Jocks Faster Than a Third-Grader?

Owners have sponsored jockeys to race in their silks

In monetary terms, this coming Saturday’s race meeting at Kenilworth is headlined by the CTS Ready to Run race, with a gross stake of R2.5 million.

Having been a big supporter of the sale for many years, one of the most rewarding elements for me has been watching foals become weanlings, then yearlings, and in the space of a few months of RTR sale preparation they turn into racehorses.

Oscar Foulkes writes that the transformation is even more remarkable, because the sale preparation starts in the middle of winter, when they are at their fluffiest, muddiest worst.

Children go through a similar process (kind of) on their journey to becoming functioning adults, but given the extent of financial inequality in South Africa, they don’t necessarily get the support they need to learn and grow. OK, so they’re humans, not horses, but any route towards maturity needs the appropriate interventions.

Songo.info is a charity that was set up in 2008 to make a difference to the lives of children growing up in Stellenbosch’s Kayamandi township.

The original vision came from Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser, so bicycles – BMX, in particular – have been a feature throughout the past 11 years.

Sport is important for learning life skills, and also general well-being, but perhaps the biggest role that cycling plays in the Songo.info programme is that it’s the ‘glue’ that holds the kids’ interest. In essence, cycling is the reward for attending school, delivering good academic results, as well as participation in the programme.

The focus of the programme, though, is education.

There are 50 children, all of whom attend after school every week day afternoon. In the time they’re at the clubhouse, they do homework, are tutored, complete Reading Eggs exercises, and of course they receive BMX training and coaching. They are also given a nutritious sandwich, as well as fruit and a drink.

Given the choice between a superficial engagement with a large number of children, or an intensive intervention in a smaller group, the choice at Songo.info is to go the latter route.

Children enter the programme at primary school level, remaining throughout their school careers. Given the socio-economic problems in Kayamandi, it is sometimes required of the people running the programme that they also perform the role of social workers.

The end result is academic performance that far outstrips that of the general student body at the local schools. And, while the objective isn’t to run a high performance academy, Songo.info kids perform creditably at the Spur Schools MTB League events.

Thanks to a longstanding relationship, Songo.info receives a significant share of its operating budget from Investec Asset Management. For the balance, it relies on CSI funding, donations from private foundations, or other fundraising activities.

This brings us back to 23 November.

After the last race, there will be a series of one-on-one match races around the parade ring, on BMX bikes, between jockeys and Songo.info kids.

The fundraising element is that several owners have generously sponsored jockeys to ride in their colours. And, of course, the jockeys are giving of their time and energy.

We know that jockeys are fast above four legs, but on two wheels, are they faster than a third-grader?

The programme manager, Sipho Madolo, is a product of the Songo.info programme, and has represented South Africa in various MTB disciplines. If you want to meet him, he’ll be part of the Songo.info group hosting Friends of Songo in The Garrett Bar for the afternoon (limited space available).

I need to make special mention of the extraordinary generosity of people in racing, which has made the day possible. I have been blown away by the willingness to support a good cause – thank you!

Read more about Songo.info here

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