Gareth van Zyl and Athandiwe Mgudlwa have become a force to be reckoned with and the yard’s late charge to retain the KZN Trainers Championship only just failed last season (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Gareth van Zyl Looking For A Good Start To Cape Town Venture

By Charl Pretorius

Youthful Gareth van Zyl has arrived in Cape Town with a string of 20 horses based at the Milnerton training centre. He will send out his first two runners at Saturday’s Durbanville meeting. It is unusual to see a KwaZulu-Natal trainer in the Cape before the start of summer, but Gareth explained on Monday that his early arrival is part of an important career move.

The 37-year-old, champion of KZN in 2021/2, is pursuing his ambition to be national champion and is in the process of moving his family to the Western Cape. Gareth’s father Gavin, the veteran top jockey turned successful trainer, will be staying on at Summerveld to run what will eventually become Van Zyl racing’s satellite yard.

The Van Zyl’s have 100 horses in their care and Gareth said from Milnerton on Monday: “When you are aiming for the top of the log you can’t have your sights set on just a top 20 finish. We’ll be reshuffling our runners so that we have the best ones competing in the races that offer the best stakes. Having a stable in two centres gives us a chance to move them around for race and track suitability, ultimately to the benefit of owners.”

Gareth said that Cape Racing’s recent series of stakes initiatives played a part in his decision to launch his title attack from two bases. “We haven’t had the quality to take on the best in all the major races yet, but we have bigger buying power now and we were able to step up on quality at this year’s auction sales. I’m excited about our prospects in the new season.”

Gareth has been allocated 33 stables at Milnerton. “We’ve trucked seven older horses and 12 two-year-olds to the Cape, to start. I want the string well settled before the Cape season gets in full swing.”

His first runner is Stars In Heaven, who arrived from in his new home with two good places under his belt and takes on a few promising Cape three-year-olds in race 3 over 1400m. Said Gareth: “He would have been odds-on to win if this was a Maiden Plate in Durban, but the rivals are stronger here. He travelled well, we’d like to see how he shapes and we’re hoping for a stake cheque.”

Moya Waya Liga (race 9), fresh off two Scottsville wins over 1200m, has the inside draw in race 9 over 1250m, a bonus for his hat-trick bid. Gareth noted: “He is in good form, perhaps still ahead of the handicapper and is one you have to respect. He is good enough to win this.”

SELECTIONS

1st Race: (5) Triptothewoods (1) Ponte Vecchio (8) Lady Renee (2) Head Girl

2nd Race: (1) Firealley (6) Sachdev (2) Linebacker (3) Itsrainingwilliam

3rd Race: (3) Celtic Chief (2) Stars In Heaven (1) Lexican Point (7) Golden Grey

4th Race: (2) Oliver (9) No Apologies (7) All About Ronnie (4) Future Gem

5th Race: (5) Woman’s World (9) Mothership (7) Flamboyant Flyer (1) Dawn Of Gold

6th Race: (6) Tothemoonandback (7) Rule Of Thumb (10) Max The Otter (1) Gentleman Joe

7th Race: (7) Royal Watch (8) Night Ruler (4) Love Is A Rose (3) Sudden Song

8th Race: (9) Champion Warrior (4) Hammie’s Hero (5) Dean Street (2) Dance Variety 9th Race: (7) All About Al (1) Moya Waya Liga (12) Night Tiger (5) Faire Advantage

Tom Hodgson taking in the sights and sounds of the Calgary Stampede (Racing Post).

Budding Auctioneer Tom Hodgson Recalls chance of a lifetime at Calgary Stampede

The UK’s famous racing newspaper the Racing Post interviewed one of South Africa’s best up and coming auctioneers Tom Hodgson, who is a protege of SA’s renowned thoroughbred auctioneer Andrew Miller.

Racing Post

‘It was like having to learn a new language’ – my bid to win an international auctioneer championship

Durban-based Tom Hodgson, an aspiring young thoroughbred auctioneer, represented South Africa on the international stage when he qualified for a competition at last month’s Calgary Stampede, a huge festival held in Canada every year.

My desire to pursue a career in auctioneering was first ignited when I returned to work at home on the farm with my father after my studies. We had attended many auctions together and hosted them ourselves, but it was only when my father suggested that it could be a prospective career for me that I gave it further thought.

