Bortz's Letter Spells Out Consequences Of StrikeGate
Greg Bortz asked the jockeys to finish the race meeting on Wednesday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville and air their grievances later, as many owners were on the course watching their horses, the broadcast was going out worldwide, and the costs of putting on the race meeting had already been incurred. The jockeys chose to go against this request. (Picture: Cape Racing)
Greg Bortz has sent a letter to the Coastal Jockeys Association in the wake of the industrial action they took at the Wednesday Hollywoodbets Durbanville meeting.
Jockeys are widely admired for the dangerous and skilled job they do, which allows many to be entertained, but Bortz’s brilliantly constructed letter pointed out that racing would come to a standstill if any of the cogs went on strike and it is not only jockeys who are able to hold the industry to ransom.
If the jockeys were not aware of how much damage their actions caused before reading the letter it might have dawned on them afterwards.
There are many who are saying the NHA are equally accountable for the abandonment of the meeting.
They should absorb the words Mr van Niekerk used in the interview and then think for a moment whether it is not true that had he been allowed to continue riding in that same meeting SA racing would have been the laughing stock of world racing?
Rule 91.2 states:
INTERIM SUSPENSION
Pending the determination of an INQUIRY or any appeal arising from any INQUIRY in
terms of the RULES, the NATIONAL BOARD, or in exceptional cases where in the opinion
of the CHIEF EXECUTIVE or RACING CONTROL EXECUTIVE urgent intervention is
required the CHIEF EXECUTIVE or RACING CONTROL EXECUTIVE, may impose such
interim suspension or suspensions on any PERSON or in respect of any HORSE as they in
their sole discretion deem fit.
This was surely a case where urgent intervention was required, because without it there would have been astonishment around the world. Viewers would have been wondering whether there was any policing in SA racing at all had he been allowed to continue riding at the same meeting.
As an analogy, you do not insult your own company at a convention and then continue representing them at the same convention.
The best scenario on Wednesday would have been no further embarrassment to SA racing and that would have been fulfilled had the offending jockey been booked off for the remainder of the meeting with the meeeting continuing normally.
However, the jockeys ensured there was further embarrasment as well as damage by their actions.
Greg Bortz’s letter, addressed for the attention of Messrs Aldo Domeyer and Corne Orffer, is published as received by the Sporting Post below.
At the outset, please be advised that this letter serves a dual purpose. It is a communication that is addressed to you and your members, and will also be shared via the media.
This matter has (and continues to) receive high social and traditional media attention, and the position of Cape Racing and Hollywoodbets needs to be aired in the same media.
It is with much sadness and frustration that I once again find myself sending a letter of this nature to the Coastal Jockeys’ Association (CJA). The jockeys’ industrial strike action at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, which resulted in the abandonment of our meeting on March 26, 2025, was deplorable, unacceptable, thoroughly avoidable and is condemned in the strongest possible terms.
The actions of the jockeys on the day have given South African racing a black eye in the international horseracing community and have caused considerable reputational and financial harm to our industry in general and Cape Racing in particular.
In conversations I have had with several jockeys in the past 24 hours, it is clear that most still do not “get it”.
I keep hearing the same things over and over again: “Mr Bortz, it was not right that the NHA stood Grant down immediately off his rides”, or “Mr Bortz, it is unfair that Grant got treated this way while jockey XXX got treated that way”, or “Mr Bortz, the NHA treats us so badly”, and on it goes.
My response to those grievances is that these complaints (no matter how well-founded they may be perceived to be or not be) are irrelevant to the matter at hand!
The issues here are that (i) jockey Grant Van Niekerk called into question the integrity of horseracing’s regulator on international TV, (ii) the NHA exercised its rights under its rules to have jockey Van Niekerk stood down, and (iii) the jockeys, unhappy with the NHA’s actions, acted in a manner that resulted in the cancellation of a race meeting, causing financial damage and further reputational harm.
In short, the issue at hand is the jockeys’ reaction to the NHA’s action. The jockeys’ reaction is completely inappropriate, regardless of one’s views on the NHA action. It is unjustifiable on every level.
I have also heard repeatedly, “We don’t want to hurt you, Mr Bortz, but we needed to take a stand”.
I have no issue with jockeys taking a stand – I have stood at your side so often already – but I have a big issue with the nature, timing and execution of your stand.
You have hurt yourselves way more than you have hurt me, but you have hurt our sport the most.
