The gentle sea breeze, the glint of classic cars, swaying sugarcane plantations, and horses trotting around – while this might seem like the description of a picture postcard, this is the everyday life of Viju Gowreesunkur, an entrepreneur in the island nation of Mauritius.
This sugarcane planter, who has a vintage car collection that is the pride of the island, also knows a thing or two about horses. He grew up with them, and today, even owns a few.
Mauritius occupies a significant place in Africa’s horse industry. The country boasts an average racing population of 450 horses, and has an important equestrian link with South Africa. All of the nation’s racehorse imports – 150 every year – come from South Africa.
“A lot of South African jockeys ride in Mauritius. The traveling time to Mauritius is only three hours by air. The horses adapt well with our climate. A lot of South Africans are immigrating to Mauritius, and horse racing can be a main social activity for the expatriates,” sums up Gowreesunkur.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/sport/2013/08/01/racing-into-history/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: Racing Into History</a>
In South Africa, the horseracing industry contributes R2.71 billion ($226 million) annually to its GDP. Efforts are on to ramp up those numbers.
And as with the expatriates taking to horse racing in Mauritius, here too, it’s no longer the pastime of only the privileged few.
“These days, horse racing is no longer the domain of royalty, and with this shift came the glorious possibility that anything is possible and that the richest races could be won just as easily by a working man as by a multi-millionaire,” says Adrian Todd, Managing Director of SA Equine Health and Protocols NPC, in South Africa.
Mick Goss, the CEO of Summerhill Stud in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, says while owning racehorses can be an aspirational endeavor, it can also arise from a deep-seated connectivity with animals in general, or horses in particular.
“The result is that racehorses are owned by people from across the social and economic spectra, from the wealthy to the determined,” says Goss. In its 40th year, Summerhill Stud is one of the country’s top horse breeders, and it has produced several champion racehorses.
<div id="attachment_35865" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-35865" class="wp-image-35865 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AHS-114-1024x681.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="681" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AHS-114-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AHS-114-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AHS-114-600x399.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AHS-114-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AHS-114.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Approximate annual cost to maintain a horse on a styud farm in South Africa: $5,000. Photo supplied.</div>
Goss had humble beginnings starting the stud farm. He came from a family of generations of horsemen and was previously a lawyer, when after 17 years, he gave up law to start out with nothing in the horse business but “a deep-seated will to make it work”.
“I inherited the horse ‘disease’, for which there is no known vaccine,” he jests.
Today, his farm runs a school of management excellence in equine studies, the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere, he says, and the results have been “extraordinary”.
Goss says South Africa is set for a record year.
“2018 will be a game-changing year,” he says, with respect to the efforts now being made to rejig the racing and breeding industries “with substantial investments towards the normalization of export protocols with international trading partners”.
There is significant demand for South Africa-based horses in the international market for their quality and affordability. A case in point being that in the past, at the $10 million Dubai World Cup, the richest day in international thoroughbred racing held in March every year, South African-trained horses have won at many levels.
“We have produced winners at the highest level in almost all of the major racing jurisdictions of the world. It is little surprise that our horses are as sought -after as they are internationally, more so as they cost a fraction of their counterparts from other major racehorse-producing countries,” says Goss.
But there are challenges, including strict export restrictions, quarantine controls and prevalence of the African Horse Sickness (AHS).
