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where the horse is always the hero
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Posted 2018-09-12 21:10:23  
NHA news August 2018

THE JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE
WOMEN IN SPORT SUMMIT 2018 Lead. Conquer. Inspire.
August in South Africa is a time when we celebrate and acknowledge everything “women”.
The National Horseracing Authority was invited to attend the 2018 Women In Sport Summit in Cape Town in mid-August, and I was asked to speak at the summit. It was the culmination of 3 years of planning and the organiser, Debra Barnes, assembled an astonishingly apropos group of speakers and contributors from the sporting, business and media sectors.
The day was filled with various thought-provoking talks, with the opening keynote speaker – the inspirational Professor Shirley Zinn - setting the motivational tone. My focus was on the Diversity and Inclusion Revolution.
I focused on 8 powerful truths and 7 powerful actions to ensure a diversified and inclusive working environment.
Eight Powerful Truths:
1. Diversity of thinking is the new frontier.
2. Diversity without inclusion is not enough.
3. Inclusive leaders cast a long shadow.
4. Middle managers matter.
5. Rewire the system, to rewire behaviours.
6. Tangible goals make ambitions real.
7. Match the inside and the outside.
8. Perform a culture reset, not a tick-the-box program.
Seven Powerful Actions:
1. Action 1 - Recognise that progress will take a culture reset.
2. Action 2 - Create shared purpose and meaning by broadening the narrative to diversity of thinking and inclusion.
3. Action 3 - Build inclusive leadership capabilities.
4. Action 4 - Take middle managers on the journey.
5. Action 5 - Nudge behaviour change by rewiring
processes and practices.
6. Action 6 - Strengthen accountability, recognition and rewards.
7. Action 7 - Pay attention to diverse employees and customers.

The list of speakers was as diverse as the subjects they spoke on, and it included Jimmy Motsei (CEO of Maru Sports), Fran Hilton-Smith (Assistant Technical Director of SAFA), Richard Glover (CEO of Tennis SA) and Zandi Kabini (Chairperson of SA Women Boxing) in the first group. The second group included Dr Phato Zondi (CEO of the Sport Science Institute of SA), Aimee Barrett- Theron (SA Rugby and World Rugby Referee), Gail Odgers (Marketing and advertising manager of Sport Pesa). I was also privileged to be a speaker with this group.
We heard from Independent News Editor, Jermaine Craig, that the “profiling of women’s sport (in media) needs to be deliberate and consistent”. Rosella Marrai-Ricco, Laduma Soccer’s Head of Social Media, eNCA sports presenter Amy Samuels and international sports photographer Roger Sedres echoed his sentiments - that the human interest side should have more emphasis in sports reporting.
The last group of speakers were Caroline Peters (Chairperson of the Nantes Athletics Club), Pulane Baloyi (MD: Grassroots Soccer) and Sher’Neil Savel, who is the founder of the 9Miles Project (a youth and community development programme which uses surfing as a platform to impact and transform at-risk youth in coastal communities).
Their stories about how sport is uplifting communities and including women reminded us that we need to work on including ordinary people and not just focusing on the celebrity in sport. In many cases it is life-changing. We had our own stand at the summit which was hosted by our PR and Marketing Officer Tracey Clark, PR and Marketing Assistant Thulisile Duma, as well as our two Cape Town based interns, Thobeka Khumalo and Dewlon Africa.
It was exciting to see so many people – from every sector - committed and inspired to do their utmost to create opportunities, growth and equality for women involved in sport at every level.

NHA LABORATORY
Procedures for the collection of specimens from horses at races for Laboratory analysis.
The collection of either blood and / or urine specimens for testing from horses on race day play an important role in the control of the integrity of racing. During the races the attending official NHA veterinarians can at any time identify horses for such specimen collection. Specimen are also routinely collected from horses which die at the track. Following each race at least one horse is selected for such specimen collection.
The trainer of the horse is notified that specimen collection is required and a signature is then obtained in acknowledgement. The horse is then escorted to the specimen collection areas which is an access controlled secure area. Here NHA officials and specimen collectors verify the identity of the horses.
Following a cool-off period the horse is closed into an area where the specimen collector waits for a specimen to be produced. Specimens which could be collected could include urine and / or blood / plasma. Some specimens are collected pre-race.
Formal guideline documents are followed by formally trained specimen collectors to obtain these specimens. Specimen collection materials are new and are supplied in sealed kits. Following specimen collection, the specimens are double sealed and all paper work is included.
The specimens are only identified to the laboratory as a specimen number, with no reference to the identity of the horse. These specimens are sent to the laboratory for testing by hand delivery or courier.
There is a similar procedure for the collection of urine samples from jockeys.
With a high level of control in our horseracing over medication use and veterinary assistance with regards to which preparations contain prohibited substances, typically only a few specimens in every thousand test positive for such substances.