The racing operators, trainers, and jockeys (and other stakeholders, too, of course) are regulated by the NHA. It is mandated by law that the NHA serves as the regulator of our sport. Our regulator has rules. We are all obliged to follow them.
If one is unhappy with the rules or the enforcement thereof, there are appropriate forums and legal processes to address this. Striking on a race day is not one of them.
Presumably, you are earning plaudits on social media (I am not on social media, so thankfully, avoid the inevitable melee that ensues).
However, please do not misconstrue the support for jockeys (who bravely risk their lives every time they sit on a horse) for evidence of you doing the right thing. Most on social media are thoroughly unversed in the rules and regulations of the NHA and thus blindly applaud your actions without considering the consequences.
Listening to some jockeys say that “we are entitled to free speech” is the most frustrating aspect of the past twenty-four hours.
To be clear, under the Constitution of our country, we are all entitled to free speech and freedom of choice.
Jockeys have the right to choose whether they wish to be jockeys. That is a free choice. If they choose to do so, they need to be licensed by the NHA, and a condition of being granted that licence is agreeing to be bound by the NHA’s constitution, rules and code of conduct.
By deciding to be a jockey, the jockey is freely and explicitly agreeing to abide by the NHA’s rules and codes of conduct.
Grant Van Niekerk similarly agreed to these rules and deliberately ignored them. So, the jockeys’ solidarity with their colleague was sadly misplaced.
If jockeys do not wish to adhere to the rules of the NHA or believe, as Grant Van Niekerk suggested, that it is pointless being a jockey in South Africa, they are free to exercise their rights to give up their licences. But jockeys cannot have it both ways – decide to be licensed and earn money from riding while ignoring the rules and codes of conduct by which they agreed to be bound.
As you know, I spoke with all the jockeys in the jockey room after they expressed their frustrations with Grant Van Niekerk being stood down.
I made it clear that the jockeys had numerous options in engaging with the NHA or expressing their frustrations. This included, if jockeys so chose, refusing to ride in future meetings until the jockeys felt as a collective that their voices and grievances were heard.
However, I asked you all to finish the race meeting, as many owners were on the course watching their horses, our broadcast was going out worldwide, and the costs of putting on the race meeting had already been incurred.
I was happy to assist in any way possible, but I asked simply that you all ride out the balance of the meeting. You collectively heard me.And you collectively decided to ignore the request. You made the wrong decision.
You may have gotten the subsequent praise from certain sections of the online social media “echo chamber” that likes to curse and insult the NHA.
But you have not helped your relationship with the NHA itself, and you have not helped yourselves with those who pay for the sport (who do so at a considerable personal loss) and who do so that you and other stakeholders can earn a living.
After listening to jockey Van Niekerk’s comments and seeing the jockeys’ strike actions, we received phone calls from major industry participants worldwide, all expressing dismay and disappointment.
One international buyer on our recent sale asked if we could buy back his horse as he no longer wished to race in South Africa. I also know that certain sponsors (of our races and jockeys) are similarly concerned.
It was repeated multiple times to me that “without jockeys, there is no racing”, as if this underpins the jockeys’ collective power.
Sadly, you are badly mistaken! Without financial support and the willingness of others (benefactors and owners) to fund this bottomless pit, there are no horses for jockeys to sit on!
The point being – if jockeys stopped riding, there is no racing; if trainers stop training, there is no racing; if Hollywoodbets stops funding, there is no racing; if grooms stop working, there is no racing; if racing operators stop putting on races, there is no racing. And on it goes. We are all vital cogs in the wheel.
All stakeholders are indispensable. Your self-perceived critical importance seemingly empowered you to act egregiously.
Those who own racehorses do so out of love and passion for a sport. Racing is a hobby for almost all owners and not an occupation. It is very easy for owners to “give up” the game.
No one does a hobby for reasons other than fun.
Your collective actions of March 26th at Hollywoodbets Durbanville are undoubtedly causing owners to question their sanity.
Personally, my love for racing dropped many levels yesterday.
To make matters worse, after your strike resulted in the abandonment of our race meeting, I am aware (via photographic evidence) of two jockeys happily sitting down at a certain trainer’s table in the members’ area, enjoying refreshments and a laugh.
I regard it as a personal affront that jockeys (who happened to be at the epicentre of the strike) could be so brazen and disrespectful to think they could “hang out” at the very racecourse that has just seen a meeting abandoned as a result of their actions.