We decided that if I was going to make a go of it then it would be best to attain some formal training and education so, in 2019, I attended the Missouri Auction School in the United States. Upon my return to South Africa, the Covid-19 pandemic hit and any aspiration of hitting the ground running fell by the wayside.

I later reached out to renowned South African thoroughbred auctioneer Andrew Miller, who took me under his wing and I began to shadow him at stud livestock and thoroughbred sales, later bid-spotting for him. During this time I also joined In2Assets Properties, a company that specialises in the sale of commercial, industrial, and agricultural property by auction, where Andrew is a director and shareholder.

Auctioneering is a niche market and there are few opportunities to break into the space. So in order to grow as an auctioneer and generate awareness about myself, my father elbowed me in the direction of the South African Young Livestock Auctioneers Championship. I was fortunate enough to progress through the preliminary rounds and ultimately win the finals. This, through the kind sponsorship of Plaas Media and Toyota South Africa, afforded me entry into the International Livestock Auctioneering Competition hosted at the Calgary Stampede in Canada.

Tom Hodgson (left) on spotting duty at this year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale (Credit: Wayne Marks)

Excitement quickly turned to nerves as I was now competing against some of the very best and established livestock auctioneers in the world. The Calgary Stampede is something like I’ve never seen before, the scale and extent of the event is truly remarkable. Over a million people go through the gates, with everything from shopping, theme parks, live music concerts, food stalls, agricultural shows and exhibitions, world-class rodeos and agricultural competitions. The Calgary Stampede is branded as the greatest outdoor show in the world, and it was certainly something to experience.

The day of the competition arrived and all the contestants jumped on a bus for the one-hour trip north of Calgary to a small town called Olds. It was here at the Olds Auction Mart that the competition took place, with nearly 40 competitors collectively selling more than 1,500 head of cattle in a live auction.

The Canadian and American way of selling cattle is very different to anything I am accustomed to. As the auctioneer, you are selling on a weight to dollar ratio, for example $3.65 per pound, which proved tricky at times, being more familiar with the metric system back home.

Additionally, the number you call as the auctioneer is the number you are asking for. I, as with most South African, Australian and British auctioneers, am more accustomed to announcing the number we have; it was like having to learn a new language. I had to very hastily learn the bidding styles and hand signals of bidders while they either halved or quartered the cent.

This, coupled with the nerves associated with a competition, was certainly a challenging experience. But, after watching the three contestants before me go, I told myself to just have fun, enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience, and take away as much as possible.

Contestants were tasked with selling six lots. Each was comprised of different types and quantity of cattle, from steers and heifers to cows. We were judged according to various different categories, which included appearance and presentation, knowledge of product, clarity and chant, ability to source and retain a bid, to name but a few.

Overall, the standard of competition was very high and, outside of the competition space, it was fantastic to sit and watch some of the very best do what they do best. Unfortunately I was not able to make it into the final top ten, a live auction held the following day in the Stampede Park for a $10,000 prize, but it was an experience I will never forget for all the right reasons.

It’s funny how things pan out, as a desire to become a cattle auctioneer has resulted in an opportunity in the thoroughbred racehorse industry. As Andrew said to me, there is a massive difference between an auctioneer and a number caller, so understanding the nuances and principles of selling is critical. Remain hungry for it and remain humble. You can and must learn pedigrees and bloodlines, everyone must, but the art of professional auctioneering is a specialised skill that takes time to perfect.

I hope that I am making progress in this respect and this is why I entered the competition – to test myself against some of the very best. Regardless, I continue to spend my time practising and learning. I’m chanting every day in the shower and in the car and I spend a tremendous amount of time learning different pedigrees.

My wife has learnt to just hit the mute button because, in her words, “it’s relentless”. You can never know too much but I’m going to make a good go of trying to learn as much as I can.

I have been extremely fortunate along the way, with individuals in the racing space who have been very kind and instrumental in my development. South African racing legend Michael Roberts has spent hours with me at sales and at his yard, looking at horses and discussing pedigrees and type. The team at Cape Racing have shown tremendous faith in me and continue to present opportunities for me to sell, Grant Knowles and John Koster from the industry have been encouraging and generous, while none of this would be possible without Andrew’s guidance.

