Following Government’s announcement to extend the COVID-19 Lockdown to the end of April, there have been numerous meetings of the Racing Operators, the Racing Association and The National Horseracing Authority over the Easter weekend.

The following update is hereby provided :-

Targeted Resumption of Racing
On the assumption that the extended national Lockdown is lifted AND that racing is permitted to resume with adequate betting revenues flowing to the Racing Operators, the plan is to recommence racing on Friday, 1 May.

To this end, The National Horseracing Authority is in the process of making a coordinated representation to Government on behalf of the South African Horseracing Industry to enable such resumption after Lockdown is lifted, under whatever Government restrictions are implemented.

Given that we will have effectively lost 5 weeks of racing, the Racing Operators have agreed to push the National Feature Race Programme back around a month, which will mean that the Vodacom Durban July will take place on the last Saturday in July (with the Gold Cup meeting pushed out to the end of August).

This will allow the Highveld to move a slightly revamped Champions Day (featuring the Champions Challenge and six other major races) to the last Saturday in May and stage the Horse Chestnut Stakes (Gr 1), SA Derby (Gr 1) and SA Oaks (Gr 2) on Saturday 2 May.

In the Western Cape, racing will now resume on Saturday 2 May (alongside Turffontein), with the first legs of the 3yo Winter Series (Variety Club Mile and Sweet Chestnut Stakes), together with the Klawervlei Farm 2yo Sales race, moved to this day and the race programme amended accordingly.

This will enable Gold Circle to move their night meeting on Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May.

Gold Circle confirms that during the period May to July there will be no night racing at Greyville and these meetings will be moved to alternative days.

In the Eastern Cape, the lost East Cape Nursery (L) will be rescheduled for Friday 1 May, and the second and third legs of the World Sports Betting Poly Challenge will be relocated to 8 and 25 May respectively.

Depending on the Government regulations applicable after the lifting of the Lockdown, it is likely that we will have to resume racing “behind closed doors” (possibly with even tighter restrictions than before) with only essential participants allowed to attend race meetings.

Given this, and the unique logistical challenges involved in staging racing at Flamingo Park, a decision will only be taken to resume racing in Kimberley once the government’s directives post lockdown are known.

Stakes
It is common cause that the Racing Operators’ businesses have been under significant pressure of late for several well documented reasons.

This has been further heightened by the national Lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 containment measures implemented by Government. During this period virtually no revenue has been generated whilst the Racing Operators have had to continue funding their operations.

This includes a significant effort by the Racing Operators, The National Horseracing Authority, the Racing Association and all stakeholders to keep the training centres operational under strict access control and sanitization protocols.

Due to this drying up of revenue and the uncertainty around the timing of the resumption of racing, football and other sports around the world (on which the Racing Operators are heavily reliant for revenue), it is unfortunately unavoidable that racing will resume with a lower level of stakes until the businesses of the Racing Operators normalize.

In the interim, the Racing Association has agreed to contribute R13.1 million towards stakes in Phumelela regions and the Western Cape from May through July, thereby helping to mitigate the resulting reduction in stakes in those regions.

It has been agreed nationally to reduce the MINIMUM stake thresholds for Pattern and Feature Races as follows :-

Grade 1 – Open R425k, F&M / 2yo R325k

Grade 2 – Open R175k, F&M / 2yo R150k

Grade 3 – Open R125k, F&M / 2yo R100k

Listed – R85k

Non-Black-Type – R80k

The necessary communication with the Asian Pattern Committee in relation to the amended stakes levels and new dates for the Pattern has been provided by The National Horseracing Authority.

In addition, minor races stakes will be run at reduced levels in all regions with a single stake for all minor race categories per region as follows :-

KZN – R70k

Highveld – R67,5k

Western Cape – R40k

Eastern Cape – R35k

Northern Cape – R25,5k

The Racing Operators are acutely mindful of the devastating impact this stakes reduction will have on all participants in the sport and are committed to increasing these stakes levels as soon as they are able to. Phumelela and Kenilworth Racing are extremely grateful to the Racing Association for their support, without which these minor stakes levels would have been significantly lower.

Staff
The Racing Operators and The National Horseracing Authority are addressing all other areas of their businesses too, not least of which how their staff are treated during this challenging time.