Finally, let me be unequivocally clear – yesterday’s strike was illegal. Every jockey who still had carded rides was in breach of contract. As a result of that breach, considerable losses have been incurred.
Legal advice may well be sought regarding the recovery of those losses from the persons responsible therefor.
Your “brave unity” could find itself being extended to “shared responsibility and liability” for damage claims brought against you.
My feelings on this matter have now been clearly conveyed.
Now it is time to turn to the consequences of the actions of the jockeys.
Effective immediately, as a result of this strike, we have decided to implement the following actions.
We will monitor the situation closely and may choose to make amendments in due course.
But as of now, we are taking the following steps:
The Hollywoodbets Durbanville race meeting scheduled for April 2nd, 2025, will be canceled.
The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth race meeting scheduled for April 6, 2025, will be canceled.
We will assess at that juncture whether to cancel more meetings, or introduce apprentice and / or work rider days, or a combination thereof, or continue as normal.
The additional Race Cape bonus jockeys’ riding fees of R250 per ride in the Cape is suspended indefinitely.
My only hope is that you can process the contents of this letter and reflect on the appropriateness of your actions.
As always, my door is open for constructive, purposeful engagement.
This letter is signed by Gregory Bortz, Chairman of Cape Racing.
Will Greeff's Golden Palm Make History At Turffontein?
Allan Greeff-trained East Cape filly Golden Palm runs in the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery on Saturday at Turffontein. (Pauline Herman Photography).
Some racegoers will remember an East Cape filly called Geepee S winning the Gr 1 Allan Robertson and the Kimberley-based first-timer King’s Temptress winning the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery, but has there ever been an East Cape filly winning a big two-year-old race in Johannesburg?
Would the Allan Greeff-trained Golden Palm become the first to do it.
Goldkeeper filly Geepee S was trained by “Oom Nic” Claassen and dead-heated with the Mike Azzie-trained Western Winter filly On Her Toes in the 2008 Allan Robertson.
Geepee S had won three out of her four previous starts, including the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery by 2,25 lengths.
However, she started at odds of 25/1 for the Allan Robertson and under Bernard Fayd’Herbe got up to dead-heat with the 11/2 shot One Her Toes, who was ridden by Weichong Marwing.
However, the victory of King Of Kings filly King’s Temptress in the SA Fillies Nursery was a far greater shock result.
There were more than a few who shook their heads and chuckled when they saw a first-timer from the country’s weakest centre, Kimberley, entered in a Gr 2 race in Johannesburg.
However, Corrie Lensley was able to cock a snoot at them later because the always underrated jockey Fanie Chambers brought her home to a two length victory at odds of 150/1.
The Greeff-trained Varsfontein-bred Master Of My Fate filly Golden Palm was green on debut and was beaten 2,35 lengths at 50/1 odds over 1000m on the Fairview turf.
She then showed bettter pace second time out over the same course and distance and pulled away at the business end to win by 5,50 lengths in the excellent time of 55,63 seconds.
Golden Palm is out of the Varsfontein-bred Var mare Croisette, who won on debut at Kenilworth in 2019 by 4,50 lengths.
Richard Fourie has opted to ride Golden Palms in the seven horse field SA Fillies Nursery.
She is quoted at 7/2 third favourite.
The field is shown below:
1st R218750, 2nd R70000, 3rd R35000, 4th R17500, 5th R8750
WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES NURSERY (Grade 2)
For 2 yof R100 000 Win BSA / CRS BonusNo Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 3 | Arashi | 60 | 0 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Tony Peter | |
| 2 | 5 | Clairwood Rose | 60 | 0 | A | Muzi Yeni | Paul Matchett | |
| 3 | 2 | Elegantrix | 60 | 0 | A | Ryan Munger | Corne Spies | |
| 4 | 4 | Glastonbury | 60 | 0 | A | #Rachel Venniker | Paul Matchett | |
| 5 | 7 | Golden Palm | 60 | 0 | A | Richard Fourie | Alan Greeff | |
| 6 | 1 | Hot Cocoa | 60 | 0 | A | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 7 | 6 | One Fine Winter | 60 | 0 | A | Craig Zackey | Sean Tarry | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (2,4) | ||||||||
Beach Bomb Hopes To Bloom Again In Gulfstream's Orchid
Beach Bomb winning the Gr 3 Very One at Gulfstream Park. (Ryan Thompson photo)
The South African-bred has been in the U.S. for about a year now, and won her first North American race last out four weeks ago in the The Very One
Gulfstream Park Press Office
Cayton Park Stud Ltd.’s South African-bred Beach Bomb, who broke through with her first North American success in Gulfstream Park’s The Very One (G3) four weeks ago, goes after a second straight win in Saturday’s $165,000 Orchid (G3) at the Hallandale Beach, Fla. racetrack.