My next auction is in October at the Cape Racing Ready to Run Sale, which I’m really looking forward to. I’m hoping to employ what I’ve taken away from my experience at the competition and hopefully I will continue to grow as an auctioneer.

Lovely foal by Malmoos out of Terra Marianna (Doowaley).

Klawervlei’s First Two Foals Have Arrived

Klawervlei (Meta Page)

FOALING SEASON, a captivating time at Klawervlei!

It signals new beginnings and the miracle of birth. The air is filled with anticipation as these beautiful creatures take their first steps, embodying the promise of future grace and strength.

Our first two foals – a beautiful Terra Mariana X Malmoos (Captain Al) (Pictured Above) and a Silver Holly (Silvano) X Captain Of All (Captain Al) (Pictured below).

The finish to this year’s Preakness (Patrick Smith (Getty Images))

1/ST Racing Considering Moving Date of the Preakness

NYRA Not on Board with Move

Turf Talk Ed – It is usually costly to mess with tradition in horseracing. This move will surely devalue one of the hardest feats to achieve in racing, the American Triple Crown. 1/ST racing have said safety of horses comes before tradition. That is correct and is why Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike avoided the Preakness in 2022. The onus is on the trainer and owners to keep their horse safe if not ready in time to take in the Preakness. A better way of putting it, for the good of horseracing, would be, “Tradition comes before the needs of 1/ST Racing”.

By Bill Finley (TDN)

1/ST Racing & Gaming is ready to shake up the Triple Crown.

The company, which operates Pimlico Race Course, has confirmed to the TDN that it is giving strong consideration to moving the date of the GI Preakness S. so that it is run four weeks after the GI Kentucky Derby.

“We have discussed it internally and believe it’s in the best interests of horses and horse safety to move the race four weeks after the Kentucky Derby,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer of 1/ST Racing & Gaming. “This would give horses more time to recover between races to be able to run in the Preakness. Horse safety is more important than tradition. NYRA is aware and considering how this would impact the Belmont. Stay tuned.”

Butler said there would be no further comment at this time.

Should the date of the Preakness get changed, the next move will be up to NYRA, which hosts the GI Belmont. If the Preakness is moved to four weeks after the Derby that would mean that, unless NYRA also shifts the date of the Belmont, the Belmont would be run just one week after the Preakness. That may be exactly what happens.

READ TODAY’S PAPER

“NYRA has concerns about fundamental changes to the structure of the Triple Crown. We have no plans to move the date of the Belmont Stakes,” said NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna.

The current structure of the Triple Crown works far better for the Belmont than it does for the Preakness. With five weeks between the Derby and Belmont, a number of trainers pass the Preakness and go next in the Belmont.

Traditionally, the Triple Crown is run over a five-week period, with two weeks between the Derby and the Preakness and three weeks between the Preakness and the Belmont. While that may be a long-standing tradition, it has clearly become an impediment to drawing horses to the Preakness because modern trainers are very reluctant to run their horses back within two weeks. In 2022, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) skipped the Preakness and waited for the Belmont. This year, Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) was the only horse from the Derby to run back in the Preakness.

These developments have led to added support for changing the spacing of the races. Just last month, Tom Rooney, the president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, penned an editorial calling for the races be spread further apart. “The time has come in Thoroughbred racing for our own change, to modernize the timeline of the Triple Crown,” he wrote.

Turf Talk ed: There was mixed reaction to the news in the comments section below the article, although most agreed it would not be able to be called The Triple Crown if the two gaps between the three races were stretched out.

Two of the comments opposed to the move summed it up well:

Comment 1: (Badgerpluto) Absolutely no foundation for saying this will improve horse safety. It has been perfectly safe for horses to run in the Derby and Preakness for more than a century. 1/ST is willing to destroy the Triple Crown in the mistaken belief they’ll do better business on Preakness Day. Stretch the Derby-Preakness gap to four weeks and the public will have lost interest.

Comment 2: (Tinky)

There is a lot to say about this, but I’ll keep it brief.

