Horseracing can learn from the advancements in appeal made by other sports 

RACING’S NEXT MOVE: CAN WE LEARN FROM OTHER SPORTS TO THRIVE?

Global Team Horse Racing

Racing jurisdictions around the globe are suffering increased losses in revenue and crowd participation, as noted to delegates attending the 2023 Asian Racing Conference in Australia earlier this year.

In looking at history, it is evident that the fortunes of many sporting disciplines improved spectacularly when they started following ‘Roads Not Taken’—a strategy for life eloquently advised by Robert Frost, the 1900s wordsmith.

At Global Team Horse Racing (GTH) we have covered the bases by asking: “For survival and growth, what can racing learn from other sports?”

Let’s start with a prime example that comes in the form of wrestling, the niche sporting activity older generations in South Africa adored when our tough-guy mealie farmer, Jan Wilkens, fought his way to the World Title in the late 1970s. But Jan, along with wrestling in its original format, faded from prominence to be replaced by a new heroes and a new format.

What has wrestling got to do with horse racing? Our beloved sport is hovering upon endangerment, like wrestling was at the time of disco music and bell-bottom trousers. We, too, have a way out.

Another example is Formula 1, which was forced to adapt throughout its history. When they introduced turbocharged engines in the 1970s, teams and drivers were sceptical of the new technology and feared that it would make the sport too reliant on engineering rather than driver skill. However, the introduction of turbocharged engines led to some of the most exciting and competitive seasons in Formula 1 history.

Regulations governing the design and construction of Formula 1 cars were changed in the 2000s to promote closer racing. They made several improvements to safety, including the halo cockpit protection system and the mandatory use of head protection for drivers. Formula 1’s revenues have continued to grow, hitting a record 2,5 billion in 2022.

Boxing, Cricket, Tennis, Golf, Athletics!

Boxing has had to revolutionise to make it safer for fighters and more appealing to fans. Weight classes, standardised rules and better medical facilities have helped to reduce the risk of injuries and make the sport more credible.

Soccer enhanced its appeal to a global audience. They introduced video assistant referees (VAR), changing the way the game is officiated, and the use of goal-line technology has made the game fairer. FIFA has made efforts to increase transparency in the game and reduce corruption. It is a more trustworthy sport today, and immensely popular around the world.

When the International Cricket Council (ICC) considered a new format of limited-overs cricket, known as Twenty20 (T20) in 2003, it faced some resistance from traditionalists who felt that the game was being altered without good reason. They argued that the new format was promoted purely for commercial reasons. Another change that faced opposition was the introduction of the DRS (Decision Review System), designed to help umpires make more accurate decisions. It was met with resistance from some players and fans who felt that it was too complicated and that it could slow down the pace of the game.

Also introduced was the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2019, which aimed to create a league-style tournament for Test cricket. While the WTC was generally well received, some players and fans expressed concerns that it could lead to an over-emphasis on white-ball cricket, and that it could take away from the traditional format of Test cricket. But despite the negative reactions to some of the changes made, they have generally been seen as a positive development for the sport, helping to improve its popularity, while also bringing in new revenue streams and attracting new fans.

Tennis authorities had to make several changes to make their game more accessible and engaging to a wider audience. Tiebreakers, electronic line calling, and allowing coaching during matches have made the sport more fan-friendly. All of those against purist disagreements.

In Golf, we’ve seen leading player Rory McIlroy and others speak out in the past year against the upstart LIV Golf League. But Rory, in his most recent media interview, admitted that the threat to the PGA from its Saudi-backed rival forced the PGA Tour to aggressively address its “antiquated system” in a way that benefits players on all of the top tours.

Sports, along with technology and the media landscape, is forever evolving. The ones that have revolutionised their rules, format, and approach to appeal to a wider audience, have not only survived but also thrived. Ultimately, innovation is the bottom line in a competitive landscape. GTH is cutting-edge, disruptive, and designed for the new participants and stakeholders required to keep horse racing sustainable. It’s a no-brainer!

Sources:
Daily Maverick
Tennis Connected
Bleacher Report
Encyclopedia Brittanica
Twitter (@MJGold)

Farewell Fortune Family – Kylie, Andrew, Sean & Ashley (Sporting Post)

Fortunes To Relocate To Australia

Sporting Post

The South African horseracing industry brain drain continues with the news that Gr1 winning Vaal trainer Ashley Fortune will be calling it a day and relocating to Australia with her former SA Champion jockey husband, Andrew, and their two children.

We wish the Fortunes every success in their new life abroad.

Safe Passage (Picture: JC Photos). 

Safe Passage Back On Track?

Last season’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000 winner Safe Passage ran an improved second in a 1600m Pinnacle event at Turffontein Standside today (Thursday).

Although, he did not perform to his best he was making late progress and finished three lengths behind the progressive Stuart Pettigrew-trained Rafeef gelding Whafeef, to whom he gave 10kg.

