RA CEO Larry Wainstein is hosting the international jockeys
The 2014 International Jockeys’ Challenge will be held over two meetings this year, at Turffontein on Saturday 15 November and Kenilworth on Sunday 16 November, according to the event’s organiser Larry Wainstein, chief executive of the Racing Association.
The R400,000 Victory Moon Stakes (Grade 2) will be run over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday, while the R400,000 Cape Merchants (Grade 3) will be run over 1200m at Kenilworth on Sunday. Neither feature race will form part of the Challenge.
The Challenge between a six-man team of South African riders, to be captained by the current SA champion jockey S’manga Khumalo, and six international jockeys will be held over four handicaps at each meeting.
The runners are seeded by a panel of racing experts to ensure as level a playing field as possible, with one team drawing horses seeded 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 with the other team pulling the remaining mounts.
Points are awarded as follows: first – 30; second – 15; third – 12; fourth – 10; fifth – 8; sixth – 7 down to 1 for last. If a jockey does not ride in a race, he gets seven points.
The team that scores the most points wins the Challenge but there are also awards for the top riders in each of the legs and the top rider overall.
Wainstein said the teams would be announced sometime next week when the headline and other sponsors would also be confirmed.
