From the desk – June 2024
Dear members
Welcome to the June Edition of ROA today.
This time of the year always brings with it, a special kind of excitement, as we once again look to KwaZulu-Natal for the Hollywoodbets Durban July taking place on Saturday 6th of July at Hollywoodbets Greyville. With 12 races carded for the day and 7 being Graded Races, it promises to be an exhilarating days racing. Turn to pages 2-3 for details on the final field for the big race. If you are unable to attend in Durban this year, please remember you can join in the festivities at Turffontein on the day for “July in Jozi”. For bookings and more information please turn to page 14.
On behalf of the Board and Members of the ROA, I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Richard Fourie, who, on the 8th of June achieved an amazing milestone by becoming the first jockey to ride more than 334 winners in a single campaign, and thereby surpassing the record previously set by Anthony Delpech in the 1998/1999 season. This is a monumental achievement and a testament to his incredible skill and dedication to the sport. As he has already added a few more wins to that total, we are waiting with great anticipation to see what that final winning number and new seasonal record will be. We wish Richard all the best for the remainder of the season.
Youth Day in South Africa was June 16th and young people in horseracing is an important aspect to ensure the sport’s continued growth and development, as well as its continued relevance in modern society. We took the opportunity to chat to one of our younger ROA members who, through his syndication model, is fostering a sense of community and shared passion among young racing enthusiasts. Turn to page 6 to hear more about Dean Smith.
In this edition, we once again profile a Social Member Breakfast at Randjesfontein Training Centre and a Raceday Tour held at Turffontein during the month of June. These events are proving very popular with our Social Members and allows the opportunity to bring friends and family along to enjoy a day out and learn more about the intricacies of horseracing. By focusing on education and community building, we, as the ROA can create a supportive and knowledgeable environment for new and potential racehorse owners, leading to a more vibrant, sustainable and successful sport. These events also create platforms for owners to meet industry professionals, trainers, and other key stakeholders thus creating partnerships and connections that can enhance their experience and success in horseracing. If any members of the ROA would like to join us for a similar experience, please do get in touch with our team and allow us to put something special together for you. We are planning a Raceday Tour at Fairview, as well as a breakfast and stable visit at the Big T in the coming months and we look forward to meeting more of our members along the way.
As our season nears its end in the upcoming weeks, it’s time to set our sights on the future. I extend my best wishes to all our members and participants in this incredible sport, and I eagerly anticipate our continued collaboration, united in our mission to enhance and elevate the industry.
