Kenilworth Ladies Day 2013
I was trying to find some quotes for my piece this week and there are quite a number of them floating around the internet. Some are complimentary, some admiring, some funny. Then there are those that are less funny and even some are some are downright caustic and unkind, comments The Louw Flyer.
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon opined “A woman knows enough if she knows enough to mend our shirts and cook us a steak” (you can imagine my opinion on THAT one!). The Bard exasperated “Frailty, they name is woman!” (succinctly backed up by Mae West’s “When women go wrong, men go right after them!”). George Meredith was a bit more tongue in cheek – “I expect that woman will be the last thing civilized by man”. I expect he may be right! Lawrence Durrell advised: “There are only three things to be done with a woman. You can love her, suffer for her, or turn her into literature”. We even frustrated the great Sigmund Freud who said “The great question that has never been answered, and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my thirty years of research into the feminine soul, is `What does a woman want?’
The female quotes were perhaps a bit more telling. Jeannette Rankin said “The individual woman is required … a thousand times a day to choose either to accept her appointed role and thereby rescue her good disposition out of the wreckage of her self-respect, or else follow an independent line of behaviour and rescue her self-respect out of the wreckage of her good disposition”. Nancy Friday opined that “The meaning of what it is to be a woman has never been more open-ended and therefore more filled with anxiety”. I guess the short-hand version is ‘it’s complicated’.
You are what you do
Kenilworth Ladies Day 2013
Having pondered it a little, I don’t think it is possible to sum up what women are or what women want. But think I do know what women do. More than anything else, we give. We give birth, we give life, we give inspiration, we give comfort, we give nourishment, we give encouragement and we give strength, even when we have none of our own. We give beauty and softness and creativity and warmth and laughter. Sharing seems to be female second nature. Whether it’s food, hugs, advice or opinions – we love nothing better than to get together, pool our resources and use them to build something.
And then I found a quote that I really liked. “A woman has strengths that amaze me. “She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens. She holds happiness, love and opinions. She smiles when she feels like screaming. She sings when she feels like crying. She cries when she’s happy and laughs when she’s afraid. Her love is unconditional. There’s only one thing wrong with her and that is that sometimes she forgets what she is worth.” Doesn’t that just say it all? Luckily we have an entire day – dedicated on the national calendar no less – to ensure that women remember to celebrate how wonderful we are.
National Women’s Day
South African Women’s Day is held on the 9th of August every year to commemorate the day when 20,000 women, including Sophia Williams-de Bruyn, Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph and Albertina Sisulu, gathered in a peaceful protest against the proposed amendments to the pass laws in 1956. There was no violence and no force. They assembled outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria in a dignified mass, handed over their petitions, and after half an hour, broke out into their protest song – “wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo – “Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock.” It was an inspiring display of political strength, female solidarity and fortitude. Along with the free, democratic South Africa, National Women’s Day was inaugurated in 1994 and 9 August is both a reminder of the great women who helped mould the South African political landscape and the women who continue to lead the country forward.
Girl Power
Kenilworth Ladies Day Fundraiser – Faeeza Heuwel centre
Racing has traditionally been a fairly male domain, but the ladies have made inroads over the years. Bridget Oppenheimer became the first female member at Turffontein in the early 80’s and was also the first woman to attend the July presentation dinner. Joan Ruffel was our first female steward at Newmarket in the mid-80’s and our first lady trainer was Hilda Knaupp. Genevieve Michel was the first female to qualify through our Jockey Academy and was also the first lady to ride in the J&B Met (aboard King Shore in 1999). The late Wendy Norman was the first female tv racing presenter.
But the Cape also has rather a proud history of empowering women. The Cape’s first female trainer was the late Margaret Fisher (also known as Ma Fisher). Lita Futeran was our first female steward elected to the board of Western Province Racing. The first female judge in the Western Cape was Belinda Tom and Teresa Esplin was our first female starter (now our race day manager). Faeeza Heuwel is the first female COO of Kenilworth Racing.
So it is appropriate that in 2013 Kenilworth Racing’s marketing duo of Jenna Adams and Mandy Kannemeyer put together their first Ladies Day initiative. 230 women turned up. We chatted, we networked, we laughed and we had fun. Most importantly, we raised R130 000 for the Reach For Recovery Breast Cancer Association.