The 61st running of the Orchid for older fillies and mares scheduled for 1 ½ miles on the turf is the second of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program anchored by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), one of the country’s premiere Triple Crown preps.
First race post time is 11:30 a.m. (ET). (17H30 SA Time) Post time for the Orchid, Race 4, is 12:57 p.m. (ET) (18H57 SA Time).
Based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Beach Bomb came into the March 1 The Very One not having raced since finishing eighth at odds of 55-1, beaten 3 ½ lengths by subsequent female grass champion Moira – Canada’s 2022 Horse of the Year – in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
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The Breeders’ Cup was the third race for Beach Bomb since arriving in the U.S., having run second in the 1 1/16-mile Violet at Monmouth Park and third in the 1 ¼-mile Rodeo Drive (G2) at Del Mar. She won four of eight starts in her native country including the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas (G1) and Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1), the latter over elders.
“She’s a Grade 1 winner in South Africa, so we had good hopes for her,” trainer Graham Motion said. “It’s tough for these South African horses. It’s a lot for them to come over here. It takes them a while, but I think it showed. She’s had a year over here now and I think that’s probably helped her.”
Unlike in her three races last year, Beach Bomb found herself as the pacesetter in the 1 3/8-mile The Very One, leading through comfortable fractions and delivering a one-length triumph under Luis Saez, who returns to ride from Post 6 of seven. The are rated as the 9-5 second choice on the morning line.
“I didn’t necessarily expect her to be on the lead, but I think that style is suited down here,” Motion said. “She’s a nice filly. It’s not really a surprise to see her run that well. She’s been running in tough spots and we kind of regrouped and gave her a little time, and she ran great.
“She’s pretty kind. I think you could do anything you want with her, to be honest. I’d imagine if there’s not too much pace she’ll be close again. Going a mile and a half is a bit of a question mark, but I think down here it won’t be an issue. She’s doing well. This spot just seemed very logical after her last race.”
Sharing topweight of 123 pounds with Beach Bomb is LSU Stables’ La Mehana, the narrow 8-5 program favorite that ran third in the The Very One. Winner of the Waya (G3) last fall at Aqueduct, she will be making her fourth start of the Championship Meet after previously winning the 1 3/8-mile Via Borghese in December and finishing third by a neck in the 1 ½-mile La Prevoyante (G3) Jan. 25. Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride from Post 2.
Stuart Janney III’s Silvology will be making her stakes debut in the Orchid for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaugey. The homebred daughter of Blame earned a shot at graded company after winning her two prior starts this winter on the Gulfstream turf.
“She brought us here. If she had been third or something last time she wouldn’t have run in here, but I thought she deserves a chance going a mile and a half on this course,” McGaughey said. “She’s run real good over this course. I’ve been real pleased with the way she’s done.”
Unraced at 2 and winless in five starts at 3, three at Aqueduct, Silvology graduated by a half-length in a 1 3/8-mile maiden special weight Jan. 9. Favored in her first attempt against winners, she registered a one-length triumph Feb. 13 at the Orchid distance.
“I think at Aqueduct some of those races were a little bit too short for her and kind of quick turns. We feel like now that we got her stretched out she’ll be OK,” McGaughey said. “I think she’s probably a pretty classy filly and hopefully we’ll find out on Saturday what she is.”
Rated at 6-1 on the morning line, Silvology drew the rail and will be ridden by Dylan Davis, up for each of her two wins this winter.
Rounding out the field are Queen Regent (7-2, Post 3), fifth in the La Prevoyante and fourth in the The Very One, beaten less than two lengths each time; Sacaya (10-1, Post 4), Group 3-placed in Italy entered to make her North American debut; maiden My Brazilian Girl (30-1, Post 5); and Infinite Diamond (20-1, Post 7), winner of Gulfstream’s 2023 Cash Run on dirt that captured a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer over the turf course Dec. 20.
