Work Riders Challenge

RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming

Whether there’s a great woman behind every great man, is debatable. But that there is a great groom and work rider behind every champion racehorse, is undeniable.
And on Saturday, 11 May, the best work riders on the Highveld get their opportunity to not only strut their stuff, but to earn their rightful slice of the pie with the running of the third leg of the Work Riders’ Challenge.
The Work Riders’ Challenge is a joint initiative between Phumelela, the Racing Association and the Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust which sees work riders compete on three race days annually for prize money totalling R50 000.
On all three these race days, all runners are ridden by work riders.
Both the first and second legs were held at the Vaal on 23 October last year and 31 January this year, while the final leg will be run at Turffontein.
The Work Riders’ Challenge is a points-based competition with points being awarded as follows: FIRST - 10 points; SECOND - 7 points; THIRD - 5 points; FOURTH - 3 points.
The winner of each of the three meetings receives R5 000. The overall winner receives R20 000, while R10 000 and R5 000 is awarded to the work riders who finish second and third respectively overall.
Top of the log going into the last race meeting is Joe Gwingwizha on 82 points, followed by Charles Ndlovu on 67 points. Samuel Mosia and Phillip Mlangeni are joint third on 47 points while Francis Semela has accumulated 30 points.
Apart from the prize money, the winner of the Work Riders’ Challenge receives a special award at the annual Racing Association Highveld Feature Season awards ceremony