“The current onerous export restrictions make it difficult for the racing and breeding industry to expand and very hard for our horses to travel and compete internationally,” says Todd.
The country has been severely curtailed in its ability to export horses due to AHS.
South African horses have to endure a quarantine of up to six months before they reach their country of destination.
“Compare this with the delivery of 30 days of horses acquired in countries like Australia and New Zealand, destined for South Africa,” says Goss. “From this, you can deduce the obstacles South African horse people face in the export of their products.”
AHS is a vector-borne viral disease, and has affected South African horse exports since the 1960s.
Goss says he has only suffered one loss to AHS in 40 years on his farm, but says, if properly managed, the losses can be avoided.
“Proliferation of game farms around the country has meant concentrations of zebra in close proximity to horse farms, which has exacerbated the problem,” says Goss.
“The reason is many zebras are carriers of the virus, though they have an inbuilt immunity against it, and while the disease itself is not contagious, it can be carried from one animal to another by a vector.”
Thankfully, there have been breakthroughs in its detection.
“The latest technologies mean that we are able to detect AHS within a matter of hours nowadays and with the quarantine protocols we now have in place, we can guarantee we are unlikely ever to export infected horses,” says Goss.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/sometime-in-africa/2013/11/01/love-mountain-hate-horse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ: Love The Mountain Hate The Horse</a>
“With new scientific developments and a new Polymerase Chain Reaction test to detect AHS within hours, South Africa is busy working towards a much shorter period of quarantine of possibly 16 days. This will obviously open the door to the world market and allow the entire horse industry to grow to its full potential,” says Todd.
This test has been developed by Professor Alan Guthrie and colleagues at the Faculty of Veterinary Science’s Equine Research Centre in the University of Pretoria, which has improved the lab diagnosis of AHS by increasing the sensitivity of detection and shortening the time required for the diagnosis.
Equine experts like Todd are optimistic the strides taken by the industry will make this year more successful for the horse industry.
Currently, horses are exported from Cape Town’s Kenilworth Racecourse, which serves as a quarantine, transit and export station. The horses are required to serve a three-month quarantine period in Mauritius on top of the three weeks already spent in quarantine in Cape Town, before going on to their final destination.
“The opening of export protocols will allow the industry to unlock a potential billion rand market. This in turn will lead to an expansion of the industry and a significant increase in rural employment…,” says Todd.
The platforms and opportunities are plenty.
In December, FORBES AFRICA visited the Turffontein Racecourse in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg for the glitzy Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup. Dating back 128 years, and along with the Durban July and the Sun Met in Cape Town, it’s one of the big three races on the South African horse racing calendar, with a prize money of R1.25 million ($104,373) up for grabs.
In South Africa, horse-lovers come from all walks of life.
“From rural communities who use horses for transport, to families who buy ponies for their children to ride for fun, to show jumpers and wealthy [South African] businessmen like Dr Richard Maponya who loves horseracing,” elaborates Peter Gibson, the CEO of Racing South Africa.
Prices range greatly depending on the breed and what it will be used for, but buying a thoroughbred racehorse could set you back by an average of over R300,000 ($25,000).
Furthermore, it takes R50,000 ($4,000) to R60,000 ($5,000) a year to maintain a horse on a stud farm.
“Thoroughbred studs are cash guzzlers, and you need to surround yourself with people that are capable of contributing towards the capital needs of the business by way of their support as clients, as well as developing strong relationships with the financial institutions that support you,” says Goss.
“The horse breeding and racing industries by their very nature are among the most labor-intensive activities in South Africa, and according to a recent audit of the industry by Grant Thornton, it employs in excess of 100,000 people, either directly or in those businesses that provide services to racing and breeding.”
Hopefully, in the years to come, the “cash guzzlers” will repay the favor, in leaps and bounds.

