The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) have just received feedback on the submissions that were made to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as the Horseracing Industry covers multiple sectors, to ensure the ongoing viability of the horseracing and breeding industry.

Our submissions thus far demonstrate our commitment and alignment to Government’s interventions in an attempt to preserve lives, flatten the curve, protect jobs and also stimulate the racing economy. Subsequently, our submissions were forwarded to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and thereafter the National Coronavirus Command Council (Command Council).

The Command Council having reviewed the submissions of the NHA and aligning it with the regulations and guidelines related to essential business/service, racing was deemed not to be an essential service.  An addendum to our submissions was then submitted to the Command Council to support our assertions that racing is a low risk, a non-contact event with high economic value as the racing events are a critical element in the supply chain and a related Agricultural service.  At this point, the Command Council having takenj into consideration our addendum, as well as other industry stakeholders’ submissions it was decided that racing could not be separated from gambling activities like casinos, and these are currently not included under Level 4.

A clarification statement was then submitted to the Command Council which framed the conditions that the Breeding (Agricultural) sectors core purpose, its risks and opportunities, business model, performance, sustainable development and the actual horse race are INSEPARABLE elements of the value creation process. 

Having considered the regulations from an agricultural perspective and taking into account the weight of all other submissions from stakeholders, it was determined that racing would not be provided for under agriculture Level 4, except from an animal care perspective.  Clarity is being sought from DAFF with regard to the transportation of live animals, specifically not related to food production.  Upon feedback from DAFF a communication will be sent out. 

It is acknowledged that the protocols for racing that have been established based on a phased return to business, demonstrate the observance of guidelines for social distancing, sanitation and hygiene, and use of appropriate personal protective equipment, like cloth face masks, as determined by the National Department of Health; and that racehorse training activities at the different training centres around the country, have been carried out in the strictest conformity with the instructions and rules of social distancing and maintaining hygiene protocols. However, Government’s priority at Level 4 is on organised projects/events that are focused on those that are related to the provision of food, water and sanitization.

Based on the above, the race meetings scheduled for Greyville on 6 May 2020 and Turffontein on 7 May 2020 have been abandoned.  All entries and declarations have been suspended until further notice from the Racing Operators.

The NHA is committed to continue engagement with Government and shall send follow up submissions for racings inclusion at Lockdown Level 3 announcement.  We are hopeful that the announcement to Level 3 will be announced within the next 21 days.  The NHA fully comprehends the mandate from Government and the Coronavirus Command Council, in which the preservation of human life is of TOP priority, whilst trying to balance the starvation issues in townships and rural areas and the urgent resuscitation of the economy.

Vee Moodley

Chief Executive

NHRA

Following on from the NHA press release issued late on Thursday 30 April, the Racing Operators confirm the following:

The Kenilworth race meeting on Friday 1 May has been abandoned.

A decision on the Turffontein race meeting on Saturday 2 May will be made by close of business on Friday 1 May.

In the event that the Turffontein meeting is not able to take place, the three feature races (SA Derby, SA Oaks and Horse Chestnut Stakes) will be moved to Sunday 10 May in a last ditch attempt to stage them. In similar vein, a decision on the ensuing race meetings from Sunday 3 May onwards will also be taken the preceding day pending government feedback. Entries and declarations for future race meetings will proceed as scheduled pending a decision – so that we are ready to resume immediately should the green light be given to do so.

Further changes to the fixture list have been made as follows on the basis that the Kimberley racemeetings on 11 and 18 May have now officially been abandoned :

• the Fairview meeting on Friday 8 May has been moved to Monday 11 May

• the Kenilworth meeting on Saturday 9 May has been moved to Friday 8 May – leaving Greyville stand alone on Saturday 9 May

• the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting on Saturday 16 May has been moved to Monday 18 May – leaving Fairview (East Cape Derby day) stand alone on Saturday 16 May

Obviously all entries and declarations continue to be made for future race meetings on the basis that racing is given government approval to resume.

The National Horseracing Authority has not received any feedback from Government to date on the status of the above submission.  On reading the legislated Lockdown regulations that become effective on 1 May, under Table 1 Alert Level 4, “the transport of live animals”, clarity is being sought and it is our understanding that the movement of non-producing livestock, needs further amplification.

The Chief Executive contacted the Ministers of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and was advised that the decision now resides with the Coronavirus Command Council and the Head of the Disaster Management Centre, Dr Mmaphaka Tau.  The Chief Executive has made contact with the Head of the Disaster Management Centre and is now awaiting a directive. As we are aware, the Coronavirus Command Council have received in excess of 77 000 applications and from 800 businesses, and understandably they are inundated with numerous requests.  There is no definite timeline given as yet for feedback and on that basis the carded meeting for 1 May at Kenilworth Racecourse will be abandoned.  The status of other carded meetings would be advised on a 24 hours’ notice timeline, in the hope that we may get a response before the next carded meeting.  The Racing Operators will advise the process going forward from an administration perspective.