SHUMBASHABA

Shumbashaba’s non-riding therapy program, called Growing Great Generations, uses the EAGALA(Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association) model which focuses on the healing power of horses to effect positive life changes amongst youth-at-risk, their families and women affected by gender based violence. This experiential learning and counselling approach afford participants the opportunity to learn about themselves through deliberate activities with horses. These programs promote psychological wellbeing and resilience, as well as the opportunity heal from traumatic experiences.
NEWS FROM KWAZULU NATAL
SEMINAR FOR GROOMS & STABLE EMPLOYEES
The KZN Stipendiary Board initiated a seminar to assist grooms and stable employees to elevate and upskill themselves to stable employee and assistant trainer status.
The first of these seminars was conducted by KwaZulu Natal Stipendiary Stewards, Derk Anderson and Timothy Nhlapo and Veterinary Surgeon, Dr Roehann Sutherland, at Summerveld on the 16th August 2018.
The seminar included, amongst other topics, the Rules of The NHA as well as relevant regulatory veterinary aspects pertaining to the running of a racing stable.
The initial seminar attendees will be writing their respective examinations in due course.
The KZN Racing Awards evening was a glittering affair held in The Silver Ring at the Greyville Racecourse on the 24th August, where KZN Racing honoured their star achievers.
The awards went to :-
Horse of the Year – Do It Again
2 year old filly – Inverroche
2 year old colt – Cue The Music
3 year old filly – Fiorella
3 year old colt – Monks Hood
Sprinter – Sommerlied
Older Male – It’s My Turn
Older filly – Sommerlied
Middle Distance – Fiorella
Stayer – It’s My Turn
Groom of the year – Isaac Mwalese
Owner of the year – Mario Ferreira
Jockey of the year – Anton Marcus
Apprentice of the year – Ashton Arries
Breeder of the year – Summerhill Stud
Trainer of the year – Dennis Drier
KZN personality of the year – Phillip Fourie
Ride of the season – Lyle Hewitson (Redberry Lane –
Gr 1 Garden Province Stakes)
Anita Akal Award – Garth Puller

SOUTH AFRICAN JOCKEY ACADEMY
INCREDIBLE START TO THE NEW SEASON BY KHANYA SAKAYI
4th Year Apprentice Khanya Sakayi, has made a wonderful start to the new season, riding 7 winners and 38 places! This set of amazing results also includes Khanya’s first treble and another excellent double! On Sunday 12 August, at Scottsville, Khanya rode a tremendous treble, winning Race 4, aboard Reactive, trained by Tony Rivalland, Race 5 aboard Miss Varlicious, trained by Paul Gadsby and Race 8, aboard Silver Cent, trained by Lola Crawford. Not happy with riding his first treble, a week later at the same racecourse on Sunday 19 August, Khanya rode a delightful double, winning Race 6, aboard Los Barbados and Race 7, aboard Rio De Le Plata, both trained by Garth Puller.
When asked about his great start to the new season and his incredible form, he humbly replied “I’m in Matric this year and also the 4th year of my apprenticeship, it’s time to get serious, when the new season began, I said to myself, it’s time to work hard at school and racing, I want to get the best Matric possible and ride as well as I can!”
Khanya was also full of praise for those who have helped him thus far in his apprenticeship saying “I want to thank all the Owners and Trainers for the rides they have given me, I really appreciate the support, without these rides I wouldn’t have achieved what I have so far.
To Mr Bailey, the Teachers and Jockey Coaches, at the Academy, who have always had faith in me, your guidance has got me here and I appreciate everything you do for me! Lastly, a special thank you, to my mentor, Jockey Warren Kennedy, who always gives me the best advice and pushes me to be my best!

PGI JOCKEYS CHALLENGE
MOREIRA HEADS CONSTELLATION OF STARS IN PGI JOCKEYS CHALLENGE
With less than a month to go to the inaugural Premier Gateway International Jockeys Challenge, 12 of the world’s best jockeys are all set to do battle in Singapore’s very first jockeys’ series. Split into four Teams of three, the international line-up will vie for top honours in four selected races at a night meeting held at Kranji on Tuesday, 25 September.
Top Brazilian jockey and former Kranji favourite Joao Moreira will no doubt be one of the main drawcards as he returns to his old stomping ground as Team Asia’s armband- wearer. Freshly-licensed in Japan, the former four-time Singapore champion jockey and three-time Hong Kong champion jockey will have as teammates the two Singapore table-toppers, Vlad Duric in the senior ranks and Troy See in the junior ranks.
Currently leading the Singapore jockeys’ log, Duric, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, was twice runner-up to Moreira in 2010 and 2011 before he claimed his first Singapore title last year. See will add local flavour to Team Asia, as he will be the only homegrown rider to have gained a spot for the host country.
Moreira will certainly not be the only headline act to the glittering contest organised by South Africa’s Phumelela Gaming & Leisure and Tabcorp, together with their international subsidiary Premier Gateway International (PGI), and hosted by the Singapore Turf Club.
The three other teams, namely Team Australia, Team UK and Team South Africa will not be flying to Kranji for just fun and games, if the firepower in their squads is anything to go by. Team Australia will be captained by none other than the 2017 Longines World’s Best Jockey Hugh Bowman, also better known as world champion mare Winx’s regular partner. The fourtime Sydney champion jockey will have fellow Sydney top gun Kerrin McEvoy and leading Melbourne rider Mark Zahra as teammates.
At his first visit to the Lion City, McEvoy, who was once second jockey at Godolphin to Frankie Dettori, is a winner of more than 60 Group 1 races worldwide, including two Melbourne Cups – Brew (2000) and Almandin (2016). Originally from Western Australia, Zahra is not as well known, but with more than 1100 winners to his name, including 11 at Group 1 level, he has established himself among the Top 10 in Melbourne.
Bowman will not be the only Shergar Cup winner in the line-up. Team UK’s flagbearer will be none other than the victor of this year’s annual Ascot jockeys’ series, Hayley Turner, one of the best female jockeys to have graced the English turf in recent years.
She will be joined by Rab Havlin and PJ McDonald, two of UK’s finest ambassadors. They may not be household names like a Ryan Moore or William Buick, but both have recently been creeping up into the top echelon of the fiercely competitive UK circuit.
Last but not least, Team South Africa will carry the hopes of the organising country. The selection of their team members was simple; bring the top three on the national log.
Lyle Hewitson, Muzi Yeni and Aldo Domeyer finished in that order in the just-concluded South African racing season at the end of July, and it stood to reason the trio of young riders would be the ones to wear the Rainbow Nation colours at Kranji.

