The EU Food and Veterinary Office report to evaluate the animal health controls in relation to the export

of registered equine animals to the European Union has been finalised and published by the European

Commission on the 9th of August 2023.

We would like to extend our thanks to the auditors for their extensive and detailed report as well as to

all the stakeholders in South Africa who have made it possible to reach this stage.

The audit was conducted between the 11th and 26th of October 2022. The first draft of the report for

comment was received by the South African veterinary authorities in March 2023 and the requested

response to the report was submitted to the EU by the SA vet authorities within the allotted time period,

in April 2023.

The professionally managed and well maintained Kenilworth Quarantine Station is a credit to Cape

Racing who have left no stone unturned in taking all the necessary steps to ensure that the KQS is a

world class facility.

The publication of the EU Report is one step further towards the finalisation of the process. The EU

member states, and the EU Commission will now review the report after which the EU Commission

will make a decision on the relisting of South Africa as an eligible country to export registered horses

directly to the EU.

This process will involve further negotiation between the EU and the South African

veterinary authorities. The report confirms that the shortcomings identified in the 2013 audit have been

addressed and makes three recommendations. The next steps will involve some improvements to the

existing system, guided by the recommendations, and taking the following summarised audit finding

into account, i.e., ‘Currently, the competent authority designated only one quarantine facility used for

export of horses, which is located in the free zone and it is used for this purpose only.

This facility is vector-proof and well managed, and this assures that horses exported from this station

do not carry any relevant disease at the time of their export outside South Africa.’

Specific timelines on this period of negotiation are not possible to commit to at this stage, although

stakeholders can be assured that the conclusion of this process is a priority for all concerned.

The report can be found at https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4650

Media release saehp.com

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

In light of the guidelines and restrictions regarding public gatherings as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday 15 March to limit the spread of the coronavirus, Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, Kenilworth Racing, Gold Circle, the Racing Association, the National Horseracing Authority and The Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust have unanimously agreed to implement the following Protocols and Procedures with immediate effect:

1. Racing to continue, but with no public attendance on course

From Tuesday 17 March, all race meetings will be closed to the public until further notice. Consequently, the Joburg Prawn Festival at Turffontein scheduled for 4 April and the Klawervlei raceday scheduled for Durbanville on Saturday 28 March are cancelled, although the race meetings at which they were scheduled will take place.

Only essential racing participants will be allowed access to racecourses on race days. These include owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, officials and staff deemed necessary to host a race meeting safely and successfully.

• Access control to be strictly adhered to and facilities for participants to be limited

Access points to racecourses will be limited, as will hospitality venues for participants allowed at racecourses on raceday in order to strictly comply with the guidelines and restrictions imposed.

• Sanitization measures to be put in place

Hand sanitizer, accompanied with the necessary signage and instructions, will be made available to all racing participants allowed on course.

The same sanitization measures will be applied at training centres which will include all grooms. In addition, various restrictive measures to be implemented as a cautionary, as well as potential lockdown procedures, are being put into place in the eventuality of an outbreak at any of the grooms’ accommodation.

• All non-racing events cancelled

All non-racing events, such as conferences, hosted at the various racecourses across the country will be cancelled with immediate effect.

• Off Course Betting Outlets

In line with the published restrictions, attendance at all Off-Course Betting Shops will be limited to under 100 persons as required. In addition, sanitization measures will be put in place at all outlets.

Racing fans are encouraged to open online betting accounts instead of placing bets at Off-Course Betting Shops.

• Government Hotline

Attention is drawn to the government hotline – 0800 029 999 – which provides easy access to important information on the subject.

The Racing Operators reserve the right to deny access to any of their venues to any person displaying Covid-19 symptoms. 

The Apache is flying at stud, with only 11 runners on the track he has produced 5 wins and 15 places. He is currently boasting a winners to runners percentag of 36.4%.

A Scott Bros’ bred son of Mogok out of a Dolpour mare (and a pure Scott Bros pedigree stretching back over 50 years to their founding dam) who was voted Equus Champion 3YO Colt of his year, his story is a special one – selling for just R80 000 at the National 2YO Sale, he went on to earn over R17-million making him one of the highest Stakes earners standing at stud in South Africa.

Amongst the mares he has covered this season is a Zabeel mare specifically imported for him by owner Mr Winston Chow, named Divine Proportion who has foaled a beautiful baby to The Apache this season at Hadlow Stud, and the other is the dam of Gr1 winner Wild One (by Mogok), a cross that has also produced Save The Rhino.

Globetrotting from South Africa to Dubai, England and America – The Apache crossed the line first in the Gr1 Arlington Million, placing in England and winning the Gr2 Al Rashidiya in Dubai and placed second in two major Dubai Gr1 races – not to forget his Gr1 wins in South Africa and numerous Group Places.

His produce results on the track reflect his superb Equinome test results which Hong Kong owner Mr Winston Chow had performed on the stallion and his results are impressive.