Kenilworth Ladies Day 2014
Jenna Adams & Mandy Kannemeyer
This year, with 3 weeks to go, they had already sold 330 tickets and are filled to the rafters. “It’s tough to turn people away, but we’re full!” enthused Jenna Adams, still hard at work, pulling together the finishing touches on Monday afternoon. “Last year was our first big event and we got such positive feedback. It was so much fun to get all the ladies together. In the racing industry, and Kenilworth in particular, people are always in their private suites and it was nice to get everyone in one venue. The day just flew by because there was so much going on and everyone had so much fun. This year we want to keep that same atmosphere, but focus a little more strongly on the horses and racing. Obviously lots of racing ladies attend, but we get just as many ladies from outside racing and we are aiming to explain what it’s all about a little more. We want to show how much excitement is involved, take them to the parade ring and show them how beautiful the horses are so that they really get a feel for it. We were really hoping that the Jay Peg colt we auctioned last year – Zubbadubbadoo – might be able to have his first outing on Ladies Day, but Brett Crawford says he’s not quite ready yet. But all of the ladies in the syndicate are coming to this year’s event again.”
“We’ve been working on the event for the last three months and are very excited about what we’ve put together. We have got a whole load of sponsors on board so that hopefully everyone leaves with a treat. Our main prize is a gorgeous diamond pendant from eDiamonds valued at R50 000, but on arrival each lady will be presented with a pink fortune cookie containing a number, which could qualify them for any one of the day’s spot prizes. There’s a 2 night stay at Abalone House, Kitchenaid are giving away a fantastic blender, Jenny Morris – the Giggling Gourmet – is auctioning off a cookbook, there’s a hamper of skin care products from Optiphi and vouchers from Casuarina Wellness Centre. There’s a pink car battery from Powertech, wine from Groot Constantia, a voucher from Seelans restaurant at the Waterfront and a family portrait shoot up for grabs from Durham Studios, plus vouchers from the Grand Roche, Karoo Classics and the Kirstenbosch gift shop.”
Party with a purpose
Harriet raises funds for needy equines
“Women’s Day is for celebrating life and having fun, but we want to have fun with a purpose and also use it to give back, so we have a number of charitable initiatives. Like last year, we have a racehorse for auction. This year it’s a filly by Noordhoek Flyer, generously donated by Mauritzfontein Stud. The filly is out of Prestic and is named Blu Tack. Dean Kannemeyer has kindly agreed to donate his training services. Clyde Basel will be handling the auction and of course it’s all for a good cause. Cancer is an issue that touches everyone, so Mandy and I chose the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) as this year’s beneficiary and all proceeds will be going to the breast cancer unit. They will be sending a representative to address us during the course of the afternoon.”
“The other charitable initiative is on behalf of the Horse Care Unit. Last year Amanda Carey brought Harriet the Horse for us to auction off and this year, there’s a specially commissioned pink version called Helga who will also be up for auction, with all the proceeds going to help needy equines.”
What’s in Store
Ladies Day spoils
“Julie Killias Events did a stunning job on last year’s theme ‘Shine Bright Like A Diamond’ so we’ve got them back again this year for ‘A Touch of Bling’. There will be a choice of bubbly or a special cocktail mixed up by SA Brandy on arrival as well as decadent Haute Cabriere on all the tables. We’ve got the Oyster Kings back again as well as the Sushi Queens, so hopefully a little something for everyone. Access Racing, who took over the on-course kitchens as of 1 August will be doing lunch, so we’re looking forward to that. It will be a plated starter and a buffet, followed by a chocolate fountain and a cheese station for ‘afters’ ”. Don’t worry gents – you can join the party after 4pm.
“Top Cape Town entertainer Gabriel Shai will be manning the mic for the afternoon to keep things flowing. Each lady will receive a copy of the Computaform Express, there will be betting buddies on hand to give advice on how to place bets and Gareth Pepper will help out with tips before each race. We’ve also got a fashion show, with collections from Shelley at Season Clothing and Nina J Runway.”
Nina Jooste, the force behind Nina J Runway epitomises what Ladies Day is all about. She has been running her boutique Nina J Couture in Stellenbosch for the last 10 years and has recently opened a showroom in Church Street in Stellenbosch as well as launching her own label – Nina J Runway. Expect something light and fun with a touch of summer as Nina says “Life is often full of surprises…. Why isn’t your wardrobe?”
Cheers to Ladies Day!
With media representatives from Opulent Living, Hello Cape Town, Independent Newspapers, Media 24 and the International Racehorse, the secret is clearly out that the event is growing in stature and popularity. With every available seat already sold out, we are clearly in for a treat.
There’s a fun and rather apt quote by Erick Gray that reads “Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she’ll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she’ll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she’ll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.” So ladies, I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday !
