Horseracing is not only the sport of kings. There are queens, princes, princesses and everybody else too! So said 4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe at Turffontein on Tuesday as the Gauteng racing operator celebrated women’s excellence in the sport of horseracing with a special Women’s Day raceday.
The Sporting Post’s Sindi Thwala, 4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe & Racing Today host Luthando ‘Lootlove’ Shosha pose for the cameras
Sporting Post representative Sindi Thwala was a member of a group of female industry stakeholders who enjoyed a rare ladies day out at the Turffontein races.
“It’s a great sport and it’s for anybody – that’s the message that we have to get out there to females of all demographics, especially the younger generation. We can see it in our racing viewership figures – 51% are women! And then the Nielsen sports betting stats indicate that there are more female than male punters – us girls just don’t talk about it!” she laughed.
Top jockey Gavin Lerena rode three winners on the day – he is seen with Fundi Sithebe and the ladies
The enthusiastic Fundi Sithebe told Ms Thwala that it wasn’t a case of just getting the interest going on the big days.
“We have to look beyond the obvious attractions of the big days like the Hollywoodbets Durban July, the WSB Met and the Gauteng Summer Cup, and get a more consistent support. I take myself as the first and only black female in the operator management space to show that anybody can get involved and inspired. I never had horses or racing in my background. So anybody can start today,” she added.
The guest of honour was South Africa’s only current female professional jockey Rachel Venniker – who has just been crowned the country’s champion apprentice jockey.
SA Champion Rachel Venniker explains the lie of the land in the home straight to the CEO
4Racing paid tribute to Venniker, who took Ms Sithebe on a walkabout to explain the dynamics of race-riding.
All of the races on the afternoon, which was held in tandem with the Racehorse Owners Association, honoured some of the leading historic female figures in South African horseracing with the main race being the Anne Upton Memorial Handicap, named in honour of the legendary female trainer and former Summer Cup winner who passed away in June this year.
Races named after other leading female figures in the sport included South Africa’s first female jockey Genevieve Michel, the first trainer Hilda Knaupp and legendary Nelson Mandela Bay breeder Rose Parker. Other prominent female trainers also honoured are Jean Heming and female steward Joan Ruffel.
Ladies on parade!
Top jockey turned television presenter Nadine Low Ah Kee anchored the special Women’s Day broadcast on Racing 240.
SA Champion owner of last season Suzette Viljoen was amongst the invited guests, along with Luthando ‘Lootlove’ Shosha, host of the new Racing Today show on SABC Sport.
