The Equus Awards organising committee has started preparing for this year’s Equus Awards to honour the champions of the turf, both human and equine.
The awards ceremony will take place at the Convention Centre, Emperors Palace on Tuesday 13 August 2019.
The voting panel, represented by David Thiselton, Alistair Cohen, Matthew Lips and Lennon Maharaj with Larry Wainstein as non-voting Chairperson, submitted their first round of nominations after the Vodacom Durban July Day.
The final nominees and voting will be finalised after the Gold Cup raceday.
The equine categories are as follows:
Champion Two-year-old Colt – distance immaterial
Champion Two-year-old Filly – distance immaterial
Champion Three-year-old Colt – distance immaterial
Champion Three-year-old Filly – distance immaterial.
Champion Older Male – distance immaterial
Champion Older Filly/Mare – distance immaterial
Champion Sprinter – (1000 – 1200m; age/gender immaterial)
Champion Miler – (1400 – 1600; age/gender immaterial)
Champion Middle Distance – (1800 – 2200; age/gender immaterial)
Champion Stayer – (2400 and up; age/gender immaterial)
Voting Criteria:
The awards are based on graded races and in particular Grade 1 races.
As regards the stayer category, the winning horse will be at the discretion of the voting panel. This decision was taken as the only Gr1 race in SA is the SA Derby, which would mean that this should be the obvious winner based on a single run. This would also have excluded fillies and mares.
Breeder Awards:
Stallion of the Year
Broodmare of the Year
Breeder of the Year
The Thoroughbred Breeders Association may include outstanding and/or international achievement awards.
Individual Awards:
Champion Apprentice
Champion Jockey
Champion Owner (based on stakes earned)
Champion Trainer (based on stakes earned)
Industry Merit Awards
Horse of the Year Award
The awards take the form of a formal black-tie gala event which is an important event on the annual racing calendar.
Clyde Basel will be the master of ceremonies for the evening and guests will be treated to dinner and an array of entertainment with an after party at the same venue.
A limited number of seats will be available to members of the public. Interested parties should contact Penny Morsner at 011 683-3220.
- Press release issued by Larry Wainstein, Chairman of the Equus Committee, on 19 July 2019.