Regarded as one of South Africa’s brightest stars, Hewitson scored a landslide victory in the South African 2017/18 jockeys’ championship on 185 winners, becoming the first apprentice jockey since the legendary Michael Muis Roberts in the early 70s to claim the national title. Runner-up Yeni steered home 149 winners while Domeyer finished third on 137 winners.
Those three jockeys many not have extensive overseas experience or have ever ridden in Singapore for that matter, but South Africa’s changing of the guard will be well and truly present at Kranji to showcase their talent to the world.
In line with the standard concept of international jockeys’ series, the PGI Jockeys Challenge will be decided by a point system where each jockey will earn points based on their finishing position in each race, up to 10th place, while points will also be aggregated per team as follows:
Rank Points
First 30
Second 15
Third 12
Fourth 10
Fifth 8
Sixth 7
Seventh 6
Eighth 5
Ninth 4
Tenth 3

In addition, a jockey with no ride in a race will be allotted seven points. The jockey (international individual champion) and team (international team champion) who accrue the most points will win the contest.
Rides will be determined by a draw shortly after declaration time in a format which will give all jockeys fair and equal chances to obtain a mix of rides with reasonable chances. Four sets of ballot draws will be effected with horses divided into two pools – A and B (as predetermined by a panel made up of handicappers and/or form experts), with the A pool comprising the first six ‘best-rated’ or ‘bestseeded’ horses and B the remaining six. Jockeys will also be split into two pools – A and B.
Hence, the six jockeys in the ‘A’ pool will draw their horses from the ‘A’ pool for the first race or Leg. Similarly the other six jockeys in B pool will draw their rides from the ‘B’ pool. The roles are reversed in the next Leg i.e the six ‘A’ jockeys draw from the ‘B’ pool of horses and vice-versa. The same procedure is repeated for the third and fourth races, with the rationale behind this system aiming at giving each and every jockey a fair mix of rides throughout the contest.


THE NHA GRADUATE & INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (WESTERN CAPE & EASTERN CAPE INTERNS)
WESTERN CAPE INTERNS
Unemployment in South Africa is at its highest level since 2003. The economy added 144 000 jobs during the first quarter but this was offset by the number of job seekers surging by 433 000 people. The unemployment rate of 27.7% has risen by 1.2% since 2016. With this in mind, The National Horseracing Authority of South Africa runs a Graduate & Internship Program for University Graduates.
The NHA has given us an opportunity to empower ourselves as young females in the corporate world. We have seen growth in our knowledge, not only in the corporate environment but also in our knowledge of horseracing as a sport.
Our first official race meeting was on 11 August 2018. The enthusiasm, curiosity and excitement kicked in all at once, leaving us in aw throughout the day. We learnt that the duties of The NHA is not only to regulate the sport, but also focuses on the well-being of the horse and protecting the animal’s rights.
We would like to thank The NHA for this opportunity and we look forward to the experience which is about to unfold.
EASTERN CAPE INTERN
My Name is Abongile Rubushe. I am 25 years old. I have studied Marketing Management and Short-term Insurance. On the 01/08/2018 I was introduced to a horse racing world which I was clueless about but I was keen to learn more about this new journey.
My first week was spent observing and shadowing the judges and my second week was spent with the Specimen collection department.
I have learnt a lot in the first few weeks at the NHA. The NHA staff has been very warm and welcoming to me. Whenever I need assistance they are willing to help me. I look forward to the journey ahead and learning more about the sport of horse racing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL NHA STAKEHOLDERS
The National Horseracing Authority would like to wish all our Stakeholders born in September a very Happy Birthday.
Wishing you a birthday filled with sweet moments and wonderful memories to cherish always!
 

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