It will be good news for racing fans and stakeholders that 4Racing has in no way terminated Nadine Low Ah Kee’s contract.
The racing operator is in discussions with the popular presenter to explore means to continue working with her, noting the value, history and institutional knowledge she holds.
This news formed part of a statement from the operator to the Sporting Post following news of the sudden ‘departure’ after almost ten years on our screens of the Tellytrack on course presenter, which was announced at the Fairview racemeeting on Sunday.
The news has spread to social media and has elicited a wave of puzzlement and questions amongst racing folk.
Much-loved Nadine -the number 1 racing presenter in SA
The Sporting Post has also received countless phone calls and emails to inquire about the circumstances surrounding the apparent departure of South Africa’s leading on-course presenter. She is also one of our most hardworking, with the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing’s racemeeting previews outstripping every region, bar possibly KwaZulu-Natal.
In a response to the Sporting Post’s request for clarity, a 4Racing spokesperson confirmed that the former top lady jockey is a contractor who was contracted to Phumelela and 4Racing has continued to honour her contract at Nelson Mandela Bay Racing since taking over as operator.
“Nadine is a great asset to racing, given her considerable on course presenting skills and her vast horseracing knowledge and experience – and we wish to continue working with her,” said the spokesman, who added that the racing operator fully respected Mrs Low Ah Kee’s human rights and beliefs.
Nadine Low Ah Kee (nee Rapson) and Ali Cohen
“However, as a responsible participant in the industry we are governed by the current COVID government directives with regards to all staff, contractors, suppliers and participants attending and working at racing venues under our jurisdiction. We continue to closely monitor government’s gazetted regulations, while taking expert advice on the health and safety protocols required to host events safely for spectators and participants.”
It is learnt that they have made an alternative arrangement to fulfil the on course presenting requirements for the race meeting scheduled at Fairview on 10 January, but they have informed us that they hope to find ways of continuing to work with her going forward, in accordance with government legislation.
Nadine’s enormous popularity is unquestioned.
In a post on our website in 2021, KZN racing fan Hilton Witz wrote that Nadine is the best presenter by a country mile.
“She gives the punting public what they want and that is the opinions of all the trainers with runners at PE meetings and that includes raiders Nadine gets the interviews out early and the views are for all to listen to but it’s a pity these views cant be disseminated to all who have not got access to a computer. Nadine gets the opinions before the meeting begins unlike the rest who either wait for 5 minutes before the race or hope that the trainer who has fancied runners on the day has a winner early. Presenters or tipsters need credibility and Nadine has that. Well done to her for setting the benchmark.”
Nadine rides another winner
Nadine was part of probably the last ‘power lady’ intake at the SA Jockey Academy in 1996 when she was accompanied by Chantal Moys (now Cormack) and Danny Mcreedy (married to Sherman Brown today).
She rode her first winner for trainer Anil Maharaj, who was slightly unorthodox but taught her the fine art of pace judgement – years before technology arrived.
On 11 October 1997 Nadine had her crop tied to her right wrist with an elastic and stormed to victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Desert Dueller, almost taking out the hot dog stand in the process!
The rest is history and the ‘Girl From Greytown’ rode with distinction for over a decade.
Today she keeps fit by riding and cycling and is married with a house full of her much-loved ‘fur kids’.
We were unable to obtain a comment from Nadine but the industry hopes and waits that this bump in the road will be levelled out soon and that sanity will prevail.