It is a glaring example of the damage inflicted by the American racing industry’s greatest, historical mistake, namely the failure to create a centralized oversight body, such as those found in every other major sport. How absurd that one of the three ‘owners’ of the Triple Crown races might consider forcing the hands of the others with a unilateral decision! Only in the racing game might something so stupid happen, yet it would be entirely consistent with previous deep, self-inflicted wounds, such as allowing the iconic racetracks Hialeah, Hollywood, and Arlington, to disappear.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE AND COMMENTS

The DREAM BREEDERS CLUB plan to have shares in new stallion Eden Roc, who is pictured here after winning the Gr 1 Gold Medallion (Picture: Candiese Lenferna).

Press Release – Exciting New Breeding Club Announced

Friday, 11 August 2023

ETHANICITY Research, a private non-profit racehorse research initiative in SA are sponsoring a first for SA Horseracing, the DREAM BREEDERS CLUB.

ER’s Founding Research Partners, Gregg Clarke and Lloyd Naik, are fanatical horseracing fans with a deep passion for SA Horseracing, in particular the study of pedigrees and bloodlines. Clarke was in the Financial Industry for 20 years before venturing out into private business in 2001 and still involved in today. Naik is and has been a Digital Performance Marketing Manager for the past 14 years. He owns and has shares in racehorses locally and more recently internationally, which has expanded his knowledge in pedigrees significantly. Both have been close to horseracing and been conducting research for some time. Naik participates in punting on a small scale and also owns shares in a racehorse as well as in a Racing Syndicate.

The Founders are adamant that DBC must be formally grounded and professionally administered in order to achieve real benefit for its members and sustainability. There is also a deep desire to assist grow the SA Horseracing industry through the opening up of wider participation, in this case Breeding. DBC must and will be FOR and CONTROLLED BY its members for their enjoyment and benefit alone.

Participation has been kept as affordably low as possible with a R500 once-off Entrance Fee (to fund formalization, initial horse/share acquisitions and create a reserve fund) and R200 per month paid 3 months in advance to ensure the operational expenses are adequately covered from a cash flow funding perspective. The Club will have its own strictly managed Bank account and acceptable Accounting Records will be maintained as a priority.

This dream opportunity is open to anybody, anywhere regardless of their racing or breeding knowledge to step into the world of racehorse breeding and experience its beauty, magnificence and excitement. In fact, DBC is hoping to attract new blood into horseracing and would welcome anybody (Punters, casual Observers and lovers of horseracing etc) sitting on the fringes but hitherto too afraid to step in because of a lack of knowledge and fear of entering something they don’t understand. It has even been (brilliantly!) suggested that a membership would make a wonderful gift to a horse-loving son, daughter, spouse of parent who might derive pleasure from DBC.

Breeding is a journey that is hard to describe in human terms but one that touches and enriches the soul of mankind. By becoming a member of DBC members will get to be intimately close to stud farms, broodmares, the birth of their foals and their joyous development through podcasts and group posts, whilst all the administration is taken care of in the background. Farm Visits will also be arranged periodically.

DBC hopes to grow to the point that it can purchase and place broodmares, or own shares in broodmares, nationally and thereby afford members in different provinces the opportunity for Farm Visits to “meet” Club broodmares and foals. It aspires to possibly take up shares internationally at some stage.

This opportunity is not to be considered an investment but rather an unparalleled life experience that is available to very few. Members are investing without risk and liability into the experience for pleasure more than anything else and, if there is to be any financial pay-back, that will be a bonus but not guaranteed in any way whatsoever.

To kickstart DBC an option has been secured on a lovely broodmare in KZN and she is available for immediate cover. In addition to that DBC will acquire a Stallion Share in KZN’s exciting new Freshman Sire EDEN ROC so that his journey can be closely enjoyed also. The Stallion Share includes 2 free covers for the first 4 years, thereafter 1 per year. The Broodmare is a lovely pedigree fit for EDEN ROC and this will be her fist cover for the Club. She will board at Clifton Stud KZN, the Breeders of the Durban July Winner Classic Flag, Champion Retired Sprinter PRINCE OF KAHAL and the outstanding red-hot multiple Grade 1 winning MRS GERIATRIX amongst many other fine racehorses.