More Records For Fourie And Greeff?
Henk Steenkamp
He might not be chasing the national record this season but Richard Fourie continues to rewrite the Eastern Cape jockeys record books.
Fourie only needs one more winner to reach 100 winners at Fairview for this season.
He will become the first jockey to ride 100 or more winners in more than one season in the Eastern Cape when this happens – maybe in the first race at Friday’s Polytrack meeting.
Last season Fourie rode 119 winners which bettered Greg Cheyne’s tally of 116 in 2019. Cheyne is the only other jockey to have past 100 winners in an East Cape season.
Fourie looks set to win the East Cape jockey title for a third consecutive season. It will be his fourth EC title after he won it in 2012 for the first time.
His own EC season record of 119 winners will probably not last very long with Fourie already on 99, with more than four months left.
The combination of EC champion trainer Alan Greeff and Fourie has been in tremendous form at Fairview this season.
Greeff can also better his EC record for the most wins in a season – 176 set in 2019. He is currently on 113 wins in the East Cape for the season, although his season’s overall tally is 114 as he had had one winner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Friday’s meeting of nine races starts at 12:20, with Greeff and Fourie combining with the favourite Duchess Of Seville in the first.
Greeff and Fourie will be a factor throughout the day once again. Coral Creek (race 5), Arabian Red (race 6) and Sharapova (race 7) are the strong Greeff favourites on the day.
As always, let’s give it a go!
Sharapova Can Get It Right
Picture: Sharapova has been selected to win the 8th race. (JC Photos).
Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)
Trainer Sharon Kotzen has had a tough year so far but is still managing to tick over some winners and she must have been well pleased to have her stable jockey, Louie Mxothwa, back from injury.
He was aboard Painite when the gelding won earlier this month over 1900m on the turf and as
Painite has a better record on the Polytrack, the surface over which they will race on Friday at Fairview, he can follow up.
The Richard Fourie-Alan Greeff combination continues to dominate the Eastern Cape and they have a number of winning chances.
Arabian Red in Race 6, a MR 74 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m, should be the best of them, and looks the banker for the exotics.
This Heavenly Blue filly has been improving all season and has won her last three starts over this course and distance.
In theory, it should be getting harder for her the higher her rating goes, but she seems to do enough to score each time.
Duchess Of Seville in Race 1 and Sharapova in Race 7 could both score for Fourie.
Duchess Of Saville tried blinkers last time out and did not seem to make much difference but it could second time around.
Sharapova has been threatening a second victory and a first for the yard for some time now but is suited to the course and distance.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Duchess Of Seville, 1 Ruby Claire, 6 Tune Again, 5 Time In Paris
Race 2: 3 Brooksider, 1 Flight Engineer, 2 Chief Runner, 9 Princess Beautiful
Race 3: 3 Montelena, 5 Woman Of Power, 2 Lovegrass, 6 Ellorix
Race 4: 10 Laugh Till I Cry, 4 Hospices De Beaune, 11 Springsteen, 1 American Matador
Race 5: 4 Coral Creek, 1 Oliver Twist, 6 Bosnay, 7 A Bit Chilly
Race 6: 2 Arabian Red, 4 Call To Glory, 3 Coulditbe, 7 Get It Done
Race 7: 5 Sharapova, 11 Pashtunwali, 2 Aspoestertjie, 9 Swiss Walt
Race 8: 9 King Rahul, 1 Chili Bomb, 3 Globetonic, 5 In The Green Zone
Race 9: 3 Painite, 6 Jack In The Green, 8 Lady Zultanite, 1 Strewn Sky
BEST BET
Race 6: 2 Arabian Red
VALUE BET
Race 8: 9 King Rahul
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1×3
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5
Leg 3: 1, 4, 10, 11
Leg 4: 1, 4, 6
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 2, 5, 11
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R162
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5
Leg 2: 4, 10, 11
Leg 3: 1, 4, 6
Leg 4: 2
Leg 5: 5
Leg 6: 1, 9
Leg 7: 3, 6, 8
PICK 6
R1200
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 10, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 2, 5, 11
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 9
Leg 6: 1, 3, 6, 8
JACKPOT 1
R60
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 2, 5, 11
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 9
JACKPOT 2
R48
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 2, 5, 11
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 8
Ghostwriter All Set For Showdown With Romantic Warrior
Zackey Joins Lerena On Top
Today's Question
Is there any thoroughbred horeracing in Greece?