It was an encouraging bounce back from his dismal run in the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes in which he was tailed off throughout.

The 1600m trip looks palpably too sharp for the Silvano gelding nowadays.

His win in last season’s Daily News 2000 came when he was still “underdone” and he was full of running that day.

So he should run a cracker next time out even if something is left in the tank for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The sponsors of the July were impressed enough with today’s performance to keep Safe Passage firm at 8/1 joint second favourite.

Son Of Raj (Picture: JC Photos)

Steven Chetty Has Two Candidates For Highveld Stayers Award

Durbanite Steven Chetty, who has owned horses for well over a decade and is now also a breeder, is still in dreamland at present as his homebred Grade 1 SA Derby winner Son Of Raj is not only one of the automatic qualifiers for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but he has two homebreds nominated for the Highveld Feature Season Stayers Awards which are to be held at The Venue, Melrose Arch, on Saturday evening.

“I still can’t believe I have a July runner and it is an honour just to be nominated for the awards,” he said.

Son Of Raj is one of the nominees and the other one is Arumugam, who has won two Listed staying races this season on the Highveld and he has finished second and third respectively in two Grade 3 staying events.

Son Of Raj and Arumugam are full-brothers, being by Duke Of Marmalade out of Black Minnaloushe mare Freudiana, and Steven bred both of them.

Steven named them after his adoptive father Arumugam and his late biological father Raj respectively.

The nominees for the 2023 Highveld Feature Season Awards are:

Looking Back At The Legendary J J The Jet Plane

15 Years ago this month an unlikely hero emerged,  reeling off two Grade 1 sprints with contemptuous ease.

A couple of months later and the Lucky Houdalakis-trained three-year-old gelding made it three Grade 1s on the trot in even easier fashion.

The legendary son of Jet Master, J J The Jet Plane, had even been tried over 1800m earlier that season.

But, eventually it was discovered that sprinting was his game, despite being by Jet Master out of a Northern Guest mare who had won four times from 1400m to 1600m.

The sprint victories that season for the three-year-old with the Charlie Chaplin like front legs were: the Grade 2 Senor Santa Handicap over 1200m at The Vaal by 2,25 lengths carrying 52,5kg on March 24; the Grade 3 Man ‘O War Sprint for three-year-olds by 2,75 lengths carrying 60kg on April 12 at Turffontein; he then won the Grade 1 wfa Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein by 0,25 lengths on May 3; he then travelled to Scottsville and had to carry topweight as a three-year-old in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint on May 31, but that did not stop him winning by a contemptuous 2,25 lengths; in his final start that season on July 20 he won the Grade 1 wfa Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Clairwood by four lengths from subsequent sire Rebel King with the rest of the field spread out like the washing.

He was ridden by another legend, Piere “Striker” Strydom, in all of those races.

Piere still regards J J as the best he has ever ridden and said recently, ““He had good gatespeed and enough speed to be in touch and then had a kick. At the 600m or 500m when all the other horses were off the bit he would still be cruising.”

Lucky had to bid farewell to J J after the Mercury Sprint as he departed for a first stint overseas where he was to initially be trained by Mike de Kock.

He later returned to the Houdalakis yard seemingly a spent force, but a new even more incredible chapter was to be written.

Forward wind three-and-a-half years from the first of his Mercury Sprint wins for the final couple of chapters of one of South Africa’s most loved ever thoroughbreds.

The live articles are published below.

J J The Jet Plane Achieves The Impossible In Hong Kong

Written on 13/12/2010.

J J The Jet Plane defied obstacles only a true champion can when winning the Grade 1 Hong Kong Sprint yesterday (12/12/2010) under a magnificent ride from another world beater, South Africa’s Piere “Striker” Strydom.

It was a South African moment all round as JJ, trained by South African Lucky Houdalakis, pipped Rocket Man, bought by Durban Bloodstock Agent Andy Williams in Australia for South African owner Fred Crabbia, trained by ex-pat South African Pat Shaw and ridden by South African Felix Coetzee.

Most critics thought Houdalakis and owners Coenie Strydom, Hennie du Preez and Thea Booyens were biting off more than they could chew when targeting him for this race, as he faced a rigorous journey thanks to the unfair international restrictions placed on South African horses travelling abroad.

J J had already made history by being the only horse to ever return to South Africa and win a Grade 1.

After a successful campaign in Dubai and the UK with Mike de Kock he returned to South Africa and, trained by Houdalakis again, ran in just two races, the Grade 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint and the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint, both of which he won easily.

He then departed for Hong Kong, much to the surprise of astute pundits, who believed it to be mission impossible.

His journey started on August 16 when he entered the Western Cape’s African Horse Sickness Free Zone and he only arrived in Hong Kong on November 27, a handful of days before the big race.