In line with Government guidance and directives, staff who are either not required or unable to work during the Lockdown period, will be placed on annual leave as appropriate.

National Horseracing AuthorityFurther, the various senior executives of all three Racing Operators and The National Horseracing Authority have had their remuneration significantly reduced (by up to 50%) even though their workloads have remained unchanged and even enhanced in most cases. This in line with the financial hardship everybody in the industry is facing currently.

The National Horseracing Authority has also agreed to reduce the Racing Operators’ levies (the primary funding source of The National Horseracing Authority) by 50% for the months of April, May and June.

Please note that as this situation is extremely fluid, the Industry Stakeholders will continue to meet on a regular basis and if there are any material changes to the above, we will keep everybody informed.

– Released on 13 April 2020 on behalf of the Racing Association, Phumelela, Gold Circle, Kenilworth Racing, the Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust and The National Horseracing Authority

We have a chat to Haley and Taryn Crawford of Lola Crawford Racing Stables, situated at Ashburton Training Centre. They are having a cracking new season, currently with 20% winners to runners percentage and 40% places.

How long have you both been training for?

Taryn:  We moved into the Ashburton training Centre in 2013, that’s when I took out my provisional stable employee licence and now I’m working towards my trainers licence.

Haley: Since 2013. I was part time at the stables from 2013-2017 where I was studying towards and completed my degree [B.Comm in Finance]. I’m not technically training as I’m just a stable employee. I have started riding work again on our horses, which has added a nice bit of excitement to my mornings.

 What is the most rewarding part of your work?

Taryn: Seeing the horses win races is defintely one of the most rewarding aspects of the job but I also really enjoy seeing the horses improve in their daily work. There is something very special about seeing horses you’ve literally known since day one, grow into the amazing animals that make it to the race track.

Haley: Definitely having the horses we have bred and worked with from day one run well in their races. Not just to have them win, but for the places too and mostly just to see them do their best and run with heart and with a good attitude. (People often comment on our ability to shout the horses home in a race – often asking if we have won, meanwhile we’ve just sneaked a 5^th place. As long as our horses run well we are happy- the increase in stakes is just a big bonus!)

You both have degrees – what keeps you training horses?

Taryn:  A lot of passion mixed with a little bit of insanity. It’s a tough industry from the breeding all the way through to the end of a racehorses career but helping the animals we’ve breed live up to the hopes we as breeders place on them is great, stressful, but great.

Haley: Apparently it’s in our blood. And I’ve never quite liked the idea of an office job!

How many horses do you have in training?

Taryn: We have 15 in the Ashburton yard at the moment

Haley: 15 Currently in the yard with some babies still on our farm in Lidgetton.

Which horses have you bred yourself out of the yard (and winners) ?

 Taryn: At the moment there are 4 of the horses I bred in the yard and one of them is a winner, Silver Cent.           Hopefully one or two more of them will make it onto that list soon.

Haley: None of my own at the moment (I seem to claim some of my parents horses once they come into the yard), but I have two 2 year olds of my own that will be coming in soon.

You have horses related to Chimichuri Run whose dam was bred at your parents farm. Tell us more about who and their prospects?

Taryn: At the moment we have Silver Cent. He is out of a half-sister to Spiced Gold, who is the Dam of Chimichuri Run. To date Silver Cent is a 4-time winner and has done us very proud. He is his Dam’s 1^st foal and we look forward to his half-sister by Crusade coming into the yard next year.

Haley: We also have a Crusade colt out of Spiced Princess (who is also half-sister to Spiced Gold) due into the yard next year.

What do you do in your off time?

Taryn: Mainly more horse related things and a few craft hobbies. I’m bringing on a few OTTB’s for their second careers at the moment and that takes up most of my free time. I also enjoy reading when I get a gap for it.

Haley: Off time??  Mostly ride and try squeeze in a few show jumping, showing or eventing shows on our OTTB’s. Otherwise try and relax with friends and family.

Which is your favourite track – Greyville or Scottsville?

Taryn: Greyville, both the poly track and the grass track. We do more racing on the poly track and I much prefer it to the Scottsville grass track.