His test results are explained by Plusvital:

“The Apache has been categorised as a C:T (Middle Distance type) by the Plusvital Speed Gene Test, which predicts optimum race distance and precocity potential by categorising horses as one of three genetic types.

C:T horses, like The Apache, are the most versatile genetic type. They are likely to perform well over shorter distances (7f to 8f/1,400m to 1,600m) as two year olds and then progress to run over middle distances (8f to 12f/1,600m to 2,400m) as three-year-olds and older. C:T horses are capable of producing all three genetic types of horse (Sprint/Mile types, Middle Distance types or Staying types).

The Apache stands for a fee of just R10 000 at Hadlow Stud in Mooi River.

Whilst their places will only be confirmed after National Yearling Sales inspections have taken place in January, Rathmor Stud have a very strong draft beginning their sales preparations for the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.

They include progeny by Frankel, Dynasty and Noble Tune – two of them out of sales topping mares purchased off the CTS Mare Sales in 2017, for R2,4-million (Almosthaditall) and R2,6-million (Queen Of Spain) respectively.

Whilst walking through the paddocks as the colts quietly concentrate on their feed after the breakfast run, Mike McHardy of Rathmor Stud comments that although the paddock is brimming with stock from superior stallions, its important not to ‘mollycoddle’ them and to raise them as normal horses, who dont know who their famous sires are.

Noble Tune has already earned Black Type with his smart grey son White Lightning, who was born and raised at Rathmor Stud. Rathmor have bred the likes of Gypsy’s Warning, Wendywood, Surabi, Romany Prince and Harry Lime amongst others.

Their National yearlings are out of mares bought specifically for Noble Tune, which include:

– Dynasty colt out of Guard The Lines by War Front
  Dam is a full sister to American Gr1 and Gr2 winner DATA LINK.

– Noble Tune out of Spitfire Lady by Hussonet
  Family of PINNACLES and PLANET ROCK.

– Noble Tune out of Mystery Dame by Jet Master
  Half-brother to Gr1 winner LADY IN BLACK, and to Nexus who sold for R1,7-million in 2017.

– Frankel out of Queen Of Spain by Holy Roman Emperor
  Dam a half-sister to MASTERCRAFTSMAN.

– Dynasty out of Almosthaditall by Henrythenavigator
  Dam a half-sister to JUMP START and closely related to MASTERY. Damline of sire MISWAKI.

– Noble Tune out of Golden Earings by Fort Wood
  Dam a half-sister to GYPSY’S WARNING, ROMANY PRINCE and SURABI. 2nd Dam Gypsy Queen has already       produced Black Type grand-children including SO VAR and QUEEN FOREVER. 

They say every cloud has a silver lining and while a storm has been silently brewing in the international Thoroughbred trade, it may offer hope to the beleaguered SA bloodstock industry.

For many years, Hong Kong has played an integral role in the Australian Thoroughbred industry, supporting their bloodstock sales, racing and simulcast programme, hosting Australian horses and riders at international race meetings, as well as repatriating Thoroughbreds to Australia at the end of their racing careers. However, a recent decision by Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) altering Hong Kong’s quarantine status to require a 180 day third country quarantine before allowing Hong Kong horses entry to Australia, is posing difficulties.

What It’s All About

Going back to 2009, the Hong Kong Jockey Club developed and built a centre for the equestrian events of the 2010 Asian Games, across the border in China, in the Conghua district of Guangzhou.

To allow the site to be used for the 2010 Asian Games, Conghua was established as an equine disease free zone, recognised by the EU Commission. There were pre-export quarantine requirements in the country of origin as well as post arrival quarantine and horses were subject to the same pre-export quarantine on their way out. During the Games, the site successfully hosted 95 horses from 16 different participating countries. All the horses travelled in through Hong Kong, travelled along the corridor to Conghua where they were based for the duration of the Games and then travelled back to exit from Hong Kong on their way out.

Hong Kong Expansion

Shortly after the Games, the Hong Kong Jockey Club embarked on a large scale project to turn the site into a full-scale training centre with a capacity for up to 1200 horses, allowing the HKJC to expand its operations and, more specifically, its horse population. Site development works commenced in 2011.

Although the physical distance between Hong Kong’s Sha Tin and the new Conghua facility is not vast, the fact that they are separated by an international border and that the only veterinary facilities are at the points of origin and destination, has meant that the HKJC has had to develop some pretty sophisticated horse transport solutions, including high tech transport protocols and quarantine facilities and even custom designing horse boxes for the journey.

Similarly to the South African model, the Hong Kong/China protocol operates on the concept of zones with an outer, inner and an inner core area. It is touted as being particularly secure as the outer zone (which covers over 2000 sq km) is completely free of any local horses. Within that zone, there is a 5km radius core area, also horse free, which also presents a physical barrier to prevent entry from any other animals and then there’s the Conghua facility itself. Significantly, when a horse is transported from Hong Kong to Conghua, there is no possibility of it coming into contact with any local horses whatsoever.

