As the sun sets on a turbulent 2021, calls for a positive approach, change and a joining of hands to rebuild a fractured South African racing are at the core of New Year’s resolutions provided to the Sporting Post by a variety of personalities.
In typically straightshooting style, former Cape trainer Joey Ramsden said his new year’s resolution is ‘to stop getting annoyed when the same set of Cape trainers can have 40 to 50 runners on their own on local racing’s two big days, but can’t fill a run-of-the-mill meeting’.
Milnerton trainer Peter Wrensch says he is hoping for racemeetings where ‘my horses can race.’
Garth Puller – positivity needed (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Summerveld trainer Garth Puller said he was calling on everybody to try and contribute positively to tough decisions that are going to be made by the racing operators, as we are all going through a hard time.
Avontuur’s Pippa Mickleburgh said that her dream is that we find the time for those in charge to sit around the table put on the kettle and talk this through.
“I honestly believe nothing is too much if we all talk.There are good people out there but they need support and guidance. It feels like we are just wobbling along right now,” she added.
Trainer Leon Lotz said that although trainers all compete, the proof is there that they can all stand together and look after the sport we love.
“I wish all involved in racing can stand together and make our sport grow,” he added.
Raceform’s Karel Miedema said in a nutshell: “Elementary: call Betfair. Appeal to a whole new group of stock-market-trading-style educated men and women. Grow the cake, abandon protectionism. Government, too, would love the money injection from a cut on all Betfair betting, sports and other.”
On the subject of betting, soon to retire Gold Circle Publishing Manager Andrew Harrison said he wanted to put some cash into his 15 year dormant betting account. “My resolution is to start punting!” added the new pensioner.
Cliffie Miller – Flamingo dreams (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
PE trainer Cliffie Miller asked for a miracle that would see Flamingo Park reopen!
Injured SA Champion Lyle Hewitson said that his personal resolution is to take his fitness to a new level and improve himself as a jockey in all respects.
Another former SA Champion, Gavin Lerena said that in 2022 his hope is that the racing industry sees a return to some of the lustre of a bygone era.
Trainer Fanie Bronkhorst is determined to building and improve on his 2021 stats. “I’m setting higher goals and having fun doing so,” he quipped.
Bloodstock SA CEO Mike Holmes said that he would support all calls for a positive approach to racing and breeding and that he was positive that the upward trend in the sales arena would continue.
Graeme Hawkins is holding thumbs that Craig Gabriel’s wishes come to pass.
Former SA Champion jockey Andrew Fortune, pictured above, says his hope and wish for 2022 was that racing administrators are finally held accountable for the job they do – not the job they have!
South Africa’s leading bloodstock consultant, John Freeman said he had a variety of hopes for the new year. It starts with Omicron nailing Delta on the pandemic front , that the SA economy will pick up, that 4Racing brings new hope, while the racing programmers can find a way to optimise the striving for better fields. One of John’s repeat resolutions is that the African Horse Sickness Programme will get some attention so as to stop punishing the Cape.
Veteran trainer Joey Soma says that he has a wish that Tellytrack needs to improve greatly, that Computaform gets back on the shelves and that bookmakers start contributing to the stakes pot.
Corrie Lensley
Vaal trainer Corrie Lensley is determined to be more positive about anything racing related
His wife and an owner, Emmie Le Grange is going to do the best she can to bring four new owners into the game and get ten kids to love racehorse stables.
Injured multiple champion jockey Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom suggests some good advice – ‘Don’t wait for new year to make a resolution – do it now!’
Another sidelined jock is Met winning rider MJ Byleveld, who has become a polished on-course form analyst and presenter, says that he couldn’t make any punters, trainers or owners happy this year so he will try again next year.
MJ Byleveld – trying again!
KZN jockey Billy Jacobson intends keeping his head down in 2022. “I will keep working hard as I always do and just hope that more luck comes my way because I deserve it.”
Paarl trainer Glen Kotzen says he is determined to make very day a positive day and to show gratitude to all the SP readers for supporting our industry during very difficult times.
Fairview trainer Jarret Rugg’s motto for 2022 – ‘Next time shit in!’
Milnerton master trainer Vaughan Marshall says that he is hoping to make the punters job a lot easier and have lots of winners for his owners.
Candice Bass -Robinson is aiming higher (Pic- Chase Liebenberg)
His neighbour Candice Bass-Robinson is aiming to top her personal winners record of last year and to have as many graded winners as she can.
