S’manga Khumalo was announced at the Eastern Cape’s Racing Association Season Awards as Champion Jockey for 2015 /2016, his third such honour this year alone, having already secured the Champion Jockey title at the Racing Association Highveld Feature Season Awards in May and just earlier this month, winning a prestigious Equus Award as South Africa’s Champion Jockey for the 2015/2016 national season. This has been a phenomenal year indeed for this South African talent, affectionately known within racing circles as “Bling’.

Another accolade at last night’s awards ceremony which mirrors that of these  Equus Awards was that of Champion Owner going to Mrs & Mr Jooste, whose horse ‘Crown Of Gold’ not only won 2015/2016 Champion Older Horse/Gelding and Champion Stayer but most importantly walked away with the Eastern Cape’s Champion Horse of the Year.

Owners CG Scibante & LF Scribante received two Awards at the ceremony, with their horse ‘O’Tamara’ taking Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and another of their horses ‘Oomph’ taking Champion Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding.

A host of special awards were also presented which included an award for ‘Dedication to the Racing Industry’, presented by Racing Association CEO Larry Wainstein to Nadine Low Ah Kee. A former South African jockey for many years as well as a stable employee for trainer Alan Greef, Nadine (nee Rapson) made the transition from jockey to Tellytrack presenter after being injured at the starting gates five years ago and has become a well-respected member of their team, with her enthusiasm and the amount of information and background research which she provides to viewers enjoyed by the racing public at large.

A Long Service Award was presented by the NHRA to Mr Mike Jones in recognition of his 33 years’ service to the association - A commendable achievement indeed. Recognition of Champion Groom, which was presented to the best groom in the Eastern Cape and was judged by his peers, was awarded to Mr Bongani Richard Jezi. The Award for Champion Work Rider went to Mr Y Thuthu. Champion Local Jockey was a special award presented to Mr T Gould who achieved the most winners in the season for a locally based Jockey.

A very special award went to Blizzard Belle who now holds the 1000m record which she achieved at Fairview Racecourse on 11th January this year in an astounding 54.55 seconds, ridden by S’manga Khumalo and carrying 57kg. Blizzard Bell is trained by Ms Y M Bremner and owned by Mr E Batalides, Mr C Hewitson and Mr M Wright.

The Award for the Eastern Cape’s Champion Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding went to Memphis Mafia, owned by Mr and Mrs Sham. The noteworthy award for Eastern Cape Trainer of the Year went to Alan Greef.

The comprehensive list of awards presented includes:

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY-EASTERN CAPE

‘O’TAMARA’

OWNERS

MESSRS CG SCIBANTE & LF SCRIBANTE

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING-EASTERN CAPE

‘OOMPH’

OWNERS

MESSRS CG SCRIBANTE & LF SCRIBANTE

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY –EASTERN CAPE

‘CUP CAKE’

OWNERS

MR A L A CRABBIA

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING-EASTERN CAPE

‘MEMPHIS MAFIA’

OWNERS

MR M SHAM & MRS D SHAM

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE-EASTERN CAPE

‘PURELY ATOMIC’

OWNERS

MRS M SLACK & MR MB JAVETT

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION OLDER HORSE/GELDING-EASTERN CAPE

‘CROWN OF GOLD’

OWNERS

MRS I JOOSTE & MR M J JOOSTE

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION SPRINTER-EASTERN CAPE

‘COPPER PARADE’

OWNERS

MS YM BREMNER & OPTIMA TRUST (NOM: MRS V FENIX)

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION STAYER-EASTERN CAPE

‘CROWN OF GOLD’

OWNERS

MRS I JOOSTE & MR M J JOOSTE

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION POLY TRACK FILLY/MARE

‘CHILI CHOCOLATE’

OWNER

MR GREG BORTZ

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION POLY TRACK COLT/GELDING

‘GOGETTHESHERIFF’

OWNER

MR F VAN ONSELEN

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION JOCKEY-EASTERN CAPE

MR S KHUMALO

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION TRAINER-EASTERN CAPE

MR A C GREEFF

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 EASTERN CAPE AWARDS

CHAMPION APPRENTICE

MR K RAMSAMY

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 CHAMPION OWNER-EASTERN CAPE

MRS I JOOSTE & MR M J JOOSTE

RACING ASSOCIATION

2015/2016 HORSE OF THE YEAR-EASTERN CAPE

MRS I JOOSTE & MR MJ JOOSTE

‘CROWN OF GOLD’

SPECIAL AWARDS 2016

1) LONG SERVICE AWARDS – Mr M Jones – Presented By Mr A Hyde

2) CHAMPION GROOM – Mr Bongani Richard Jezi – Presented By Mr A Mtengwana

3) CHAMPION WORKRIDER – Mr Y Thuthu – Presented By Mr A Mtengwana

4) CHAMPION LOCAL JOCKEY – Mr T Gould – Presented By Mr L Wainstein

5) SA RECORD HOLDER 1000m – Blizzard Belle – Owners: Mr M Wright, Mr E Batalides, and Mr C Hewitson. – Presented By Mr L Wainstein

6) DEDICATION TO THE RACING INDUSTRY – Mrs N Low Ah Kee – Presented By Mr L Wainstein