Hobday Equine Enterprises put together the first direct export from South Africa to Europe in just under 14 years on 17 August 2024 and the horses pictured loading above at Cape Town International Airport later landed at Liège Airport in Belgium. (Picture supplied).
Last year, 2024, will go down as a watershed year in South African racing.
On the track the biggest news item was undoubtedly Richard Fourie’s record-breaking 378 wins in a season feat, but even this highlight might have been usurped as news item of the year by two off the track happenings.
In March 2024 it was announced that direct flights for horses to the EU would be allowed for the first time since 2011 and then at the end of July it was announced that Hollywoodbets, through Hollywood Racing Enterprise (Hollywood), had received the green light from the Competition Tribunal to take over the running of horse racing in KwaZulu-Natal from the troubled operator Gold Circle.
Over the last decade SA industryman had become used to optimistic messages about the reopening of direct flights and these were eventually treated as just another false dawn, so when Adrian Todd of SAEHP released the news in March it was an unbelievable moment.
“SAEHP, in conjunction with the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), advises that DALRRD has received official notification that the reinstatement of direct exports of registered equines from South Africa to the European Union (EU) has been approved,” said the statement.
The announcement was made on March 25 and the impact was seen at the BSA National Yearling Sale the following month.
The aggregate of the Sale rose from R154.05 million in 2023 to a staggering R200.19 million in 2024.
Remarkably, the average price jumped from R442 672 to R581 948.
The median price also rose notably, rising from R300 000 to R400 000, while the R6 000 000 spent on the top lot at the 2024 National Sale is almost double that of the R3 200 000 spent on the top lot purchased in 2023.
The sale also saw a remarkable 93% clearance rate on day one, a tribute to the strength of the buying market and to the quality of thoroughbred offered by vendors across the board.
Three lots made R5 000 000 or more at the National Sale in 2024, and no fewer than 14 yearlings fetched R2 000 000 or more.
The first direct export from Cape Town to Europe in just under 14 years was successfully dispatched on 17 August 2024, from Cape Town International Airport to Liège Airport in Belgium, and among the 32 on the flight were three thoroughbred racehorses.
A later fligtht included the superstar unbeaten champion Gimme A Nother, who was on his way via Europe to be trained by Graham Motion in the USA.
The good performances at the Breeders Cup by Isivunguvungu and Beach Bomb proved that SA-breds belong on the international stage and provided a further bolster to the prospects of breeders and owners in SA.
The knock on effects of the export situation will surely see an upward trend for the entire industry.
In July the announcement by the competition tribunal meant the biggest obstacle to Hollywoodbets rescuing the operator had been overcome.
A press release at the time explained the implications:
Subject to the fulfillment of other outstanding conditions precedent, the deal will unlock a R500 million rescue injection from Hollywoodbets, and a takeover of racing in the holiday province.
Now that Competition Tribunal approval has been received, the most significant outstanding step is the required approval of the KZN Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA), which process could take some time.
Hollywoodbets spokesman Basil Thomas told the Sporting Post that news of the approval by the Competition Tribunal was very pleasing, and that the process would continue its course.
He added that whilst the outstanding approval of the KZNERA is critical to the transaction and will be the final step in transferring ownership, the Competition Tribunal approval now allows Hollywoodbets and its appointed Chairman Designate of Gold Circle, Greg Bortz to be involved in management and strategic decisions during the interim period. Most importantly, Hollywoodbets will appropriately invest funds at its own risk to ensure the continuity of horse racing in KZN and the survival of Gold Circle.
“We remain determined to secure the future of the horseracing industry in KwaZulu-Natal and our original plans and intentions remain on track. Naturally, we are hopeful that the KZNERA will recognise the importance of this transaction and will give the acquisition its approval on acceptable terms and conditions. But for now, today’s news is a huge step forward,” concluded Thomas.
Bortz spoke in layman’s terms, at the time of the anouncement, about the hurdles that still needed to be crossed, saying, “We got through a very important one, which is the Competitions Commission, so that’s now through, we’re through the Tribunal. So now we just need Gambling Board consent and then some landlord consent to take over some leases and then we’re there. So, we’re in the final furlong now.”
The new era in KZN officially began on New Year’s Day (see next article).
