The Colour of Money
The Michael Roberts raceday at Scottsville last Sunday demonstrated that horse-racing can demonstrate the big ‘T’ with the necessary focus and effort. Transformation and tradition are sadly not two subjects that the sport of kings achieves distinctions in on every day of the week, but the times appear to be changing – albeit slowly.
The acknowledgement of one of the great riders produced in this country and the emergence of two young black jockeys in Muzi Yeni and Andile Ngcobo conspired to produce an extraordinary Sunday afternoon, when horseracing’s house really looked to be so in order. All the right things being said and done. That is the happy go lucky public face of tradition and transformation that most of us embrace so readily
As a white fifty-something male, these at times conflicting concepts are naturally very close to my heart. Upholding tradition rather than denying our past, has a somewhat warped negative connotation in the present time. That is one of cherishing and living in a bygone era when everything seemed so much more comfortable and rosy. And reflecting back, it certainly did. After seventeen years of democracy, one would also ideally like to see ‘transformation’ being struck from our vocabulary and replaced with less intrusive words such as merit and ability. But we have quite some ground to make up in the short home straight on the transformation front.
This is not a political issue though. It is a practical one. Where has horseracing genuinely succeeded in contributing to the changing face and harmony of this supposed rainbow nation? Ironically, I would suggest that it is only in the sphere of jockey training where we have met all our goals.
A glance at the SA Jockey Academy website and the faces of the thirty four apprentices currently undergoing their five odd year long training tells an interesting story. Fair enough, the gender mix is completely warped, with only two pretty faces in the male dominated portfolio. But we know through history that the average woman just cannot hold her own in the unforgiving world of race-riding, and Justine King and Denies Lee are two tough cookies who look like they have what it will take to go all the way.
It is an analysis of the racial grouping that tells an interesting story though. Only eleven white guys amongst the thirty four faces. That is serious transformation. And the best thing of the lot is that the black jockeys are coming through the ranks and showing their mettle.
Winning Form sponsored Muzi Yeni rode two winners on Sunday, including the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap winner Orbit War. The twenty-six year old Yeni was only nine years old when this country did an about turn and he is the first black jockey to be seriously considered as a future SA Champion. Eighteen year old Andile Ngcobo also had a memorable day on Sunday. Trainer Mark Dixon provided him with his first career win after just six rides. It is early days, but the youngster showed balance and a disarming charm in front of the camera in the post-race interview. While the SAJA leadership is exclusively white, Principal Graham Bailey and his board deserves an accolade for what they have achieved.
But from an outsider’s perspective, the sport of kings has failed on most other fronts to genuinely transform and involve the majority. Think about it, other than Tellytrack’s Cecil Mthembu, can you think of one seriously involved professional black guy earning a living out of this game?
I watched the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate raceday from the comfort of my couch and the only black I saw amongst the elegant hue of blue and white was the neatly attired grooms. Even the socialites that we were shown were non-blacks. Racehorse ownership or board level administration also just doesn’t appear to appeal to the average black guy. Well-intentioned efforts by the operators to force and manipulate the issue have largely ended in tears.
The subsidised owner syndicates have also passed away quietly and even Gold Circle’s admirable attempt to establish the talented Bennet Bulana in KwaZulu-Natal as a trainer faded into acrimony and oblivion. Was it a case of teaching a man to fish…?
Not helping the public relations cause is the sport’s favourite thorn in the side, Phindi Kema. Labelled horseracing’s Kerry Packer and termed ‘South Africa’s only female African racehorse breeder’ her complaints to the Competition Commission have initiated an inquiry into alleged collusion between Phumelela Gaming and Leisure and Gold Circle.
News reports suggest that ‘some industry insiders claim that the two companies have undermined transformation and the growth of horse racing in the country.’
‘Kevin Weeks, divisional manager of enforcement and exemptions at the commission, said that it had decided to push ahead with a full inquiry after a preliminary assessment. Weeks said a major concern was the “mere fact of competitors making joint decisions as opposed to competing”. We’re very concerned that there are only two players in the whole country and that it is so difficult for a new person to enter the field … We would want to investigate that,” Weeks said.
Kema, the chief executive of African Racing International, said she had decided to approach the commission after trying to buy the Arlington racecourse in Port Elizabeth from Phumelela. She said she was willing to pay the R50-million asking price and was going to sign the deed of sale, but Phumelela told her that it would oppose any application she might lodge for a totalisator licence.
We need to change our approach before it’s too late. Or maybe we really are wasting our time?
..
