Libbok got, before yesterday's performance for the ages, showed the fickle nature of people. He is again the darling of the public after igniting the Boks backline to a huge win.

Racing is not dissimilar as punters win and lose. Trainers and jockeys get the abuse. One way of getting people up to a level of education where the sport is better understood, is to discuss it - objectively and with facts.

There is simply no proper constructive platform outside of social media pages to debate racing and to move the sport forward. Disagreeing with the powers is seen as a sin and it marks one as being against the industry when nothing could be further from the truth. It's those who take the time to constructively criticise are the ones who need to be applauded. It's the silent majority that is the worry. This constructive critique of the sport should be welcomed by the powers and could be used as a temperature check of the health of the sport. The media is, in general, controlled or owned by the operators. Racing television is owned by the operators and the generally underskilled, as opposed to overseas counterparts, presenter base is hired by the operators and few have the ability to tackle issues with knowledge and understanding. Some may even argue that controversy in racing isn't a bad thing and neither is healthy fact based debate.

Debates could bring solutions and grow the sport to propel those who feel like they have no voice. The sport has failed in almost every way to attract a new client base, why not open up the channels of discussion?

Now, solutions, solutions, solutions, what are they?

Change the narrative! Start speaking about the sport, do some homework and bring educated people onto TV.

Here are what some of the experts and general public think.

South Africa's leading racing scribe, Charl Pretorius: The SA industry traditionally cancels or fires individuals who criticise or comment on their operations. I hope we are beyond that. Racing in SA, and around the world, finds itself at a time when we, all of us, operators, industry workers, media and the public, have to work together for the benefit of the sport. Individual agendas have to be set aside for the greater good. This has been noted before, now is the time to actually get serious about it.

Legendary Bloodstock Agent and student of the game Robin Bruss: Open debate is part of transparency and develops trust. It's a multi billion rand industry and it's important for people to know where the money goes. R11.5 billion (R10b bookmakers and R1.5b tote) is bet on horseracing plus what is invested in the rest of the industry in the ancillary services, racing, breeding etc. It's important for everyone to know where it stands and what it's status is and where it is likely to go from here. Confidence is what builds markets.

Renowned Award Winning Sports Journalist: Gary Lemke: Isn’t that the very backbone of freedom of speech? As long as it’s not defamatory and if there are allegations/statements they are fact checked for accuracy before publishing. As long as debate is healthy and puts the industry at heart then it should be encouraged. Pointless washing dirty laundry in public though as the sport suffers.

Emirates based South African trainer Ernest Ortel: Every racing operator should have a integrity officer that always looks at both sides of all decisions / disputes to make sure they are fair and they have the best interest for racing not just for the club or profit .

Even the public has had their say: here are some selected comments.

Tony Ridgway: Inevitable, on social media, if requested or not. Reactivity is seldom as objective as proactivity. As long as it's "healthy," as you say, I'm one of those that reads everything

Timothy Perring: Nobody is above criticism within any industry! From those who are on the bottom of the pile to those at the very top. Once people get the notion they are above the law or untouchable as it were, any industry will suffer the consequences. Once the parties concerned are held accountable for their actions it leads to a more just and fair system because they know they can't get away with things. Criticism is only seen as weak by people who are weak themselves. Reasonable human beings who are level headed see criticism in a positive and constructive light. We need reasonable people within the horse racing industry. Level headed people who are fair and just are good for any industry! Corruption thrives when people are not held accountable!

Jack Mills: Debate and criticism are good .and needed in any organization or business. The problem is there's a lot of people who think they are above the law and walk around with huge Ego's. Specifically in the racing industry.

Eric Fordred: The problem is many people who bare old grudges and harbour resentment use these types of platforms just to sling off and make themselves feel better, as long as the criticism is constructive and comes with a compelling solution, then by all means, let's see how it works!

Colin Devanpershad: It would be good for the sport as SA racing is getting alot of flak....rather people's views are considered to make racing better. No one should take people opinions to a personal level.

Althea Amelia Haigh: Few women punters nowadays. Back in the days there were more. Most times I'm the only women in a tote lol. Other countries women are more interested in racing like England and Australia. Hopefully I will go one day to visit these countries and racetracks among women punters.

Logan Chetty: Focus of racing is not on the small punter and the horse, it has moved to the glitz and glamour of fashion and the hype of celebrities who in my opinion bring nothing to racing and know nothing about racing.

Maurice Bosman: Under the Club system there was competition. The "Saturday Clubs" Turffontein and Gosforth Park had feature races every weekend. These days you get 6 features on one day and nothing for the rest . Bread and butter racing was left for the mid week clubs . They will not attract punters to the course on a regular basis. In the club system the stewards invited guests and racing thrived those days. It would also be interesting to see what stakes were paid then as compared to now, taking today's costs into consideration. It must be borne in mind that under the club system taxation was extremely heavy on the clubs way more then what it became under the Company system.

Jay Salikram: In a democratic country, individuals concerned about a particular industry should be able to make constructive criticism without fear or favour. Administrators, stakeholders and industry hierarchy should be able to accept such criticism without feeling that their egos are being abused.

Neil Guravaya: In any robust industry, especially one like horse racing that thrives on public engagement and financial support, no one should be beyond critique. If praise is welcomed, then constructive criticism must also have its place. The passion and investment that people pour into the sport—both emotional and financial—means that their voices deserve to be heard, particularly when it comes to improving the standards and transparency of the sport.