Until we have a response in writing, text or even verbal, the NHA is not in a position to provide the necessary feedback to the Racing Operators to recommence Racing. In saying the above, the NHA can assure all stakeholders that we shall continue to engage such that a favourable outcome is obtained as soon as possible.

MAY PROGRAMME – RESHUFFLE

Following on from the NHA press release issued late on Thursday 30 April, the Racing Operators confirm the following:

The Kenilworth race meeting on Friday 1 May has been abandoned.

A decision on the Turffontein race meeting on Saturday 2 May will be made by close of business on Friday 1 May.

In the event that the Turffontein meeting is not able to take place, the three feature races (SA Derby, SA Oaks and Horse Chestnut Stakes) will be moved to Sunday 10 May in a last ditch attempt to stage them. In similar vein, a decision on the ensuing race meetings from Sunday 3 May onwards will also be taken the preceding day pending government feedback. Entries and declarations for future race meetings will proceed as scheduled pending a decision – so that we are ready to resume immediately should the green light be given to do so.

Further changes to the fixture list have been made as follows on the basis that the Kimberley racemeetings on 11 and 18 May have now officially been abandoned :

• the Fairview meeting on Friday 8 May has been moved to Monday 11 May

• the Kenilworth meeting on Saturday 9 May has been moved to Friday 8 May – leaving Greyville stand alone on Saturday 9 May

• the Scottsville meeting on Saturday 16 May has been moved to Monday 18 May – leaving Fairview (East Cape Derby day) stand alone on Saturday 16 May

Obviously all entries and declarations continue to be made for future race meetings on the basis that racing is given government approval to resume.

The National Horseracing Authority has not received any feedback from Government to date on the status of the above submission.  On reading the legislated Lockdown regulations that become effective on 1 May, under Table 1 Alert Level 4, “the transport of live animals”, clarity is being sought and it is our understanding that the movement of non-producing livestock, needs further amplification. 

The Chief Executive contacted the Ministers of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and was advised that the decision now resides with the Coronavirus Command Council and the Head of the Disaster Management Centre, Dr Mmaphaka Tau.  The Chief Executive has made contact with the Head of the Disaster Management Centre and is now awaiting a directive. As we are aware, the Coronavirus Command Council have received in excess of 77 000 applications and from 800 businesses, and understandably they are inundated with numerous requests. 

There is no definite timeline given as yet for feedback and on that basis the carded meeting for 1 May at Kenilworth Racecourse will be abandoned.  The status of other carded meetings would be advised on a 24 hours’ notice timeline, in the hope that we may get a response before the next carded meeting.  The Racing Operators will advise the process going forward from an administration perspective.

Until we have a response in writing, text or even verbal, the NHA is not in a position to provide the necessary feedback to the Racing Operators to recommence Racing.

In saying the above, the NHA can assure all stakeholders that we shall continue to engage such that a favourable outcome is obtained as soon as possible.

-nhra.co.za

On 22 April 2020 The National Horseracing Authority sent a comprehensive submission to the President of the Republic of South Africa, the National Coronavirus Command Council, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 

This application set out reasons and motivations as to why the horseracing industry should be allowed to stage behind closed doors race meetings under Lockdown, based on the following principles that horseracing:

1.       Poses a negligible threat to Public Health;

2.       Can preserve jobs from the most vulnerable sectors of our society;

3.       Can contribute to resurrecting our economy in a safe and controlled manner; and

4.       Can mitigate against a major animal welfare crisis facing the industry.

The NHA received acknowledgement and has been advised that our application is being considered.  Our Chief Executive is in constant contact with the relevant Government authorities.  Late last night we were informed that our application should be escalated directly to the Ministers for consideration.  This has been done earlier this morning. 

Our understanding is that the Ministers and the National Coronavirus Command Council will be deliberating our submission over the next 48 hours and we are hoping for an outcome on or before the 30 April.

In the interim, the Racing Operators will perform all pre-race administrative work for the race meetings on 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd May subject to the positive outcome of our submission. A detailed ‘racing behind closed doors’ policy document is currently being drafted and shall be circulated later this week.

We understand the anxiousness, uncertainty and fluid nature of the current circumstances.  Feedback on the outcome shall be disseminated as soon as we receive same.  For now, our fate lies in the hands of the Government. 

-NHRA Press Release

A letter from chairperson Susan Rowett to NHA members has been shared on the organisations Twitter feed, and is reproduced in full below:

April 15, 2020 

Dear NHA Member,

As you are aware the COVID-19 virus has had an unparalleled disastrous effect on the world.

