4Racing announces 2022 fixtures and stakes

4Racing announces 2022 fixtures and stakes

Johannesburg, Friday 19 November 2021

4Racing is pleased to announce its strategy around fixtures and stakes for the 2022 calendar year, which will see 240 fixtures proposed at 4Racing venues, and stakes increased from R186 million in 2021 to R207 million in 2022.

As 4Racing prepares to take over the assets and business of horseracing from Phumelela on 1 December 2021, the strategy around fixtures and stakes will be to develop a seasonal approach to stakes, whereby the minor races in each region will carry an enhanced stakes level in-season as compared to out-of-season.

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 have been identified by 4Racing as follows:
- Highveld - 1 November to 30 April
- Western Cape - 1 November to 28 February
- Eastern Cape - 1 August to 31 October

The new racing season dovetails well with the KZN 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.

The racing calendar and stakes allocation follows earlier communication from the Race Operator with stakeholders about the declining horse populations nationally, and to better align the number of fixtures with the current horse populations in each region.

The following number of fixtures have been scheduled at 4Racing racing venues in 2022:
- Highveld 120
- Western Cape 60
- Eastern Cape 60

It is important to note that the horse population in these areas have reduced as follows:

Horse population by region pre and post COVID:
- Highveld from 2 500 horses to 1 700
- Western Cape from 1 050 horses down to 840
- Eastern Cape only slightly down (positively impacted by the influx of Kimberley trainers to the region)

One also needs to bear in mind that the registered foal population has in the last 10 years declined from 3385 to just on 2100 foals being registered annually.

To achieve the fixtures reduction in the optimum way for betting turnovers, no more double headers (ie two local race meetings on the same day) will be scheduled.

In addition to the anticipated benefit of increased field sizes (and therefore tote betting turnover) in all its regions, the reduced number of races will mean that 4Racing will be able to pay a higher level of stakes per race but at the same time have increased the total annual stakes.

4Racing is 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 from a number of runners perspective on the Highveld, due to the going on the tracks and from a rainfall perspective in the Western Cape.

Along with these climatic challenges, 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. We are aware of the challenges facing the industry and the economy and the difficulty in addressing this critical issue, but we do need to try new approaches to reverse this trend. There is a balance to be struck, but we have to be practical in acknowledging the number of races the current population can support. 4Racing appreciates that there isn’t an overnight fix and we also understand the importance of stakes to owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and breeders. We therefore commit to finding ways of increasing revenues and income for all horseracing industry participants. As a starting point to sustain the industry we are committing to stakes of R207 million in 2022 and will constantly review our approach going forward, in partnership and consultation with the horseracing industry. We need to look at the data this approach produces and be adaptable but we have to look at ways to turn around the decline,” said 4Racing Chief Operating Officer, Colin Gordon.

Minimum stakes levels for Graded, Listed and Non-Black-Type Races across the three regions will be the same as follows:

- Grade 1 - Open R1,000,000 / F&M R750,000
- Grade 2 - Open R400,000 / F&M R300,000
- Grade 3 - Open R250,000 / F&M R200,000
- Listed and Non-Black Type - Open R175,000 / F&M R150,000

However, many of these pattern races will carry stakes well in excess of these minimums on the back of race sponsorships.

The attached schedule of minor races stakes per region outlines the in and out of season levels.

In line with the commitment to getting the feature race stakes back to pre-COVID levels the total stakes commitment from 4Racing for 2022 across the three regions is R207 million. This compares with the current stakes of R186m for the 2021 calendar year and the estimated R177m the old agreements would have delivered.

Stakes PDF attached 👇



ENDS

Great stuff 👏

PE is going to get busier

A step in the right direction.
However, a 2 1/2 week break in August makes no sense.
Smaller trainers are going to feel the brunt. And how much turnover will be lost?
Optional, yes, Mandatory, like bending a knee. Forced. :woohoo:

I like the idea of a break in each region, maybe it can be staggered?

For example
Cape Town in March
JHB after the Juibliee
KZN after the Gold Cup
PE ?

khargisland wrote:

A step in the right direction.
However, a 2 1/2 week break in August makes no sense.
Smaller trainers are going to feel the brunt. And how much turnover will be lost?
Optional, yes, Mandatory, like bending a knee. Forced. :woohoo:

A break is good but then it should only be on the highveld...let pe and cape race and kzn race.....if Ever they stop racing locally again for 2 weeks or more there will be many punters cured of the addiction....many were cured by covid and have not punted since....takes 21 days basically to break a bad habit so play carefully with your"customers"

did Gauteng really loose 800 horses, in last 19 months??

seems rather severe. unless they including the Kimberly center or such

2 meetings per week for Transvaal seems right.

Can someone please explain how the logo works, struggling to figure it out………

So, why is a logo important? Because it grabs attention, makes a strong first impression, is the foundation of your brand identity, is memorable, separates you from competition, fosters brand loyalty, and is expected by your audience.

If you have a Maiden with any potential of winning a Maiden (what happens to Maiden Handicaps - is the stake also 100k in season ?), keep on racing it until 30 April - as the stake for a Maiden in season is 100k, and for a A-div 140k - seems skewed to me.

Also I can't agree with the difference in stakes for Maidens - 100k in season vs 70k out of season - so for 6 months of the year Maidens race for 70k - currently 90k - I think they should race for the same stake (85k ?) throughout the whole year - would also widen the gap between Maiden and A-division stakes - and for me the idea is that the best horses in general should compete for the best stakes

So imo not all moonlight and roses :dry:

Eastern Cape minor race stakes

Johannesburg, Monday 22 November 2021

After further consultation with Eastern Cape racing stakeholders, 4Racing has agreed that whilst the fixtures, feature race stakes and total stakes pot for the region remain unchanged, minor race stakes will be paid at the same consistent level all year round, as opposed to an in and out of season basis.

The main reason for this change is the fact that the Eastern Cape will remain a secondary racing centre - providing a much needed outlet for slightly weaker horses.

As such, the national roadshow applicable to the three major regions, whereby the best horses will be encouraged to follow the seasonal feature races and stakes, will not apply to the Eastern Cape.

The 40 annual feature races (made up of Listed and Non Black Type races) in the region will take place all year round. Eastern Cape Racing will effectively still have two “mini feature race seasons” - one from February to May, culminating in East Cape Derby day - and the other from August to October, culminating in Algoa Cup day.

Please see attached schedule of these minor race stakes levels in the Eastern Cape region.

ENDS