To establish the Club and secure its Funding Model a minimum of 100 Members must be signed up. As soon as the minimum membership has been secured the Club will be constituted and officially launched by ETHANICITY Research and then handed over to the member Club Committee. ER has pledged its support to DBC with bloodline research and advice.

Contact dreambreedersclub@ethanicity-research.co.za OR WhatsApp 0833071478 with the words “Tell me More” OR respond to the Facebook Advert and you will receive a Detailed Information Sheet to consider further.

Personal information will be treated as Strictly Confidential and you will not be required to pay any monies until the full 100 member Subscription Target has been hit/secured with commitments from Prospective Members. There is no ceiling on the number of Members and if more wish to join the monthly Membership Fee (not the Entrance Fee) will be proportionately reduced.

Membership Subscription is now open and closes on 21 August with first fees on due at beginning of September once the Club has been formally constituted and launched.

You can visit @Ethanicity Research on Facebook to discover more about the Founder.

Night Ruler is one of the suggested plums of the weekend (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Weekend Plums To Sink Your Teeth Into

4Racing

There is a full weekend of local racing to look forward to with the rescheduled meeting at Hollywoodbets Durbanville now forming part of a Saturday double-header that also includes a nine-race card at Turffontein.

This follows Friday’s competitive value-to-be-had nine-event Polytrack meeting at Fairview with Sunday’s eight races at Hollywoodbets Scottsville bringing the curtain down on an action-packed weekend of local racing.

And with Richard Fourie confirming he is “100% committed” to winning the jockeys’ championship this season, it could pay to pay to follow the big-race rider.

FOURIE AND DE KOCK TEAM UP AT TURFFONTEIN

Richard Fourie’s decision to vacate his position as stable jockey to Justin Snaith sees him head north on Saturday with three of his Highveld rides of particular interest and worth a punt on the
nose.

He rides Tyrconnell for Mike de Kock in Race 2 on the four-year-old gelding’s reappearance, 45 weeks on from a promising debut second in the BSA Sales Cup behind Unzen. If not in need of the outing, this son of The United States should prove too good for his rivals.

A return to 1400m and Turffontein’s Standside track for Race 6 should stand Lucky Houdalakis-trained Queen Of Camelot in good stead. Fourie’s ride jumps from gate No 1 with just 54.5kg on her back so could represent generous each-way value in an otherwise competitive handicap.

Sean Tarry-trained Maboneng has been kept on the boil recently but is maintaining her form and consistency. She has the widest No 10 draw to negotiate in Race 8 but, given their recent success together, if there’s one rider Tarry would want aboard his charge, Fourie is more than capable of overcoming the wide gate to give weight and a beating to his rivals.

Suggested Pick 6
R1050
Leg 1: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10
Leg 2: 1, 5, 6
Leg 3: 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

VAN NIEKERK, SNAITH TO DOUBLE UP

Grant van Niekerk has assumed the role of the Snaith’s No 1 rider, and he should make the most of the opportunity by winning aboard Triptothewoods (Race 1) and Night Ruler (Race 7) in Cape Town on Saturday.

TARRY TO STRIKE AT SCOTTSVILLE

Richard Fourie and Sean Tarry are likely to be at it again in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday with Freedom Square, who will probably prove popular with punters in Race 4.

Progressive Aurora Storm has won and finished second twice in his last three starts and that good run of form ought to continue with Peter Muscutt’s charge strongly fancied to return to winning ways with Fourie aboard in Race 7.

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR TOUCHES DOWN AT ASCOT

The 2023 renewal of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot headlines the International action over the weekend with a star-studded line-up of 12 jockeys engaged to ride at the meeting making up the four teams that will do battle.

The Shergar Cup is one of the world’s premier jockeys’ competition where three riders in each of four teams – Great Britain & Ireland, Rest of the World, Ladies and Europe – battle against one another.

Subject to full fields, each jockey has five rides across the afternoon.

Points are awarded on a 15, 10, 7, 5, 3 basis to the first five horses home. If there is a non-runner which cannot be replaced by a reserve, 4 points will be awarded both to the team and jockey missing out on the ride. If a dead-heat occurs in a race, the points for the two places are added together, divided by two and shared between the two jockeys/teams.