Brave-Tin-Soldier-retouched-cover-pic-online

The South African Horse Industry: A Potential Billion Rand Market

S’Manga Khumalo must have been walking on air, after he dismounted to the cheers of the crowd at the Durban July, as the first black jockey to win South Africa’s premier horse racing event.
That win, on the five-year-old bay gelding, Heavy Metal, meant that 28-year-old Khumalo had won three of the country’s major racing events in eight months. Heavy Metal gave owner Chris van Niekerk and trainer Sean Tarry back-to-back July wins, following Pomodoro’s victory in 2012.
It was a close finish. Heavy Metal—priced at 16-1—surged ahead with 350 meters to go; Run For It and Do You Remember were still in contention. It took power and perfect timing for Khumalo to steer Heavy Metal to win by a head.
“Those good decisions stem from great confidence. Ultimately it is the confidence and the sound decision-making that separate the champion men from the boys… In racing, it is a vital factor: the horse and rider get on very well,” says Tarry.
Khumalo said that Tarry never put pressure on him before the race and he was relaxed going into the starting pens.
“That is the way I like to be at all times,” he says.
Khumalo got the nickname ‘Bling’ after he dyed his hair blond in 2011.
“The only similarity between S’Manga and Piere Strydom is that they both have blond hair,” quipped van Niekerk after the historic win.
Seriously, van Niekerk thinks Khumalo could emulate the legendary three-time Durban July winner Strydom, who won his third title on Pomodoro. Tarry agrees, he says Khumalo was in a different class and had ridden a brilliant race.
“During the past three months, he won three major races. He always had talent. S’Manga needed to mature mentally, which he has done. His ability to win more Durban Julys depends on whether he is lucky enough to get the right horses. He needs to keep his standards high and get good rides… S’Manga must stay mentally alert and sharp, and retain the ability to make good decisions,” he says.
Van Niekerk agrees: “There is a good connection between S’Manga and Heavy Metal.”
That chemistry was mentioned by Laura Hillenbrand in her best-selling book Seabiscuit: An American Legend: “When a horse and a jockey flew over the track together, there were moments in which the man’s mind wedded itself to the animal’s body to form something greater than the sum of both parts. It’s easy to talk to a horse if you understand his language. Horses stay the same from the day they are born until the day they die. They are only changed by the way people treat them.”
Khumalo says building a relationship with the horse is vital.
“You must have a calming influence on the horse and know how to get the best out of him. You also have to know how he runs and what he prefers to do,” he says.
It seems to be working. When he piloted Wagner to the first of his so-called big three wins at Turffontein, in Johannesburg, Khumalo led from the start.
“I knew instinctively that Wagner didn’t like to have a horse in front of him. He loves to be a frontrunner, and that’s why I took the lead early on,” he says.
Fellow jockey Strydom has applauded Khumalo’s athleticism and power, saying it requires strength for a rider of 52 kilograms to guide a horse to victory. He also said the low riding style of Khumalo has contributed to his success.
On a day when Greyville racecourse paid tribute to Nelson Mandela during the Durban July, Khumalo acknowledged the great man.
“I don’t know where I would have been if it was not for Madiba, but I definitely would not have been here,” he says.
There is a chance that Khumalo may not have been there were it not for a chance meeting with sixty-four-year old Paul Sibisi, a racing fanatic who spent two years scouting the schools of Durban, on behalf of the South African Jockey Academy, looking for youngsters with a size two shoe.
Sibisi spotted the then 14-year-old Khumalo at Mzuvele High School in KwaMashu.
“He was the most disciplined young man I selected,” says Sibisi.
Selection for a jockey is a rigorous process and a small frame is essential. Would-be jockeys are measured from the foot to the knee to gauge how big they are likely to grow—even the size of their parents is taken into account. Many are called, few are chosen and the stakes are high—a good jockey can earn up to $6,000 a month.
“I vividly remembered the interview to join the academy in January 2000. I don’t think I would have achieved anything without the South African Jockey Academy riding masters, like Vincent Curtis,” says Khumalo.
“In terms of mentors, I always looked up to riders like Piere Strydom and Anthony Delpech, and the riding master Robert Moore.”
Khumalo has been among the top twenty riders since 2005, rode 52 winners in 2011, before a knee injury curtailed his progress.
He had a stint in Australia and rode at the Mudgee Cup before homesickness led to a return and the build-up to the purple patch of 2013. In April, Heavy Metal sprung a surprise in the R2-million Premier’s Champions Challenge.
The 40-1 chance put in a spurt 300 meters out. He charged past Shogunnar and defied Knock On Wood to claim the win.
“My improvement in the past few months stemmed from improving my judgment of pace. I have learned to make my move at the precise moment, perhaps at 200 to 300 meters. Earlier, I led the charge and the eventual champion would just sit and wait for the opportune moment, lobbying at the back. That’s no longer the case,” says Khumalo.
Good form continued with an emphatic win in a Pinnacle Stakes run over a mile at Turffontein. Again, timing was everything and in the run to the line he slipped, through a slender gap, past Gavin Lerena and charged clear to win by 1.25 lengths.
Yet, Khumalo was seen as a nearly man until his win at the Champions Challenge in the run-up to the Durban July.
On the day of the big win in Durban, Sibisi says many people were skeptical about a black African winning the July, but others bet their month’s wages on Khumalo. He watched it in a packed and raucous betting shop in West Street, Durban.
“People were shouting. It was so loud you could not hear the TV. When he won, everyone was jumping around and punching the air. One woman had put a thousand rand on a week before, at 16-1. You can imagine the joy,” says Sibisi.
The only man in the betting shop that day who did not have money on Khumalo—you guessed it—was Sibisi.
“Even now, when I walk around Umlazi people call across the street saying: ‘Your boy made me a lot of money,’” laughs Sibisi.
The first black African to win the Durban July is likely to make a lot of money for punters for years to come.

