The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas raceday on Saturday was the deal clincher, but Cape Racing’s gamechanger Greg Bortz was always at short odds to be named the Sporting Post’s Horseracing Newsmaker of the Year for 2022.
Greg Bortz hugs Speeding Bullet’s winning rider Richard Fourie as Jono Snaith looks on (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Over 15 000 people, dominated by groups of happy families, thronged through the newly painted gates of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday to enjoy a day of top notch horseracing against the carnival backdrop of the local favourites, Die Kaapse Klopse, also known as the Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade.
It was a day that had even the traditionally staunchest critics and dyed-in-the-wool cynics lauding a new birth for horseracing, with comparisons being made to the tightly packed bums-on-seats and party spirit of major big days of years past.
On hearing that the name Greg Bortz was our pick for our final SPRINT cover of 2022, and thus our Newsmaker Of The Year, the cordial entrepreneur said that he was very flattered to receive the accolade, but that recent history didn’t speak too highly of newsmakers.
“If one looks back, the newsmakers have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons – from the capture of racing and Business Rescue, and the rest. And frankly the last thing I want is to be in the spotlight. There is no upside in my world to being placed on a pedestal or a perch. And that’s genuine – no false humility! I have been under the radar all my life and I prefer to do what Owen Heffer does – that is, rather to be the Wizard Of Oz behind the curtain,” said the man some call ‘the executioner’ (for all the right reasons, of course!), with a broad smile.
“Can I make a suggestion? Gaynor Rupert and Charles Dickens, or Mary Slack, would be far more deserving contenders for this prestigious acknowledgement for the impact they have individually made on SA horseracing this past year. And for all the right reasons!”
We had already decided on the Kenilworth Racing Chairman as our year-end cover star, so we changed the subject of any ideas he had of walking off the stage without his Oscar in hand, to the glorious day that was Saturday 17 December 2022.
Speeding Bullet is led in by Gina Goldsmith, Jono Snaith, Siyabulela Xhego and Greg Bortz, with Justin Snaith in the background (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
“When this journey started just over four months ago, I didn’t think this would happen as quickly as it did. To get the feedback of comparisons to past Met days and the rest was unbelievable! And while I know you are probably yawning and thinking ‘cliché, boring’, it has been a team effort, whichever we look at it. Allow me to repeat that – a team effort!” smiled the man who has introduced a culture change, where even the switchboard operator sounds like she wants to help.
We asked Greg if his was the proverbial dream team?
“Everybody to the last man and woman, has done their bit. The season is intense and stressful, so the potential for burn-out is there. But we thankfully have bench strength. We have forged a team ethic – together with Hollywoodbets – and we are all excited about our individual roles. Think about it – this is a multi faceted and complex business. I have used the example before, but we are not selling a widget. And we are also trying to grow it by using the real estate for conferences and events – Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and Hollywoodbets Durbanville cannot only be alive on racedays. We need to use the asset to work for the better good of the end game!”
And the tie-up with Hollywoodbets and a business dynamo like Owen Heffer and his team? Did Greg ever think the partnership would work as well as it has?
“It’s an interesting question with an easy answer. Owen and myself have never had partners – so this was new to both of us. But we share a common drive in the joint venture – that is passion and not bottom-line economics. If the latter was the case, neither of us would be here. And if one of us was focussed on money, and the other on boosting the popularity of racing (our main goal), there would be a lack of sync.”
Greg points out that many wanted to know what turnover and profit was on Saturday.
“Yes, those are important questions. But when Owen and I stood and look at how many people were milling around and having a good time, we were mindful that this doesn’t show up on a spreadsheet. The decision to bring in the wonderful Kaapse Klopse was a great start in our reconnection with the local community. And happy people are an asset in our aim to help people fall in love with racing again!”
The Kaapse Klopse had the large gathering enthralled (Pic – Cape Racing)
He says some asked about the crowd on Saturday. Greg says it was authentic.
“Tote turnovers are up over 125% over prior year. But that isn’t the intent. The intent is to boost our profile and standing. Our business relies on sponsorship, eventing, broadcast, food and beverages, and so much more. And it is now profitable, after teetering on the brink of Business Rescue the day before we came in through the front gates. So yes, I repeat, any crowd is authentic!”