The team with the highest total after race six lifts the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, while the jockey amassing the most individual points will take home an additional £3,000 plus the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle trophy.

One jockey will receive the Dubai Duty Free Ride-Of-The-Day Award.

GENERAL BACK IN COMMAND

Singapore racing continues on Sunday with a 12-race turf and dirt fixture at Kranji Racecourse, where talented sprinter General Command looks set to return to winning ways when he lines up in the $85,000 Class 2 Handicap over 1100m on the Polytrack. General Command, with Manoel Nunes up, boasts an impressive record of four wins and three places from seven local starts. The gelding was defeated for the first time on the Polytrack two starts ago when he endured a wide trip but still stuck on well for a gallant second behind The August.

General Command was last seen finishing third to Mr Malek in a Class 1 race over 1200m on turf, of which the form has since held up.

This week, General Command is highly suited by switching back to the Polytrack, where he is four from five, and he is clearly the one to beat.

HISA Announce New Initiatives To Safeguard ‘Mental And Physical Wellbeing Of Jockeys’

by HISA Communications (The Paulick Report)

At a symposium held last week in Saratoga Springs, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) announced new initiatives to support the overall wellness of jockeys and riders nationwide. As part of these efforts, HISA announced a partnership with the Jockeys’ Guild to create a Steering Committee which will recommend and help implement programming to support jockey mental wellness.

“As Thoroughbred racing’s national safety regulator, HISA is deeply committed to safeguarding the mental and physical wellbeing of jockeys and riders across the country,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We owe it to these athletes, who dedicate so much of their time and talent to racing, to do everything we can to support them – including by mitigating mental stress factors as well as the risk of injury and chronic health issues.”

The newly created Steering Committee will be co-chaired by Ambassador Earle Mack and Dr. Yuval Neria. Data recently collected by a HISA and Jockeys’ Guild-commissioned survey, as well as other independent research, will be used to develop specific guidelines to better support and protect rider mental wellness.

Mack, a businessman, philanthropist and former U.S. Ambassador to Finland, has six decades of experience in Thoroughbred racing as a lifelong owner and breeder and is a member of The Jockey Club. Dr. Neria is a Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center and Director of Trauma and PTSD at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

“We salute HISA and the Jockeys’ Guild for initiating this very important dialogue regarding the mental health and welfare of our beloved jockeys,” said Mack. “Despite my decades of experience in the industry, I was not fully aware of the mental health challenges our professional riders experience until today. Raising awareness is critical, but taking concrete steps to seek out and implement effective solutions for our riders’ mental health concerns is imperative – not tomorrow, but today. Jockeys give their all to our horses every time they step on to the track. Let’s afford them the care they deserve in return.”

“Jockeys in the exhilarating and sometimes dangerous sport of horse racing are repeatedly exposed to stress and trauma,” said Dr. Neria. “Physical injuries and concussions, coupled with hunger and lack of nutrients associated with weight management, place the rider at high risk for severe mental health problems, including depression, PTSD and addictions.”

Dr. Neria suggested that the industry work towards establishing a national evaluation and treatment center that can comprehensively address these very real and concerning issues.

Last week’s symposium was the second gathering of industry leaders hosted by HISA and the Jockeys’ Guild to address jockey wellness. During the first meeting, held at Keeneland Race Course in May, the results of the jockey survey were reviewed. In addition to Lazarus, symposium attendees in Saratoga heard from Jockeys’ Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks, HISA National Medical Director Dr. Peter Hester, Racetrack Chaplaincy Executive Director Dan Waits and keynote speaker, retired NFL player Randy Grimes.

Donna Brothers, NBC Sports reporter and retired jockey, hosted the event and masterfully guided the powerful conversations. An important and sometimes raw panel discussion included retired Hall of Fame jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva, jockey Trevor McCarthy, FOX Sports analyst and retired jockey Richard Migliore, FOX Sports analyst and champion horseplayer Jonathon Kinchen and Dr. Neria.

“The Jockeys’ Guild appreciates all of the input and interest by industry participants to address jockeys’ mental health and wellness,” said Meyocks. “The Guild has long advocated for the industry to recognize the stress and everyday challenges jockeys face. The Guild looks forward to partnering with HISA in the formation of the Steering Committee to develop recommendations and programs which will demonstrate that we as an industry are able to support not only the jockeys but their family members as well and eventually all others in our industry.”