Racing Into History

Picture this: the biggest horse racing event in Africa, with vast prize money and the top riders in the world. This is what Phindi Kema wanted, but a wrangle with the owners of a racecourse soured this dream. This has left the horse breeder frustrated, desperate and packing her bags. She is off to the United Kingdom, taking her skills with her.
Kema grew up on a farm. Her grandparents were farm laborers and her parents bred pigs, but she broke away and pursued a law degree at Fort Hare University—in the Eastern Cape. After she qualified, she worked as a coordinator for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission—a restorative judicial body, which was assembled after the abolition of apartheid in South Africa—and in various senior corporate positions, but the pull of the farm was strong and Kema returned to her roots. She bought a citrus farm near Addo Elephant National Park, in the Eastern Cape, through the Land Affairs Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) program and became a farmer in late 2006. She befriended her neighbor, Elwyn Phillips, who was a horse breeder, and bought his Elandskraal stud farm. She renamed it Iphi’Ntombi—meaning ‘where is the girl?’ in Zulu—after the Zimbabwean-bred champion filly Ipi Tombe.
“She [Ipi Tombe] had a great career and won international races and made a name for Africa. She is now breeding in Kentucky. I suppose, I set a challenge for myself right at the beginning of my career and I’m still at it.”
At the time Kema was the only African Thoroughbred horse breeder in the country. She picked up the trade quickly, but after three years she felt that it was time to move on. She pursued her dream of creating the biggest racing event on the African continent, which led to the start of her company, Africa Race International (ARI). Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, a horse racing and tote betting operator, approached Kema with a deal to buy Arlington Racecourse in the Eastern Cape. The deal was almost complete when Kema became suspicious of certain clauses in the contract. Phumelela wanted all financial guarantees 30 days after signing the agreement even though they had not set an occupation date. The other condition was that Kema had to use Phumelela’s license and was not allowed to purchase her own.
“This was not acceptable to me as it meant that Phumelela would be in control of my entire betting business and fixtures relating to my racing.”
Further research revealed that Phumelela had bought Arlington Racecourse for a mere R1 ($0.10) and expected Kema to pay R50 million ($5.4 million) for it. Kema later found that this was common practice in the industry.
When contacted on the issue, Phumelela declined to comment.
According to Kema, in the past five years, four of the country’s racecourses have been sold for property development. Gosforth Park was sold to Wes Bank and is now a racetrack for motorsport and Newmarket, in Johannesburg, has been sold to retail.
“While other countries are growing the sport, South Africa is stifling the growth of the industry. Other countries look at us and they actually mock South Africa because they understand that this model is not sustainable and this is a recipe for disaster.”
Kema was frustrated with the Arlington Racecourse deal and became vocal, but felt that her words fell on deaf ears. Then she lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission and backed the case with research from her team of lawyers and experts on international horseracing. She lodged another complaint with the public protector to investigate the 1997 agreement, regarding the selling of racecourses between the Gauteng provincial government and the racing industry.
“Further to that, I instituted an R80 million ($8.6 million) civil claim through the Equality Court against the Gauteng provincial government. The respondent failed to oppose the claim and missed the set deadline of October 5, 2012. The matter is still before the courts. I was then invited to Parliament to give the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry an account of what had happened and put forward recommendations. Lastly, I wrote a letter to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) to bring the matter to their attention.”
Kema says the government’s lack of knowledge on the subject made the process even longer and the fact that she was more knowledgeable did not go down well.
“Sometimes people with big titles do not enjoy being told that they have been duped, so they take what you say personally and react accordingly. This tends to ruffle more black and white feathers especially when it comes from a black woman.”
“I am appalled by the way the regulator runs the race office. I am resentful that the rich people have actually stolen the racing assets that belong to the country. This is what this whole issue is about […] that is what is killing South African horse racing.”
As things became complicated Kema’s life became court hearings, law suits and travel between Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. She could have easily backed down but the inspiration of her mother’s late father, Joseph Wilcot Kavie, kept her strong.
“He owned properties when black people under apartheid laws were prohibited from owning properties. He never saw himself as a victim; he turned every negative situation to his benefit if he could make it when the odds were against him, why would I fail? &#8230; That’s the thought that drives me… I admire so many people but Sol Kerzner, Phuthuma Nhleko and Sir Sam Jonah stand out because they are all groundbreakers, who comfortably transcended so many barriers and Africa has a reason to be proud.”
At the end of February, Kema moved to her spouse’s homeland of the United Kingdom. She’s on familiar ground, having visited the country many times and one of her fondest memories is her visit to the Queen’s stud farm. Her plan is to relax, reflect and possibly write a book.
“I like the British attitude and the UK is my adopted country because it has taught me so much of what I know. In as far as horseracing is concerned, I feel deeply connected with them because they are supportive of my aspirations and do not see me as a threat, precisely because they are experts in this field and therefore have no insecurities.”
So this front runner has removed the blinkers from people’s eyes, even when the odds were against her, she never spit the bit and now it’s time for her to canter.

