Heritage Day – Family Fun & Braai Day

Heritage Day Family Fun & Braai Brings Owners, Families and Racing Fans Together at Randjesfontein

On Heritage Day 2026, we brought together owners, members, families, new participants and friends of horseracing for another memorable Family Fun and Braai Day at Randjesfontein Training Centre. The event provided a relaxed opportunity to celebrate South African heritage while bringing people together through a shared passion for horseracing.

It was particularly special to welcome new participants to the racing community, giving them the opportunity to meet owners, trainers and fellow racing enthusiasts and experience the environment behind the racetrack.

A highlight was a behind-the-scenes visit at the training centre, giving guests a closer look at what happens away from raceday and the work that goes into preparing racehorses. A special thank you goes to Alec Laird for generously allowing us to visit and experience this side of racing first-hand.

Pravina James, a first-time visitor said, “A memorable tour of the stables, seeing the majestic horses up close.  What an amazing way to celebrate Heritage Day with my family. Thank you for including us for a stunning day of fun in the sun”.

A strong response to Equora
The event also proved to be an excellent opportunity to engage directly with owners about Equora and what it will offer the racing community. With owners, members and new participants together in one place, there was a natural opportunity to explain the thinking behind Equora, answer questions and, importantly, listen to what owners want from their membership and involvement in racing.

The response was extremely encouraging. Conversations throughout the day showed a strong level of interest and enthusiasm for Equora, with several existing members taking the opportunity to sign up.

For us, this was one of the most valuable aspects of the event. Rather than simply communicating Equora through formal channels, we were able to have genuine face-to-face conversations with owners, explain the benefits directly and give people an opportunity to ask questions and understand what Equora means for them.

The event also supported the broader objective of growing ownership, with some trainers taking the opportunity to speak to owners and new participants about syndication, fractional ownership and opportunities within their respective stables. These conversations helped showcase the different ways people can become involved in racing, and we look forward to building on this at future events.

“Thank you for a great day. It was wonderful to have so many new people visit the stable, and fantastic to see such a great turnout at Randjesfontein. Really enjoyable.” Trainer Alec Laird

The day was also about having fun. Live music and entertainment created a relaxed atmosphere, while a jumping castle and ice-cream van kept younger guests entertained. The popular Win and Spin activation added to the excitement, with guests winning tickets to the Betway Summer Cup and vouchers for The Acreage.

Families and friends enjoyed a relaxed braai-style lunch and the opportunity to spend time together away from the racetrack.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, brought their families and friends, and helped make the 2026 Heritage Day Family Fun & Braai such an enjoyable day.

The positive response from owners, new participants and trainers showed the value of bringing the racing community together, opening up conversations around ownership and creating new pathways into the sport.

We look forward to building on this at future events.