Peter Gibson-moving on
After nearly a decade of trading, Horseracing South Africa (Pty) Ltd, is no more, writes former CEO, Peter Gibson.
The company, which was formed in 2005 to gather similar functions under a single, nationally representative umbrella structure ultimately lost the support of some of its shareholders and a decision was taken to shut down operations at the end of July 2014.
Its origins, in fact, began much earlier when the South African Horse Import & Export Council (SAHIEC) was conceptualized in the mid-1990’s. At the time, the broader equestrian industry gathered to initiate the country’s ambitions of exporting its horses and a non-profit company was registered in 2002.
A year earlier, under the Chairmanship of Mick Goss, the South African Equine Trade Council (SAETRAC) was registered to provide an effective international marketing vehicle and to engage the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) under their Export Council platform.
Trading as “Racing South Africa”, the Trade Council led a number of trade missions to open doors and attract the foreign investment the horseracing and breeding industry so desired. Previously funded by Horseracing South Africa (Pty) Ltd, the Trade Council has secured funding contracts with new industry partners (Bloodstock South Africa, Cape Thoroughbred Sales, Gold Circle, Mike Holmes Bloodstock and Racing Association). These contributions are then matched by the DTI on a 2:1 basis.
The Trade Council will, therefore, continue to operate independently for the foreseeable future and it is in the process of restructuring with a view to creating a new vision for the Company to ensure stronger ties with industry and government.
Kenilworth quarantine station – acquired by Kenilworth Racing
By 2003, the SA Horse Import & Export Council had joined forces with other industry organisations and individuals to finance, develop and build Kenilworth Quarantine Station (KQS), forming a Company which traded as Kenilworth Quarantine Station (Pty) Ltd until it changed its name to Horseracing South Africa (Pty) Ltd in 2005 at the time that the SA Horse Import & Export Council was de-registered.
The concept of a nationally representative organization was then supported by the major stakeholders of the sport of horseracing: Breeders, Operators and Owners. Apart from taking over the many functions of SAHIEC (broadly speaking AHS support and protocol development support) and the management of KQS, it brought SAETRAC under a single management structure and enabled stakeholders to equitably and reliably fund institutions like the Equine Research Centre, the AHS Trust and others.
Additionally, it offered the horseracing industry the opportunity to speak with one voice and to manage tasks that required a national focus such as the Economic Impact Study of 2009.
Despite largely operating with a skeleton staff, beyond managing the primary functions as listed above, Horseracing South Africa also introduced numerous industry initiatives like the National Horseracing Convention (2006) and Thoroughbred Expo (2008), the Charity Turf Challenge, Childrens’ Equine Career Expo and a funding platform for the Fact Book and Thoroughpedia, to name just a few.
With the closure of Horseracing South Africa, the following course of action was agreed:
1. Equine Health Fund (Wits Health Consortium)
Popular promotional tool. Where to from here?
All equine health related functions (Equine Research Centre and AHS Trust) and Government liaison with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) would be housed within the Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd, under the management of Prof Ian Sanne. Dr Beverly Parker, Mrs Esthea Rousseau and Mrs Danielle Pienaar are retained.
2. Kenilworth Quarantine Station
Subject to a number of conditions having been met, the business of quarantine as a going concern has been acquired by Kenilworth Racing (Pty) Ltd from the other existing shareholders (Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Gold Circle, Phumelela and the Racing Association). Ms Sue Mutch (Manager), Messrs Zukile Bambiso (Assistant), David Mbumbulu, Nkosibongile Ntswayimbana, Johannes Mandlenkosi and Tembile Hobeni are retained.
3. Other industry functions
The Charity Turf Challenge and Fact Book will be dispersed to interested stakeholders.
My sincere thanks go to all the staff and associates who have worked tirelessly to serve the industry over the years and to the Directors and Chairmen under whom I have worked.
I am looking forward to the new challenge of my role as Director of Breed Affairs and Public Relations for the TBA, and to serving the members of this vital and historic organisation.
Working arrangements will include a monthly commute to the TBA offices, the balance of the time working out of the Summerveld office where the Trade Council is currently based.
My new contact details are as follows:
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 496 4881
Tel (TBA): +27 (0) 11 323 5700 Ext 220
Fax: +27 (0) 11 323 5788
Tel (Trade): +27 (0) 31 769 2963
Fax: +27 (0) 31 769 2944