Racing Uncertainty

Igugu is the horse that stole the hearts of many and cost those who failed to believe.  An Australian filly sired by an Epsom Derby winner, Galileo, Igugu has sent waves through the racing industry and was named “Horse of the Year”. Igugu was bred by Kia Ora Stud and bought at a yearling sale for $65,000 by Livestock Traders in 2009. It was then sold to Andre Macdonald—a former electrician and now principal officer at Lido Electrical’s East Rand branch, in South Africa—from the Summerhill draft in 2009 at the Ready-To-Run Sale for $127,530. Macdonald had gone to the sale with the secret intention of buying both of Galileo’s fillies in order to up his chances of owning a champion, only to be outbid for the first horse by South Africa’s top trainer Mike de Kock at $255,060. Luck was on his side when the second horse turned out to be the champion.
Macdonald’s love of horses began when his family moved to the northern suburbs of Johannesburg at a time when horse riding was popular with children. His daughter took an interest and joined a stable. He then bought a horse each so they could ride together on their property. His daughter grew up, got married and Macdonald sold the horses.
“Before I knew it a friend of mine said they had a horse for sale and asked ‘do you want to buy it?’ I said ‘I don’t want to buy it but I’ll think about it.’ Twelve o’clock that night they phoned me and said ‘your horse is standing in the stables.’ But I didn’t say no, I said ‘okay I’ll take it.’ It was the biggest mistake I probably made,” Macdonald recalls. Sitting with a dud, Macdonald then got serious.
Igugu is now co-owned by the Macdonalds and Sheikh Mohamed bin Kalifa Al Maktoum—who also co-owns the 2010 Vodacom Durban July (the July) winner. The royal family clearly has a love for the sport. Years ago, in the United States, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is reported to have bid $10 million for a horse at a yearling sale. Sheikh Mohamed bin Kalifa Al Maktoum‘s share came about when he took interest in Igugu and went into talks with Mick Goss, CEO of Summerhill Stud, about acquiring his 25% stake. Not one to be satisfied with a minority share, the sale was in jeopardy unless the Macdonalds, who owned 75%, sold 25% shares to Sheikh Mohamed bin Kalifa Al Maktoum to ensure an equal partnership.  Macdonald says this is something he would only have done for Goss.
It’s common practice in the industry to have more than one owner of a horse. As much as this can be seen as spreading the winnings, having more than one investor means spreading the risk as well as the costs. These costs include training fees, farrier fees, veterinary care, insurance, race entry fees, jockey fees, ownership registration fees and transport.
For most this is a business after. For Macdonald, it’s a sport.
And as with any business, there is money to be made and Igugu has made more than her fair share for her owners.  She’s a Triple Tiara Princess, winner of the 2011 Vodacom Durban July as well as the 2012 J&amp;B Met (the Met). She is only the second horse to have ever won both the July and the Met. The only other horse to have done so is Pocket Power, who also holds the record for winning the July three times. The prize money for the July and Met alone were $361,600 and $301,330 respectively.
The industry is big and money is no problem for those looking to be a part of the thrill. There are seven sales that take place every year and they work the same as any auction. Potential buyers get a catalogue beforehand and the bidding wars begin. The aggregate price at the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale held in April was $10,576,311; it was $564,713 at the Milkwood Stud Sale in May and $922,184 at the Cape Mare &amp; Weanling Sale in the same month.
Macdonald laughs as he remembers how he first tried to pick horses at sales. Not knowing what he was doing, he’d shadow the trainers while they checked out the horses.
“If he wants to turn his head left, I turn my head left and if he goes right, I go right.”
You must remember that these buyers take risks on untested horses. De Kock does not shy away from the fact that this is a risky business and is all about luck. He admits that picking up a horse at a sale is not an exact science but reiterates Macdonald’s advice of having a professional around to help.