Island Export Debate
– Racing SA responds
1. Other than contributing to veterinary debate via the Import Export Working Group (Racing South Africa’s veterinary liaison officer, Dr Beverley Zietsman Chairs the monthly meetings with the State Veterinary Department), Racing South Africa has never been directly involved with Mauritian exports. On the trade side, in recognition of South Africa’s relationship with the Mauritius Turf Club, Racing SA’s marketing arm, the SA Equine Trade Council, has contributed R100 000 towards the 200 year celebrations raceday.
2. In the absence of a vector-protected facility in Johannesburg (and elsewhere in the Infected areas of South Africa), the State Veterinary Department’s decision is in line with the conditions written into the OIE AHS Code Chapter which South Africa relies on to export to other parts of the world.
3. Racing South Africa did approach the relevant authorities and asked them to consider additional risk mitigation to try and allow the shipment for the Mauritian Turf Club to depart as scheduled on Christmas day.
4. The new Real Time PCR diagnostic test developed by Prof Alan Guthrie’s team at the Equine Research Centre was used to determine if all the horses were negative (which they were) and this procedure was repeated on 23 December, which was the last working day before the horses were due to depart. Prof Alan Guthrie’s lab remained open on 23 December, the Friday before Christmas, specifically to ensure that the testing was done and the results were available in order that an informed decision could be made. Again, all the horses tested negative.
5. As regards the herculean behind the scenes activity, Michel Nairac will attest to the mammoth effort on the part of Racing South Africa, to facilitate the export. After very lengthy discussions in the week leading up to Christmas – the State Veterinary officer, who had to sign the export health certificate, felt it would be unethical to certify it as the horses had not been isolated under vector protected conditions prior to export. They thus could theoretically have been exposed to AHSV before they were exported.
6. The Department of Agriculture emphasised the potential negative impact if South Africa was ever to export the virus to one of our trading partners, suggesting that it would set our progress back a decade.
7. The Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Mpho Maja, had already stated that during the high risk season for AHS, horses should only be certified for export to Mauritius from the AHS free area in the Western Cape. The certifying officer had made this clear to those involved with the shipment in question before the start of the isolation period. However, the timing of Dr Maja’s decision was as a result of continuous objections from a shipping agent to the conditions of the previous shipment to Mauritius.
8. This situation has prompted the relevant veterinary authorities to urgently explore conditions within the OIE AHS Code which allows for importing from an infected country – i.e. a total lock up in a sophisticated vector protected facility used in conjunction with the RT-qPCR test. This should satisfy the concerns of the State Veterinary Department and allow year round exports to Mauritius, thus ensuring delivery costs remain competitive.
9. The other change likely to occur is an adjustment to buying patterns with the majority of horses being purchased during and after the KZN season and, therefore, being exported during our winter months.
10. Some good may yet come from the negative – the outcry may just bring negotiations with Mauritius to a head and expedite a workable solution for all involved.
The media-friendly Peter Gibson is scheduled to be a guest on the Winning Ways show (Dstv 232) on 6 February, and the saga will no doubt show a few further twists and turns by then.
..
Flame doused on Match Race
Talk of an exciting match race within Saturday’s titanic clash of the speed demons, the R600 000 Gr1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m, has sadly fizzled to nothing.
Three of the fastest horses in South Africa go to post for this mouthwatering WFA contest in a small but high quality six horse field. Mike Bass’ What A Winter, Lucky Houdalakis well-travelled globe-trotter JJ The Jet Plane and the flying Var filly Val De Ra from the high-riding Dennis Drier yard go head to head in one of the biggest sprinting showdowns in many years.
Speaking on his website, Mike Bass Racing. Com, legendary Cape trainer Mike Bass said that with the stake a relatively meagre R600 000 they thought they would take on the challenge themselves and put forward the suggestion of increasing the pot between the connections of the three top horses in the race. The idea was to generate some hype amongst the racing public and came about after the seed was planted by Gold Circle’s Chief Operating Officer Graham Hawkins who suggested that it would be a great idea to raise the stakes as our three premium sprinters went head to head.
It was proposed that an additional R200 000 would be invested on behalf of each of What A Winter, Val De Ra and JJ The Jet Plane, which would have escalated the carrot to R1.2 million should either of them win. But it was not to be.
Coenie Strydom and the connections of JJ the Jet Plane were in principle agreeable and tempted with the offer, but it did not make financial sense at the current betting odds, which is very understandable. Pippa Mickleburgh of Avontuur Estate originally agreed to the challenge but ultimately it was all or nothing and the challenge has been called off.
