The apprentices and staff members of SAJA were all present at the ceremony to open the renovated dormitories (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)
Spring day is a fine day for a new chapter to begin and this happened at the South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) with the opening of the International & Female Dormitories.
The former Block C has been renovated into these two dormitories and they could virtually pass as five star hotel accommodation.
Tarryn Mason, the COO of SAJA, revealed that the Hollywood Foundation SAJA Renovation Project had projected a R17.3 million investment to be delivered across four phases, of which the International & Female Dormitories renovation made up phase one.
She hence said the ceremony conducted yesterday was not just the opening of a building, but the opening of a new chapter.
She said she could not help comparing the four phases to the four seasons with Winter being a time for preparation, Spring being a time for renewal and new beginnings, Summer being a time for growth and flourishing and Autumn being a time to reflect on what had been achieved.
She thanked Hollywood for recognising that infrastructure was not simply about construction, it was about creating an environment in which young people ccould be valued, supported and inspired.
She added, “Your projected 17.3 million investment is an investment in SAJA which is ultimately an investment in the people who will shape the future of racing.”
She said she hoped the equivalent of four seasons of accomplishments would emerge from the renovations.
She thanked everybody involved in the project from SAJA chairman Basil Thomas to the project managers and construction team.
Paul Basson, Hollywood’s head of Projects, Maintenance and Facilities, is the team leader and is assisted by project manager Keshlin Perumal.
Paul has a background in construction and Keshlin has a background in architecture, so they work well together and have a fine team underneath them.
Among the guests attending was Vincent Curtis, a former jockey and a now retired riding master who has been involved with SAJA for years.
Vincent did his apprenticeship at SAJA when it was still located at Mariannhill before the move to Summerveld.
He said the facilities had been excellent at Mariannhill, while other former jockeys who did their apprenticeship at the Summerveld SAJA location in the late 1960s and mid 1970s i.e. Michael Roberts, Gavin van Zyl and Paddy Wynne, said their facilities had been very good.
However, the buildings at present are generally in a relative state of disrepair and the Hollywood funded project is going to restore a world famous institution from one which was beginning to crumble back to its former glory.
Devin Heffer also spoke at yesterday’s ceremony and to highlight the turnaround the project is bringing he revealed that SAJA was on the point of closing down six years ago and it was the sponsorship of apprentices by Hollywood that had enabled it to continue.
So to now be on the edge of converting it into a state of the art facility for the education of young jockeys is testament to Hollywood’s commitment and reiterates their well known philosophy of doing rather than talking about doing.
There are separate dormitories for the female apprentices and for the international apprentices.
There is a lounge area with a big screen TV and a comfortable sofa and chairs and a pool table.
The passage adjoining it has pristine floors and a number of rooms on either side.
Each room has two very comfortable looking beds with plush bedding and furniture.
The toilet and bathroom facilities are also first class.
Officially the renovation was done to “living areas, shared spaces, entertainment area and visitor’s kit.”
Devin Heffer said with Hollywood there was no such things as “good enough” and the evidence was provided by SAJA, which six years ago had been talked about in terms of how it was going to survive and was now being talked about in terms of how it was going to thrive.
He said what had been seen so far from Hollywood was just scratching the surface of what an impact on horseracing Hollywood was ultimately going to have.
He reminded of the recent Equus Awards where racing people sat in a facility as members of an industry that no longer had “us and them” factions, but were all part of the positive vibe that had swept over the industry.
The next phases of the renovation to SAJA will be eagerly watched by the industry and will surely have a huge impact on the quality of horsemanship and jockeyship coming out of the world famous institution.
