4Racing, the company in the process taking over the assets and business of horseracing from Phumelela on 1 December 2021, last week announced far-reaching changes to the way racing will be managed in the 2022 calendar year.
First and foremost is that no double headers (two local race meetings on the same day) will be scheduled, and that a seasonal approach will be developed whereby the minor races in each region will carry an enhanced stakes level in-season as compared to out-of-season.
While it is anticipated that 4Racing will assume the management of Kenilworth Racing in due course via a management agreement, the racing seasons in the three regions under the jurisdiction of 4Racing have been identified as follows:
Highveld - 1 November to 30 April with 120 race meetings.
Western Cape - 1 November to 28 February with 60 race meetings.
Eastern Cape - 1 August to 31 October with 60 race meetings.
Despite the fewer race meetings, total stakes for the 2022 calendar year will be increased from R186-million in 2021 to R207-million in 2022.
The new racing season dovetails well with the KwaZulu-Natal winter season that runs from 1 May to 31 July.
The plan is to encourage the best horses in each racing region to follow the seasonal roadshow nationally as far as possible.
According to 4Racing, the declining horse populations nationally played an important part in the racing calendar and stakes allocation
The horse population on the Highveld decreased from 2,500 pre-COVID to 1,700 post-COVID.
In the Western Cape it decreased from 1,050 to 840 and in the same period.
There was only a slight decrease in the horse population in the Eastern Cape due to the influx of Kimberley trainers to the region after the track at Kimberley was closed down.
The foal population has also declined considerably in the last 10 years, from 3,385 to just on 2,100 foals being registered annually.
It is anticipated that the decrease in race meetings will result in increased field sizes and tote betting turnover. This will result in 4Racing being able to pay a higher level of stakes per race.
4Racing is also proposing a two-and-a-half week break from local racing nationally during the middle of August - a time of year that has historically been challenging due to track conditions on the Highveld and rainfall in the Western Cape.
Many horses also receive their African horse sickness vaccinations during the month of August.
“These fixture proposals still need to be ratified by the National Fixtures Committee but the large reduction in the thoroughbred horse population is a harsh reality the industry has unfortunately not been able to address,” said 4Racing Chief Operating Officer, Colin Gordon.
“We are aware of the challenges facing the industry and … need to try new approaches to reverse this trend.”
He added that 4Racing appreciates that there isn’t an overnight fix and assured role players that 4Racing understands the importance of stakes to owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and breeders. - 4Racing