Women's Day celebrated at Turffontein

4Racing celebrates the powerful women breaking down the horseracing barriers with Women’s Day race day at Turffontein

Horseracing is rapidly emerging as one of South Africa’s most inclusive sports.

From being synonymous with its ‘Sport of Kings’ moniker which hinted at racing’s privileged past, racing is becoming far more representative and seeing greater participation - and leadership - from women in the industry.

4Racing, in partnership with the Racehorse Owners Association, will celebrate women’s excellence in the sport of horseracing with a special Women’s Day race day at Turffontein this Tuesday 9 August 2022.

Entry is free and the highlight of the day will be the appearance and participation of South Africa’s only current female professional jockey Rachel Venniker, who has just been crowned the country’s champion apprentice jockey after her impressive 70 winners from 560 rides.

4Racing will pay tribute to Venniker at the Turffontein race day, at which all races will honour some of the leading female figures in South African horseracing with the main race being the Anne Upton Memorial, named in honour of the legendary female trainer and former Summer Cup winner who passed away recently.

Some of the other figures who will participate in the day are leading Johannesburg-based trainer Ashley Fortune and new entrants in the horseracing sector, such as new racehorse owner Jessica Motaung, who is Kaizer Chiefs Marketing and Commercial Director.

The day will be hosted by 4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe, who last year became the first female CEO of a South African horseracing operator when she became 4Racing’s first CEO.

The Women’s Day race day will be broadcast live on the country’s national horseracing channel Racing 240 on DStv Channel 240.

In the first month of audited Racing 240 viewership figures from data company Nielsen, it indicated a 48.1% female audience of the horseracing channel and nearly 250 000 female viewers of Racing 240.

The Racehorse Owners Association CEO, Natalie Turner, said its figures showed that 67% of new racehorse owners in the country are female, giving credence to the Racing 240 viewership figures.

Venniker’s fine racing season and growing popularity is a major drawcard for the sport, while the Hollywoodbets Durban July win by respected owner and breeder Mary Slack with filly Sparkling Water was also a major female fillip for the sport.

Slack’s trailblazing mother, Bridget Oppenheimer, was affectionately known as the “Queen Mum” of South African horseracing and was the first female member at Turffontein. She will also be acknowledged on the Women’s Day race day with Race 2 named the Bridget Oppenheimer Maiden Qualified Plate.

Races named after other leading female figures in the sport include South Africa’s first female jockey Genevieve Michel, the first trainer Hilda Knaupp, legendary Nelson Mandela Bay breeder Rose Parker. Other prominent female trainers also honoured are Jean Heming and female steward Joan Ruffel.

“4Racing has always maintained that diversity and inclusivity is key to the growth of South African horseracing and we are proud of the many female leaders in the in the industry who have broken barriers to play prominent and leadership roles in the industry. We are excited to pay tribute to them with the Women’s Day race day and delighted to have Rachel Venniker as our guest of honour on the day, and to acknowledge the pioneering roles played by icons like Bridget Oppenheimer and Anne Upton. We encourage all racegoers to join us on this special day,” said Sithebe.

As operators search for greater diversity and look to tick the necessary boxes to appeal to a new generation of racing fan that values slick entertainment - and the chance to strike it lucky in a relatable environment - very often, that fan is now female.

Racing 240 will focus on prominent women in racing throughout the women’s month of August, including interviews with Cape trainer Candice Bass-Robinson, who became the first female trainer to win the Durban July with Marinaresco in 2017.

Another female powerhouse to be featured is top owner Suzette Viljoen, a former South African Champion Owner, whose horses have again performed exceptionally this season as she again features prominently in the Equus rankings.

One high profile example of co-ownership is that of Kaizer Chiefs Marketing Director, Jessica Motaung, and the CEO of Mogul Equine, Desireé De Andrade. The two jointly purchased a young colt Harold the Duke, who has been racing on the South African circuit.

Turner has stated horse ownership needs to be ‘aspirational, yet attainable’ and that fractional ownership or syndication is a practical way of achieving transformation and gender parity.

As we celebrate one of the country’s most important public holidays, while paying tribute to the role and contribution of the many influential women in the South African horseracing industry, SA racing remains firmly on track to win the diversity race.