If it’s so risky, why get into it?
“There is a 1% chance of a horse being a champion from a sale but that’s the intrigue. It’s a sport that becomes a part of your life,” he says with a hint of excitement in his voice.
For de Kock, it all started with two years of military training at an equestrian center and then moved on to work for a number of trainers. In 1988, the trainer de Kock worked for died and since he already had a good working relationship with the owners and staff, he took over the late trainer’s string. He is now the top trainer in the country and is also an owner. Having won the July four times, he’s three wins short of the record for trainers.
Training a race horse takes a hell of a lot of patience says the expert. Purchases would occur when the horse is around 18 months old. If you buy one from a Ready-to-Run Sale it can be ready to race by 24 months, provided it suffers no injury or illness. The monthly cots will average somewhere between R7,000 ($840) and R8,000 ($960), but the rewards for a great runner are tremendous. The industry consists of owners, trainers, breeders, racing operators, insurers, transporters and blood stock agents. Racing operator, Golden Circle, stages both the Vodacom Durban July and the J&amp;B Met. The company has numerous operations and reports an annual turnover of more than $216.8 million. Racing operator Phumelela’s glory comes from staging the Triple Crown and the Triple Tiara. The Triple Tiara’s spoils are $783,151, including the bonus for the horse that wins all three legs. The Triple Tiara—won last year by Igugu—has a combined prize of $270,911, not including the $120,366 bonus.
With this amount of money on the line, it’s no wonder these fine creatures are insured.  The way that the insurance works, is that the horse’s value is established by looking at its track record, breeding and other attributes.  If the horse is a filly, its value will be higher as it can be used for breeding. An unknown horse that’s just been bought at a sale will be insured at the fall of hammer price. As the horse develops a track record and its value increases, so will its insured amount.
The international scene is also a potential money maker for the lucky few. The Dubai Carnival in January has nine events, with $27.25 million to be won.  Unfortunately, the export protocol needs reform. Australia requires 60 days quarantine in the African Sickness Free Zone in Cape Town, South Africa, followed by another 60 days in Europe. Dubai involves 21 days of quarantine in Johannesburg, 90 days in Mauritius, 30 days in Europe and two weeks in Dubai. This means that a horse competing internationally not only has to forgo most of the South African season but it also loses training time and so will run at a disadvantage against other horses on the track.
This is all due to the fear of the African Horse Sickness (AHS). Paranoia, de Kock calls it. He claims that this is the one thing holding the industry back from being a major export industry that creates jobs and adds to government revenue. What we need, he says, is to get more aggressive and let the trading partners know that this is not a major threat. The fact that South African horses competing internationally are doing so well, is a testament to how strong the industry is.
Igugu is geared to start her international career in Dubai. As for her chances for this year’s July?
“Some people don’t win the Met or the July. I was lucky enough to win both. I don’t know when that will ever happen again,” says a realistic Macdonald. He feels that his horse has already done more for him than he could have asked for.
Horse racing has a tradition of being elitist and de Kock says that the image that the sport portrays, along with that of a lack of transparency, is another one of one of the industry’s problems. Syndication, however, is one way to get around this as it makes the sport accessible to more people but de Kock says that it is up to people to educate themselves and the industry to demonstrate the available opportunities. Nonetheless, de Kock is, as he puts it, “bullish” about the future of the South African horse racing industry and expects an explosion if it were to get it right.

Tag: Horse Racing

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The South African Horse Industry: A Potential Billion Rand Market

Racing Into History

Racing Uncertainty

Horsing Around