Haley: Greyville. Scottsville is much more convenient, but our horses seem to prefer Greyville and most of them seem do well on the poly track as well as on the grass.

 You have achieved a winners to runners percentage of 20% which puts you in good company for the new season. Horses to look for the in the future?

Taryn: We have some exciting 3 year olds that have come into the yard in the last few months and we have some nice older horses coming back from injury that we are very keen to get back to racing fitness. It will be interesting to see how they can do for us.

Haley: We don’t want to give too much away as “horses make fools us all”, but as Taryn said, we have some nice 3 year olds that have just come in as well as the horses coming back from injuries to look out for.

Congratulations and long may the success continue!

Larry Wainstein, CEO of The Racing Association and Clyde Basel, Racing Executive of Phumelela, will be hosts in the Aquanaut Room at Turffontein Racecourse on Wednesday 23 May for the RA Highveld Feature Season Awards.

Five KZN-breds feature prominently – see the #kznbreds highlighted in BOLD ITALICS below.

The nominees:

Champion two year old filly:

Celtic Sea; Dagmar; RONNIE’S CANDY

Champion two year old colt/gelding:

Bold Eagle; William the Silent

Champion three year old filly:

Folk Dance; Green Plains; Secret Potion; TAKINGTHEPEACE

Champion 3 year old colt/gelding:

HERO’S HONOUR; Lobo’s Legend; Monkshood; Surcharge

Champion older horse:

Attenborough, Coral Fever; Legal Eagle; Liege; Nother Russia

Champion sprinter:

Attenborough; Pinnacle Peak; Tandava; THE THINKER

Champion Middle distance horse:

Coral Fever; Legal Eagle; Monkshood; Nother Russia

Champion Stayer:

Fortissima; HERO’S HONOUR; JUST CRUISED IN; Let it Rain; Secret Potion.

The above nominees are eligible for the much sought-after Horse of the Season Award and there will also be the special awards to industry players that have made, and continue to make, worthwhile contributions to this amazing industry.

Toreador’s twice Gr1 winning son Bull Valley secured the honours at last night’s Gold Circle KZN Racing Awards, the Ambiance Stud-bred Bull Valley winning Champion Horse Of The Season. The awards honour the performances of KZN based and trained horses during South Africa’s Champion Season, the exception being Horse of the Season was open to all comers.

Bull Valley won both the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Gr1 Mercury Sprint in an easy fashion. His sire Toreador is one of the most value for money sires in the country, producing Stakes horses each year and this year sees his service fee set at R20 000. The same owner / trainer combination of Bull Valley is having success with another exciting son of Toreador in Scott Bros-bred Matador Man.

Other KZN links on the evening was Lady In Black awarded Best Performance by a Two Year Old Filly. The Dynasty filly’s dam is now resident at Rathmor Stud,  Mystery Dame is due to foal to Noble Tune this season.

Continuing with the outstanding success on the evening for Dennis Drier, Sand And Sean, a grandson of outstanding broodmare sire Spectrum, secured Best Performance by a Two Year Old Male and added Champion Sprinter to his list.

Congratulations to the special award winners on the evening:

Horse Of The Season:

Bull Valley

Groom of the Season:

Mandilakhe Mtwesi

KZN Champion owner by stakes:

Mayfair Speculators

KZNOTA Owner of the Year (KZN-based by stakes earned):

Roy Moodley

KZN Champion Jockey (Most wins in KZN):

Anthony Delpech

KZN Champion Apprentice (Most wins in KZN):

Eric Ngwane

KZN Champion Breeder of the Year (Most stakes won in KZN):

Klawervlei

KZN Champion Trainer (Number of wins trained in KZN):

Duncan Howells

Anita Akal Special Award:

Doug and Di Campbell

KZN Racing Personality Of The Year:

Deez Dayanand

NHRA Long Service Award:

Julie Wilson

Ride of the Season:

Bernard Fayd’Herbe – Marinaresco (Vodacom Durban July)

Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud and their sire AP Answer took home several awards for Leading Breeder, Leading Breeder on A.E.I with 8 or more runners and Champion Sire for their resident son of AP Indy, AP Answer – as well as Spey Bridge Champion Three Year Old Filly, Duffi’s Call at the recent Zimbabwe Racing and Breeding Awards.