This would therefore be up with the greatest training feats in the history of South African racing and that it was achieved by the humble Houdalakis, a former jockey who only took out his training license in April 2006, makes it a fairytale story.

J J, despite being by South Africa’s Champion sire, Jet Master had humble beginnings.

He was ignored by experts at the sales due to his front legs, which turn out badly.

However, Du Preez decided to take the plunge because of his pedigree.

He secured him for R70,000 before Houdalakis had even clapped eyes on him.

J J had what turned out to be a great draw of eight yesterday in the 1200m race around the turn on the tight Sha Tin Racecourse.

The pacemaker Dim Sum was just one stall wide of him, while the speedy Rocket Man was just two inside of him.

Strydom was able to settle J J one wide in fourth place behind the cracking pace set by Dim Sum with Ultra Fantasy and Rocket Man next best.

Turning for home Rocket Man angled out and with J J joining him on his outside an almighty duel ensued.

Rocket Man had the edge until the final stride. Strydom produced his famous magic in the finish, extracting a final lunge that saw him just get his nose in front.

It was a great moment for South African racing and was sure to have been greeted with cheers in England too, where J J, partly due to his children’s storybook name, had made a big impact and became one of the most popular horses in training.

Houdalakis rode very successfully in Macau for three seasons from 1997 to 2000 and it is fitting that the pinnacle of his career to date took place just over the water in Hong Kong.

JJ’S ON A JET PLANE TO DUBAI

JJ THE JET PLANE pulled up very well after his incredible win in the Grade 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday and will board an aeroplane today for Dubai. Natalie Houdalakis, wife of J J’s trainer Lucky Houdalakis, said he was sound, looked good and had eaten up.

She revealed JJ had been invited to the Dubai Carnival and would likely get an invite to run in the Grade 1 Golden Shaheen on World Cup night.

The Golden Shaheen is run on a Tapeta surface over 1 200m.

She reckoned Lucky would probably give him one run to see how he handled the surface. Alternatively there is the Grade 2 Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night over 1 000m on turf.

Asked whether Royal Ascot would once again be on the cards, she said his program is unknown, they would take it one race at a time, but she felt the big sprint race in Singapore was a more likely route.

Natalie said that after all the team had been through during the 90-odd day journey to get J J to Hong Kong, they had just hoped they would get a good draw and luck in the running.

“We got more than we asked for,” she continued. “Piere (Strydom) said everything went just perfectly in the race. The way he had seen it in his mind beforehand was exactly how it panned out.

“He rode a brilliant race. He didn’t panic at any stage. He just sat behind Rocket Man, reeled him in and pressed the button at exactly the right time.”

J J’s journey from South Africa began when he entered the Western Cape’s African Horse Sickness Free Zone on August 16 and it ended when he landed in Hong Kong on November 27.

They were able to keep him ticking over on the training tracks provided by the Kenilworth Quarantine Station and also by another Quarantine Station just outside of Newmarket in the UK. However, they had only had about 15 days to get him race ready in Hong Kong.

It will go down as one of the great training feats in South African history.

Natalie said the feeling of having won the race was “just absolutely unbelievable”.

After the race the connections gathered on the presentation podium where they stood in a long line with other dignitaries in front of the massive crowd. “When they started playing the South African National anthem, that was the moment it hit us what we had achieved,” she said.

“I think all of us began breaking down in tears!”

She said they had been inundated with well wishes from South Africa.

Mike de Kock was one of the first to phone Lucky. “He is a true gentleman,” said Natalie. “Despite what might have happened between him and the owners, he and Lucky have always remained friends.”

Natalie concluded by saying, “J J has proved he is a top notch sprinter. He is an amazing horse and is really special.”

*JJ went on to win two races in Dubai in 2011, including the Group 2 Al Quoz Sprint, the same race he had won two years earlier with Mike de Kock when it was a Group 3. He was then laid off for nine months with a suspensory ligament injury and did not find his best in three subsequent runs in 2012. He retired the winner of 14 races in 26 starts including six Grade 1s.

He has lived in luxury since his retirement on a farm in the KZN Midlands and has been visited often by the Houdalakis family.

Canford Cliffs two-year-old colt Capsaicin wins on debut for Mike and Adam Azzie today under Craig Zackey (JC Photos).

Brett Crawford, Azzies And Venniker Score Doubles

Brett Crawford completed the rare feat for a trainer of scoring doubles in three successive South African meetings, two on the Highveld and one in Cape Town, when having two wins at Turffontein today.

Mike and Adam Azzie and Rachel Venniker also scored doubles.

 Crawford goes to 86 wins for the season at a strike rate of 13.56%.

Mike and Adam Azzie go to 32 wins at 19.51%.

Venniker has had 97 wins at 13.11%.

The question subject is pictured above.

Today’s Question

Fairview Poly Fields, Friday

Kenilworth racecourse pictured in 1939.