This led to our President Mr Cyril Ramaphosa declaring a State of Disaster, followed by the Lockdown period (27 March 2020 to 30 April 2020) in order to contain the spread of the virus and to try to flatten the growth curve in relation to further infections and fatalities.

The NHA is acutely aware of the devastating consequences of the suspension of racing. It affects all Stakeholders including our 6,000 plus members who own more than 10,000 horses in racing stables, pre-training yards and stud farms, as well as their 17,000 staff employed directly and thousands more indirectly. It threatens livelihoods and puts further strain on an industry already troubled by poor economic conditions.

As the Regulator of Horseracing, we do have significant responsibilities which we do not take lightly and we are taking stringent measures to protect and support our industry:

Actions – Covid-19
1. As the Regulator of the industry, the NHA Chief Executive was appointed by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to be responsible for creating and monitoring permit documentation of racing’s essential services, so as to ensure the welfare and well- being of the critical staff required for the care of our horses across the country. This has worked well.

2. We formed the Covid-19 response team as an effective body to ensure actions matched decisions, liaising in a unified manner with other bodies in racing for optimum outcome.

3. Our NHA Officials are monitoring the training centres and are carrying out their normal duties of inspecting stable yards, monitoring training operations and attending to any required certification, for example, starting stall sessions on a national basis. In addition, our Stud Book and Registrations Departments are attending to any applications that require to be processed. Most of the NHA Staff complement is able to work remotely from home during this period.

4. More recently, we have been involved with the Operators and the Racing Association in the planning for the resumption of racing and reorganisation of the programme, particularly Graded races, ensuring compliance as far as possible with International Race Planning Committee, Asian Pattern Committee, international and domestic partners.

5. We are currently in discussions with representatives of Government to ascertain if we will be allowed to resume racing after 30 April given the restrictions on public gatherings which affect both the racetrack and the betting shops. We hope to be allowed to resume on a smart limited attendance approach.

6. We are very mindful of the necessity to protect human life, whilst also ensuring the balance of livelihoods of all participants in our industry.

7. The NHA is aware that certain international jurisdictions have continued to race under limited attendance rules until normalisation occurs and we will endeavour to use these as examples of how Horseracing can and should continue in the appropriate environment.

Economic Challenges

Since the largest Operator Phumelela announced that it had made substantial losses in financial year 2019, the NHA has been keenly aware that it could precipitate a crisis in the economic health of our industry and it sought to engage with the key stakeholders, mindful of its responsibility to care for all of its members and their staff at all levels.

The NHA engaged in a Strategic Session in September 2019 to identify risks and challenges and engaged in discussions with the Chairman of Phumelela. It should be borne in mind that the NHA is the National Regulator, which is tasked with maintaining integrity in our Sport, it is not the business arm of the Industry. Its foremost purpose is to maintain honourable practice.

On 22 February 2020 the NHA chaired a gathering of Chairmen and CEOs of various organisations to discuss the way forward.

It became apparent at that meeting and in subsequent meetings that a new racing structure would need to be devised as the current model, whilst it may have served a good purpose for a lengthy period, had reached a point where it was no longer working well enough to sustain and advance the life’s blood of the racing and breeding industries.

This will take time, require patience and engagement to plan. Further discussions and considerations have continued to identify the concerns and seek solutions in a long and short term scenario.

The NHA are working with the Racing Operators, the Racing Association and the Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust and a joint press release was sent out on 13 April 2020 explaining the current status and the intended revised dates of racemeetings and purses.

We commend the Board of the Racing Association for making R13.1 million available in terms of the Main Object of their Memorandum of Incorporation to safeguard the sport by assisting purses in the short term. A lot more remains to be done, but what is heartening is the realisation that we all have to work together in a common cause to overcome racing’s problems.

We are aware of financial implications causing the imminent threat of horses being abandoned. We are investigating an easier mechanism for transfer of fractional interests and change of ownership to streamline requirements. We urge all participants to do their utmost to ensure that the welfare of the horse is a priority.

The NHA seeks the earliest resumption of racing to begin restoring cash flows and in order to assist Operators, the Board agreed to sacrifice 50% of its levies due by the Operators for the period April to June 2020 and salary cuts to our staff have been applied.

Conclusion

We stand a time of great upheaval. Winston Churchill said “A Pessimist sees disaster in every opportunity, but an Optimist sees opportunity in every disaster”. There are always two sides to every crisis, and we in racing need to see current events as our Opportunity to make positive change, arrest declines and create a new version of our great sport and industry. Notwithstanding the economic challenges, racing has a proud history since the first meeting on the Greenpoint common in 1792. For 228 years we have prevailed through world wars, depressions, recessions and changing political climates – and we shall do so again.

Thank you to all for playing your part as we all work together to overcome these challenges.

Kind regards

Susan Rowett

Chairperson