AP Answer’s daughters and full sisters Duffi’s Call and Print The Pounds have flown the flag for Clifton Stud in Zimbabwe, along with son of West Man named Super Trouper. Clifton-breds Piece Of Pizzaz, Nimble Dancer and Major Vaughn also continue to feature regularly in the winners circle.

Both Duffi’s Call and Print The Pounds are out of Almighty Dollar, herself a Clifton-bred by Divine Force out of National Assembly mare, Democracy. This is the damline of Clifton Queen, the third dam of Gr2 winner Heaps Of Fun and Clifton’s own Super Trouper – as well as  Spey Bridge Champion 3YO Filly in 1999, First Arrival – the dam of none other than In The Fast Lane, Light The Lights and Let’s Rock ‘n Roll.

Duffi’s Call is a 6-time winner in Zimbabwe, earning $57,748 over distances of 1100 – 2000m.
Her victories  include the Zimbabwe Oaks, (L), Ok Grand Challenge, (L) and she placed 4 times including second in The
Republic Cup Trust, (L), from all her starts. Her year older full sister Print The Pounds is a five-time winner, earning  $34,880   at 3 to 4, 1600 – 1800m. Her wins include the Zimbabwe Guineas, (L) and she placed 11 times including a second in the Zimbabwe Oaks, (L), Breeders Champions Cup, (L), and third in the TBA Silver Slipper, (L). Print The Pounds sold for just R25 000 at the 2013 National 2YO Sale.

AP Answer is a smashing looking son of Champion Sire and sire of sires AP Indy, out of Champion European two year old filly Pas De Reponse. His third dam Soundings grandam of two Champions including Green Tune and he descends from the immediate damline of Storm Bird, the sire of Storm Cat.

AP Answer has produced Gr1 and Gr3 placed Beckedorf, By Jove, Print The Pounds, Duffi’s Call and KZN Yearling Sale Million winner Cutting Edge.

Clifton Stud won several awards at the 2015 KZN Breeders Awards, collecting two awards for Whatalady and winning KZN Breeders Achievement Award. Peter and Jenny Blyth have bred several Graded Stakes winners, including Vodacom Durban July winner Classic Flag, Fort Vogue, and recently Bezanova and Whatalady.

Well done to the team at Clifton Stud!

Two KZN-breds featured in the recent Eastern Cape Racing Awards, with Piemonte Stud-bred O Tamara and Summerhill’s Muhtafal filly Chili Chocolate each a winner.

Lee and Dino Scribante’s Piemonte Stud have left the ground running in the breeding arena, producing two Eastern Cape Champions in just four years of breeding – firstly Kalamain and this year the juvenile O Tamara. The speedy daughter of Argonaut out of a Spectrum mare Syncopate has sizzling form in training with Alan Greef – earning stakes of R358 725 with four wins and four places from only eight starts which saw her being crowned Champion Two Year Old Filly on 27 August. O Tamara was purchased for just R30 000 at the 2015 KZN Yearling Sale.

Included in her wins is the Lady’s Slipper Stakes (Listed) and Gr3 Champion Juvenile Cup, comfortably by over three lengths clear. Keep an eye out for her (now) juvenile half-brother by Toreador named Greta, who sold for R150 000 at the 2016 National Yearling Sale. Piemonte Stud ended the 2015/2016 season with 40% winners to runners, 10% of those Black Type.

Greg Bortz’ Muhtafal filly out of Heliantha by Count Du Bois is a five-time winner (including the Walmer Handicap) for trainer Grant Paddock, crowned Champion Polytrack Filly/Mare of the season. Earlier in her career, Chili Chocolate finished three lengths off Rich Girl in the Ready To Run Cup, and a length off Enchanted Silk in the KZN Breeders 1900. Chili Chocolate sold for R100 000 off the TBA Ready To Run Sale in 2013, she has earned almost R300 000 in stakes. Summerhill Stud have been crowned Equus national Leading Breeder for 2015/2016 for the 10th year, and were winners once more at the recent provincial KZN Racing Awards. Well done to Summerhill Stud on an outstanding achievement!

Well done to the winning connections!