The picture gives a clue to the answer. (Trainer Magazine)
FIELDS, Friday, 28 March
Fairview Poly
Today’s Question Answer
Racing in Greec stopped abruptly just over a year ago. Read the article below to find out the details.
Trainer Magazine
A Greek Racing Tragedy
Article by Paull Khan
It was a bitter blow when, on January 31st, 2024, Horse Races SA, the Company which had been running racing at Greece’s sole racetrack for the past eight years, announced its immediate closure. The news followed hot on the heels of similar events in Singapore and Macau and underlined the fragility of our sport in many parts of the world.
The announcement referred to the Concession Agreement, between the Greek Government and Horse Racing SA’s parent Company, the Czech-owned O.P.A.P., under which Horse Races SA leased the site of Athens’ Markopoulo Racecourse and was given the exclusive right to stage races there. But, if the numbers of horses in training fell below 300, it was able to terminate the arrangement. At the time of the announcement, the number had dwindled to 172. According to the press release, this was despite investment of over €32 million by the Company, whose losses over the period of operation were given as €103 million.
The agreement also gave OPAP the concession to offer pari-mutuel betting, not only on Greek races, but on horseracing world-wide, and the Company clarified that they would continue to offer betting on foreign racing.
By the time of publication, it is understood that the racecourse will have been handed back to the liquidators. OPAP has offered subsidies on the costs of travelling the horses from their previous home in the racecourse stables to other Greek destinations. An appeal to neighbouring Cyprus, to absorb many of them, is understood to have fallen foul of Cypriot racing’s policy only to accept unraced animals. Some have already moved to Poland and Romania, but the future for many is unclear. The EMHF has written to the Greek Government, seeking comfort that due consideration is given to Greek racing’s participants, both equine and human.
The EMHF has also offered to assist in matching jockeys, work-riders and others, who find themselves suddenly without employment, with member Racing Authorities who report difficulties in sourcing experienced and competent staff.
The fortunes of Greek racing have yo-yoed through the course of this century. The previous track, Faliron, was situated at a coastal site, within easy range of Athens centre. It was vibrant, housing over 1,700 horses and attracted crowds of 15,000. After the Athens Olympics, the venue for the equestrian events – some 37 kms distant – became Markopoulo Racecourse. While its grandstand was, and remains, impressive, attracting crowds to Markopoulo has always been an uphill struggle. The economic crisis of 2008 came as a hammer blow, and by 2015, when the globe-trotting Australian administrator, Fin Powrie, was appointed as Horse Races SA’s Director of Racing, numbers of horses in training had dwindled to below the key figure of 300. By the time of Powrie’s departure – for Malaysia – those numbers had climbed again, exceeding 500.
“I was given a pretty free hand when it came to the racing product”, recalls Powrie. “We introduced a number of initiatives, including the supplemented purchase of good quality young horses from Tattersalls, ratings-based handicapping, inclusion on the International Cataloguing Standards ‘Blue Book’ and membership of the EMHF, all of which helped to raise the profile of the sport”.
So where, in his view, did things go wrong? “The decline in horses really set in around 2020. In 2019, the then Government allowed Horse Races SA to merge with its parent Company, OPAP. This, in turn, would have allowed the offsetting of the racecourse’s losses and significant rental commitments against the overall business’s tax. However, shortly after that the Government changed, and the new Government revoked that law. Development plans for diversifying the usage of the racecourse’s land also fell by the wayside.
“It was then a downward spiral – field sizes dropped, as did prize money, news and media coverage, which was never grand, simply ceased. People probably thought, ‘it’s a great big grandstand, it’s cold, it’s ordinary, there’s nothing else there for the kids’. And COVID didn’t help at all, of course”.
The concession only granted the exclusive right to stage racing at Markpolulo. It was, and still is, perfectly possible for others to start up racing at another Greek venue. However, this may be a big ask given the current climate of public opinion. The view has been expressed that public reaction to this closure has been very different from that which would have been the case a generation ago, with many taking the view: ‘maybe that’s just as well’. Powrie concludes “Personally, I doubt whether we will see the resuscitation of professional racing at some other track in the country”.
The international racing community must hope that this is not the case and that, somehow, somewhere, the sport’s flame can flicker once again in Greece.