Looking back over the past four months, we asked Greg if Saturday’s success means he can relax a bit and reflect on a job well done?
“No, no, no! We are only at the start line! The bar has been raised early – that’s very rewarding so we now need to lift our game again,” he adds.
Beyond the betting turnovers, the Kenilworth Racing Chairman was taxed to nominate one area that is a priority and a challenge at the same time.
“Unquestionably the horse population. We need more horses in the national system. Field sizes have a knock-on effect of lifting betting turnover. But there are just not enough horses in the system and we definitely don’t want to fix our house at the expense of other centres either. A rising tide raises all ships, so we need to create the environment where more owners want to buy and where more breeders can make a living out of breeding more horses. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation. But raising stakes and making ownership more rewarding and fun will stimulate demand which in turn will stimulate supply. But it must be demand driven. And then there is the EU audit. We wait but good news there could be a further stimulant.”
We asked the energetic entrepreneur to sum up the goals for Cape racing in 2023?
“We haven’t left the gates yet. We are looking for incremental growth. Yes, we can shoot the lights out with our season but, as I said earlier, we have to get our horses and owner numbers up. We simply have to bring more owners into game. We have launched the Cape Racing Turf Club initiative for membership. Many guys were wearing their badges on Saturday. The outsourcing of owner management did not work and we have some rebuilding to do. So we will strive to continue to uplift the owner experience and improve all our facilities – and naturally for our beloved horses too. We have already spent many millions, and by the end of 2023 I’d think I’d want to see all our building work completed.”
On a personal front, we have been reading in the financial press about Grand Parade Investments and corporate chess games. To us, and probably the average layman, it’s mostly Greek.
“In a nutshell, at this moment I own approximately 49% of Grand Parade Investments and have made an offer to buy the 51% balance. GPI has meaningful stakes in Grandwest Casino and Sun Slots. The relationship potential for horseracing here is on many fronts. For example GPI were sponsors of the Cape Guineas, and there are other betting overlaps. For example, we also have slot machines in many of our branches. It’s fair to say that it is premature to speculate at this point in time but my rationale is a direct line into two of the most attractive gaming assets in the world which could generate strong cash flows and good dividends. In time I hope to wind up with over 50% of GPI, and thus effective control. The relative end percentage will impact on the outcomes and decisions. For somebody who has lived overseas, what this exercise does show is that I am financially committed to the Western Cape and it reflects that my heart and focus is here!”
Pomp And Power – Gr1 winner but a naughty one (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
As an owner, Greg has enjoyed two Gr1 winners in Undercover Agent and Pomp And Power. He also had a smart winner on Saturday in Speeding Bullet.
“Gina (Goldsmith) and myself have a fairly exciting crop of youngsters. For example, Speeding Bullet, who won on Saturday, was beaten by our impressive debut winner Gimmelightning first time out. So we have high hopes for both of them. Maybe this time next year we will be talking about the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and other big races. What I can say we are privileged to own horses and enjoy it thoroughly. As to more Gr1 winners – well if the universe were to grace us, we would grab it!”
We asked if he is one-trainer owner?
“No, I have gone both ends of the spectrum. I used to have around 16 trainers which makes management so difficult. Multiple bills and accounts are time-consuming so for convenience, efficiency and productivity it is just simpler to have fewer trainers. We have our bulk with the Snaiths and have formed solid friendships with Justin and Jonathan which makes it fun. In Gauteng I am with Lucky Houdalakis and Ashley Fortune, while here in Cape Town I also have horses with Brett Crawford and Paddy Kruyer, and then a couple with Alan Greeff up in Gqeberha.”
And what does the Bortz family do over the holiday season?
“All three of my kids live in the USA but happily all are going to be home for the holidays. Our plans are Cape Town centric, including the L’Ormarins King’s Plate!” he says enthusiastically.
Happy people thronged Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday (Pic – Cape Racing)
Does New Year’s eve mean a party and will Greg see it in with champers and dancing?
“You must be joking. If you can find any two people who go to bed earlier than Gina and myself, then I will be surprised. I am up at 4am every day. So I will really see in 2023 when I wake up to go to the bathroom on 1 January!”