Summerveld trainer Alyson Wright wants happy horses and good teamwork to make the dream work
Milnerton trainer Piet Botha, who is in the process of relocating to Joey Ramsden’s barn at Milnerton says that his new year’s resolution before he started training was the power of attraction – ‘believe and it will happen’.
Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik is simply looking for growth during times of change. That is echoed by many!
The Cape’s golden voice Rouvaun Smit said that in 2021 we went through many hurdles. “Don’t look back, look to the future and we’ll surely find ourselves in the winner’s enclosure!”
Hollywoodbets’ podcaster Shaheen Shaw is aiming to change a punting philosophy: “We’re capable of putting R500 on an 8-10 shot, but when we fancy a 33-1 chance, we have a go with R50. A bad, bad practice!”
CTS MD Grant Knowles says that his Racing 2022 resolution is: ‘unity is strength, let’s do this together.’
Former KR Chairman Robert Bloomberg hopes that 2022 will see common sense and rational thinking finally prevailing over draconian and unconstitutional rules and regulations that unless addressed will ultimately lead to the demise of an already embattled and severely shrunken industry.
Owner Mark Currie is asking that racing unites to form a cohesive group that works towards the sustainability of the industry for the sake of all people, both rich and poor, who love our sport.
Mark Currie – for rich and poor
Gauteng racecaller Nico Kritsiotis says that his hope for 2022 – ‘and it springs eternal’ – is for the racing operators to cast aside their differences and move on unified as one body for the sake of all stakeholders of the game. “The damage done in this regard thus far is enormous. Racing needs new beginnings and a common goal.”
Gqeberha trainer Tara Laing told us that #teamtara new year’s resolutions are to work hard, provide the best care and attention to the horses they love and to put the show on the road come rain, hail or sunshine. “Looking forward to the New Racing year with 4 Racing at the helm. United we shall stand, divided we shall fall.”
Retired KZN Racing Admininstrator Colin Aitken has pleaded for hope that all of the participants in this amazing sport, owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and the betting public, come together to find common ground to take the sport that we all love so passionately into 2022.
Leading owner and breeder Laurence Wernars, pictured with Mat de Kock, responded:
“New Year’s Resolution “ Wow , Tough One. But,…We ( my partners and I) mustn’t bet against our own horses!”
He says that our Trainers need to more Positive on our own Horses , so that we can have confidence to Punt our Horses
“And then to get Government to understand that Taxes we pay on Totes Bets need to reduce so that we can save the Horse Racing – and that’s NOT for Owners- but to SAVE the Jobs of the People in the Industry. It used to employ 200 000 now we employ 50 000! Government has an obligation to emplacement- therefore less tax for Horseracing – Tax Sports Bets and Higher Tax for Open Bet.”
Mr Wernars continued that once Tote Bets increases, more Punters will play the Tote. “But at the Moment Exotic Pools are dismal, too many Punters taking Exotic Bets with Bookmakers and NOT on the Tote. Evidence is the Hong Kong Model – ONLY Tote bets!”
Finally he urged that everyone in Horse Racing needs to stand as one.
“Stop bickering and rather do something to fix it – instead of standing on side of the fence and having 5 cents chirps – roll up your sleeves and do it for LOVE of The Game – Kudos to Mary Slack!” he concluded our longest resolution of 2022!
Summer Cup winning jockey Calvin Habib says that one of his New Year’s resolutions would be that he would like to ride more Gr1 winners and aim to finish in the top 10 on the jockeys log.
“I would also like to play my part (whatever that might be ) to see 4Racing help the sport get back to the prestige status and popularity it once enjoyed,” says the talented rider.
Roy and Rose lead in their superstar with Muzi saluting (Pic- Chase Liebenberg)
SA Triple Tiara winning owner Dr Rose Waterman-Wentzel has an exciting and interesting project on the table in 2022.
“It involves doing a research study (hopefully linking up with an SA university) into the prevalance, possible causes and % wastage in our young horses due to a condition commonly referred to as ‘kissing spine’. Another resolution is to learn more, and become more involved with the Stipendary Stewards who do a very difficult job under incredible pressure. My husband Roy and I have been blessed with the most amazing horses and I would like to become more involved in the industry, use what skills I have to help reduce ‘wastage’ in our young horses which puts so much pressure on the people working so hard to try and find new homes for the retirees from the track. Having said that if they have underlying pathology their futures could be very bleak.”
Ed – more on Dr Rose’s research soon & many thanks to all who sportingly contributed to this ongoing search for sanity. A Happy New Year to you all!
Let’s make this SA Racing’s anthem for 2022!
