Piere Strydom receives his champion jockey award from RA CEO Larry Wainstein (Pic: JC Photos)
The 2015 Racing Association Highveld Feature Season Awards were held on Saturday evening at Turffontein Racecourse. This event, which is hosted by the Racing Association in conjunction with Phumelela Gaming, not only sees accolades given to the very best within the sport of horseracing in South Africa, but also recognises some of the younger players and owners as well as those who do the most for equine welfare.
The voting panel who decided on the outcome of the equine awards consisted of Clyde Basel, Dave Mollett, Jason Dedekind, Patrick Davis, Alistair Cohen and Vee Moodley as Chairman of the panel.
Larry Wainstein, Chief Executive of the Racing Association awarded trophies to the following winners in accordance with the decision taken by the panel:
Mike De Kock receives Majmu’s award (Pic: JC Photos)
Champion two year old filly:
Entisaar (AUS)
Champion two year old colt/gelding:
Arabian Beat
Champion three year old filly:
Majmu (AUS)
Champion three year old colt/gelding:
Legal Eagle
Champion Older Horse:
Wylie Hall (AUS)
Champion Sprinter:
Alboran Sea (AUS)
The silverware (Pic: JC Photos)
Champion Middle Distance Horse:
Wylie Hall (AUS)
Champion Stayer:
Legal Eagle
Champion Sand Specialist:
Tommy Gun
Work Rider of the Season as per the Work Riders’ Series:
Lyle Hewitson
The Following Categories were based on a Point System verified by the NHRA:
Champion Apprentice of the Season:
Craig Zackey
Champion Breeder of the Season:
Highlands Stud
Champion Jockey of the Season:
Piere Strydom
Champion trainer Sean Tarry (Pic: JC Photos)
Champion Trainer of the Season:
Sean Tarry
Champion Owner of the Season:
Mr C J H van Niekerk
2015 Horse of the Season:
Wylie Hall (Aus)
Certificates were awarded for life membership, long service and recognition of support for the sport of racing.
Racing Association trophies were also presented for lifetime achievement and service provider awards in the human category.
Racing Association Special Awards:
Faeeza Heuwel of Kenilworth Racing receives her award from Peter Naidoo (Pic: JC Photos)
Penny Broodryk – 10 year service award
Ernie Anderson – 25 year achievement award
Faeeza Heuwel – Service Provider award
Derick David – Service Provider award
Best Value: Siren’s Call
Michael Leaf acknowledges Joey Soma on his ‘Graduation Day’ (Pic: JC Photos)
Biggest winning margin on turf:
Graduation Day
Biggest winning margin on sand:
Mulberry Bay
Most seconds in the season:
Joint Winners: Henry Higgins; Lions Emblem
Life Members:
Emilio Baisero
Tony Jarvis
Marshall Finlay
Graham Jarvis
Mrs Joan Gallimore
Altus Joubert
Mr A Rivetti
Kevin Woolward
Jonathan Witts-Hewinson
The RA’s Merle Parker assists Clyde Basel with his speech (Pic: JC Photos)
The Racing Association, which was formed in 1997, endeavours to protect and support the interests of the sport of horseracing in general and, in particular, the interests of the owners and to ensure that every aspect of the sport realises its greatest potential.
CEO of the Racing Association, Larry Wainstein said: “It is vital that the daily contribution of the various stakeholders of the sport are acknowledged and celebrated and together with Phumelela this is a wonderful opportunity to do so”.
Wainstein continued: “We were delighted to see most of the winning recipients in attendance this evening to collect their awards, the likes of both Mike de Kock and Sean Tarry, Champion Owner Chris van Niekerk and Horse of the Season connections including Owner Michael Leaf, and many of those who were nominated, were here to enjoy the evening’s celebrations”.
RA CEO Larry Wainstein thanks the attendees (Pic: JC Photos)
The Racing Association is also a key player and supporter of an initiative launched in August last year in which the major players in South African Horseracing have joined together to launch a campaign to market this sport and promote its core values to all South Africans.
Racing. It’s a Rush aims to bring horseracing back to the forefront of the lifestyle entertainment industry by bringing back the glamour, the excitement, the thrill and the rush of horseracing in South Africa.
With a social media presence increasing by the day, increased race day attendance and a world-class interactive website about to launch, Racing. It’s a Rush will continue to use these and other unique platforms to promote horseracing in South Africa.