At the symposium, HISA also announced two important new partnerships that will allow HISA, racetracks and physicians to more effectively keep riders safe and healthy.

HISA will work with HEADCHECK Health, a digital concussion protocol management platform, to allow racetrack personnel to use data-driven insights to improve the care they provide riders with a suspected concussion. Through the HEADCHECK platform, riders will gain access to a new, secure system to store their medical records, which will be easily available to physicians in an emergency.

“We’re very excited to be working with an innovative group like HISA,” said Harrison Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of HEADCHECK Health. “Our technology and reporting will ensure racetracks are able to consistently advance their jockey health standards and prevent mismanaged concussions.”

HISA also announced a partnership with NovaCare Rehabilitation, a nationwide physical therapy network with nearly 2,000 outpatient physical therapy centers and more than 7,000 licensed therapists. NovaCare will provide jockeys with routine physicals and baseline concussion examinations at a discounted price nationwide.

“We are excited to provide convenient and affordable nationwide access for jockey’s to receive annual physical and concussion screenings,” said Matt Ries, an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with NovaCare in Philadelphia.

Daniel Cuiane and Sandringham Summit (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

Groom Daniel Cuiane Lands R100,000 World Pool Moment Of The Day Prize

World Pool, the globe’s largest commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), recently sponsored the World Pool Gold Cup race day at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on 30 July.

The World Pool Moment of the Day is an initiative introduced to all 25 World Pool events in 2023, which land the selected winning groom on the day a massive R100 000 in prize money. All 25 winners also become eligible to win the World Pool Moment of the Year Award which includes a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong for either the Hong Kong Derby or 2024 FWD Champions Day.

The panel was challenged with selecting one moment from several memorable highlights throughout the day, but it was the eye-catching performance of Sandringham Summit from the widest of draws in the Grade 1 World Pool Moment of the Day Champion Stakes that landed the R100 000 prize for his groom, Daniel Cuiane, and entry into the World Pool Moment of the Year.

When interviewed on his return to Johannesburg, Daniel said “This is life changing for me, because I have worked with horses for a long time, but this is the first time I have won this amount of money. I will use half of the money to finish building my house and the other half I will share with my mother and father because my father is out of work.”

In the past Daniel has looked after Mill Queen who ran second in a Grade 1, Flying First Class who is a 9-time-winner, and Factory Fifty who won 6 races, but he rates Sandringham Summit as the best of them all.

Daniel will be awarded with the World Pool Moment of the Day prize at the KZN Racing Awards on Friday 18 August.

Hollywoodbets Durbanville Fields – Saturday

Turffontein Standside Fields – Saturday

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Fields – Sunday

The floating trophy in question.

Today’s Question

Which important British celebrity donated a floating trophy to the Durban Turf Club in the winter season 100 years ago and the race for the trophy is still being run today.

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

The flamboyant Earl Of Lonsdale, Hugh Lowther, was at a Greyville meeting on July 30, 1921, and offered to donate a floating trophy to the Durban Turf Club.

It had long been felt there was a need for a long distance race on the winter program and it was suggested Lord Lonsdale’s be used for this purpose.

A trophy – a silver gilt stirrup cup – arrived in Durban aboard the Balmoral Castle in March 1923.

Lord Lonsdale stipulated that once the distance of the race had been decided on it must never be altered.

The distance was set at a mile-and-a-half and was called The Lonsdale Stirrup Cup Handicap.

It was first run on May 31, 1923, and on its hundredth anniversary this year it was run over its usual trip of 2400m on May 27 and won by the Gareth van Zyl-trained Sea Master.

The trophy for the race (pictured above) has somehow been lost to SA racing and is languishing in a jewellers shop in Cape Town, offered for sale.

The cup is engraved “THE DURBAN STIRRUP CUP – PRESENTED BY THE EARL OF LONSDALE IN COMMEMORATION OF THE KINDNESS RECEIVED FROM ALL DURING HIS VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA”. The shield is engraved “REPLICA OF THE EARL OF LONSDALE’S STIRRUP CUP AD 1788”

Turf Talk Newsletter – 11 August, 2023