The Racing Association plays a significant role in the structure of racing along with JSE-listed Phumelela, the National Horseracing Authority (formerly the Jockey Club of Southern Africa), the Racing Trust, The Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Racehorse Trainers Association, the SA Jockeys Association, the South African Horse Import-Export Council and the National Horse Trust.
The Racing Association
The most important role of the Racing Association is to represent the interests of racehorse owners in the industry, as well as to promote ownership and ownership awareness. Consequently it monitors stakes allocation and co-hosts feature events. It interacts with Phumelela with regard to member’s facilities, racehorse training facilities and jockeys remuneration as well as with the National Horseracing Authority. The Racing Association also stages an awards function annually at which the outstanding equine and human performance in RA regions are honoured. It is based in The White House at Turffontein.
Phumelela
Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in the middle of 2001, Phumelela is in charge of operating horseracing and tote betting in seven of the country’s nine regions. It is responsible for racing and public facilities at the racecourses it manages as well as for staging race meetings at the following venues:
- Turffontein in Johannesburg
- The Vaal near Vereeniging
- Fairview in Port Elizabeth
- Kimberley
- Kenilworth and Durbanville in Western Cape
It operates over 200 totalisator outlets and two telephone betting centres as well as training centres in Johannesburg, Kimberley, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and the Vaal. Phumelela and Gold Circle commingle all totalisator bets in South Africa into single national pools under the banner of Saftote and the two horseracing companies own and manage Tellytrack, SA racings exclusive television channel. The company’s head office is at Turffontein.
Telephone (011) 681 1500
The National Horseracing Authority (The Jockey Club of Southern Africa)
This body is in charge of all aspects of racing control, it regulates and maintains the rule-book and employs the stipendiary stewards, horseracing’s policemen, and the handicappers. It also runs an internationally acclaimed laboratory which tests specimens taken from horses who participate at race meetings. Other roles are to maintain the Stud Book and to register all participants in horseracing in South Africa.
Telephone (011) 683 9283
The Racing Trust
The Racing Trust promotes and develops the non-commercial aspects of the sport and sponsors several transformation initiatives, including the local jockeys academy programme and the work riders training programme.
The Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust was established in 1977 at the time of corporatisation of the horse-racing industry. The principal object of the Trust is to promote the interests of all thoroughbred horse-racing in South Africa with a view to the long term viability of the sport. It is an ancillary object of the Trust to promote and encourage schemes and projects which broaden the base of persons who participate and who are involved in the Sport to reflect the diversity of the people of South Africa, and particular, to promote the participation and involvement of persons from historical disadvantages backgrounds. The Trustees are appointed to the Trust by the Racing Association and SASCOC. The Trust holds a significant shareholding in Phumelela Gaming and Leisure (PTY) Limited and is the sole shareholder of Kenilworth Racing (PTY) Limited.
Transformation Projects
The Trust contributes 80% of its total revenue into the stakes pot for previously disadvantaged racehorse owners, trainers and jockeys. The Trust contributes significantly to the work rider programme. In this regard, the Trust has established a work riders’ school which operates in Gauteng and Eastern Cape and teaches riding skills and life skills. The Gauteng Jockey Academy is funded by the trust and operates in conjunction with the South African Jockey Academy. The Trust gives support to informal racing in the Eastern Cape Region. The covers financial aspects as well as education relating to the well-being of horses and riders. The Trust has over the years played an important role in Equine Research through Onderstepoort. In this regard, African Horse Sickness projects and international protocols have been the primary focus.
Telephone (011) 783 1250
Other relevant telephone numbers:
John Freeman (Turf Directory): (021) 439 2781
South African Jockeys Association: (011) 907 2400
Thoroughbred Breeders Association: (011) 323 5700
National Horse Trust: (011) 683 4388/9