Unexpected Challenge

With the project well under way and the Conghua Training Centre (CTC) scheduled to open in late 2018, transport trials commenced in February 2016. Initial trials were conducted using retired racehorses and the first trial saw close collaboration between Hong Kong government officials as well as Mainland China authorities and horses travelling in government authority GPS monitored vehicles. There have been 6 successful subsequent trials since February 2016.

In March 2016, the Hong Kong authorities contacted the Australian chief veterinary officer to inform him of the trial and explain the process, as well as setting out the ultimate objective of realising regular movement between the two centres once Conghua is operational. However, in September 2017, the Australian government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) announced it would be altering the quarantine status of Hong Kong, due to the Jockey Club’s Conghua training centre in China becoming a part of the general Hong Kong bio environment. The change requires any horses travelling from Hong Kong to Australia to undergo a 180 days third country quarantine before being allowed access to Australia. This came into effect on 2 October 2017.

The reason for the suspension is that the Australian authorities want to carry out an assessment of the movement controls to satisfy themselves that they pose no risk to the Australian horse population. And until such time as an assessment can be carried out by them, the suspension remains in place and effectively excludes free travel of horses between Australia and Hong Kong and, by extension, mainland China.

Hong Kong ownership

As horse numbers are limited by the space available at Sha Tin, Hong Kong caps the number of ownership permits per year. In anticipation of the Conghua facility coming into operation later this year, the number of permits has risen from 330 in 2017 to 440 for the current season and as Conghua develops, that number is set to increase.

In order to buy a horse, a Jockey Club member needs to have a permit. Applications are made each year for the available permits and as demand always outstrips supply, a ballot is conducted to determine the allocations. Once in possession of a permit, the member may then go and buy a horse. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a list of approved countries from which horses may be purchased and members may choose between buying unraced or raced horses.

Although purchasing and importing horses from Australia to Hong Kong is unaffected by the suspension, it does hamper raiding horses travelling between the two countries as well as repatriation of horses at the end of their careers, which, due to space constraints, in turn affects the acquisition of new bloodstock into Hong Kong.

Uniquely positioned

By happy coincidence, Hong Kong developed its interest in the South African market some three years ago, based on the quality and value of SA-bred horses. Of course, South Africa comes with its own basket of issues, thanks to African Horse Sickness and our export protocols, but the good news is that for the past few years, Hong Kong has been on board in assisting us in getting these ironed out.

Through his role as Vice-Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has promoted an organised approach in finding solutions to existing difficulties in international horse movement. With our African Horse Sickness issue and onerous export protocols, South Africa has been earmarked as one of the areas needing attention. Additionally, the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) which is a collaborative grouping of the IFHA (racing) and the FEI (competitive sports body), makes an annual financial contribution to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)’s equine programme. A large portion of this funding is allocated to research and luckily for South Africa, finding a solution for African Horse Sickness has been identified as an area that merits funding – which is very positive news in our fight against AHS.

If a viable export solution can be found, South Africa may be uniquely placed to step into the breach currently left by Australia.

Global Sprint Challenge

The Hong Kong / Australian movement suspension needs to be unravelled at Government level and dialogue is taking place to release the deadlock. However, the suspension currently remains in place and signs of strain are starting to show, as evidenced with the cancellation of this year’s Global Sprint Challenge Series.

The Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) series, inaugurated in 2005 to foster international competition between top sprinters from different international racing jurisdictions, includes Australian Group One races the Lightning Stakes in February and Darley Classic in November, and the Chairman’s Sprint Prize and Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.

With four of the 10 races scheduled for either Australia or Hong Kong, this makes them off limits for horses from either jurisdiction, resulting in the suspension of the series for 2018.

Mounting pressure

In addition, Hong Kong Jockey Club officials chose not to attend this month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in Australia. This poses a significant loss to the Australian bloodstock industry as the HKJC spent more than HK$16 million (A$2.6 million) at the 2017 January sale and had an even bigger budget for this year.

Engelbrecht-Bresges is quoted as saying that the Club would assess whether to attend other Australian sales on a “month by month” basis. They may also consider withdrawing simulcast meetings from Australia, a rich source of revenue for Australian racing clubs. “We’ve regretfully taken this step and we are not trying to punish the Australian industry, but there was no clear pathway or timeline,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

The coin toss of circumstance is two sided and while one side poses a challenge, the other offers opportunity for those willing to grab it. If an export solution can be found, South Africa will be well positioned as an interesting, as well as an economical, alternative to Australia as a source of bloodstock.

As they say, watch this space.

-Robyn Louw / sportingpost.co.za

*KZN-breds in Hong Kong include Monsieur Mogok and Kahal gelding, Mighty Emperor, Eton Square and Vilakazi and Gr2 winner, Horse Of Fortune.