General
After serving Racing South Africa and the SA Equine Trade Council well for over five years, Mrs Claudie Naidoo, PA to the CEO and bookkeeper for Racing SA and its various subsidiaries has decided to pursue other interests and we wish Claudie well in her future endeavours. Her replacement, Mrs Theresa Bold, started on 2 July 2010 and we look forward to a long and fruitful working relationship.
Mrs Liesl King, assistant to the CEO since January 2009, has left the SA Equine Trade Council and we wish her well for the future.
Kenilworth
Quarantine Station (KQS)
The restructuring process at KQS is nearing completion. Manager, Sue Mutch, is joined by assistants, Rolene Roux and Bianca BredenKamp, with Solomon Mabaso as Head Groom.
In order to optimize the number of shipments possible during a year, the next batch of horses starts their pre-quarantine residency at Kenilworth Racecourse stables 20 days before the end of the pre-export quarantine. This means that KQS staff is managing upwards of 60 horses at any given time and a separate team is allocated to look after the new arrivals until they start pre-export quarantine proper.
Since January 4 shipments have been concluded: January (32 horses to Singapore); March (32 horses including South Africa’s World Equestrian Games competitors), May (14 horses) and July (36 endurance horses for the Dubai Royal Family). 29 horses started quarantine on 24 July for the September shipment, with an expected departure date of 2 September with KLM/Martin Air.
The October shipment is the traditional quarantine that facilitates the Dubai International Racing Carnival horses. Due to a backlog of close to 30 exports, Racing South Africa has formally requested the use of the State-owned Montague Gardens facility in tandem with KQS during the October shipment. Before the development of KQS in 2003, Racing South Africa’s predecessor, the SA Horse Import & Export Council, previously upgraded the 26 quarantine stables at Montague Gardens to vector-protected status. Therefore, if both facilities are used, up to 62 horses could be shipped on a B747 freighter, the savings on the flight being significant.
An intense development programme at KQS has been completed and included the refurbishment of the historic groundsman cottage at the facility, the maintenance of all barns including upgrade of stable doors and air cooling systems, upgrade of horse walker and the acquisition of a vehicle. Gold Circle is in the process of upgrading Kenilworth’s irrigation system which will incorporate the requirements of the sand training track.
Projects
When Racing South Africa was formed in 2005 to represent the major stakeholders (Breeder, Operator and Owner) of the Sport of South African Horseracing, it created a forum where matters of national interest could be debated and funded. Initially, the focus has been on the development of South Africa’s horse export strategy via the support of KQS, Equine Research Centre, the Import Export Working Group, the SA Equine Trade Council and the AHS Trust.
However, in recent times, Racing SA has funded and managed in part a growing number of projects including the following:
• Annual production of the South African Horseracing Fact Book,
• Study of the Economic Impact of South African horseracing,
• Racing South Africa Equus Awards,
• Formulation of a skills development and training programme for South African Horseracing under Government’s THETA
Fact Book
Under John Bescoby’s guidance, the South African Racing Fact Book is published annually and distributed both locally and internationally. It is also available electronically and can be downloaded off the Racing South Africa website.
Economic Impact Study
Last year a study was commissioned to establish and analyse the economic impacts of the Sport of South African horseracing, the first such study performed on a national basis. The Cape Town-based Economics Information Services (EIS) was awarded the contract having previous experience in other sectors of the gaming industry. The first phase of the study has been completed and the results will be published shortly. Phase 2 aims to look at the strategic, social and environmental impacts of horseracing. The results of both studies will assist administrators with strategic planning and as well as being able to lobby Government to assist with the long term sustainability of the Sport.
Equus Awards
For the first time, Racing South Africa will sponsor the Equus Awards due to be held on Thursday, 12 August at the Centre Court Emperor’s Palace. A detailed press release describing the various categories, voting panel and format of this year’s awards will follow.
Theta
THETA is a Government Agency established to develop skills within the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education sectors falling under the Department of Higher Education and Training. Significant funding is available to assist industries to develop skills within their individual sectors in a five year funding cycle, determined by Government’s National Skills Development Strategy. The next 5 year cycle starts in 2011 and projects must be submitted by November 2010.
Previously individual organizations within South African Horseracing applied for funding separately and it was recently agreed that Racing South Africa should oversee the formulation of the application on behalf of the sport. Adrian Todd with his experience in the groom training programme was appointed as consultant to manage the project until 31 December 2010.
- report Peter Gibson