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

Warren Lenferna made the customary call to trainer David Ferraris in Hong Kong last night. Ferraris was on his way to work and Lenferna on his way to bed with the time difference. We really appreciate the efforts from Ferraris to share his comments on his runners for today’s meeting at the Valley – Wednesday 29 April 2020.

Last week David tipped us a winner and he seems to possibly have another for us for today!

The first race is off at 12H45pm SA time and the last at 16H50.

Race 1: DRAGON COMMANDER (2): I am hoping for a good effort.

Race 3: SANGRIA (9): Has an outside place chance. 

Race 4: AMBITIOUS HEART (1): Has dropped a whole class so he has got a fairly decent place chance but has a bad gate!

Race 6: XIANG BAI QI (4): He has a very good each way chance. He is in very good form and starts from a good gate.

Race 7: SEVENTH SEA (8): An outside place chance. 

Race 8: SURREALISM (3): Is the best runner of my night. He has just been desperately unlucky in his last few runs where he has not been able to pull a gate, which is the case again tonight. Hopefully Karis can overcome that and ride him quietly and he should be rattling home. He is the best of mine tonight!

PHUMELELA MEDIA RELEASE

Phumelela is committed to doing everything possible to halt the spread of the coronavirus and has
therefore decided to suspend the printing of the ComputaForm and ComputaForm Express.

This decision has been taken whilst the entire racing value chain waits with bated breath on
government to decide whether racing can continue from Friday 1 May 2020.

Should racing get the green light, both the ComputaForm and ComputaForm Express will be
available online only – free of charge for punters worldwide – with immediate effect.

Both publications will be available on www.tabonline.co.za under the ComputaForm header on the
menu bar.

There will be a ComputaForm and ComputaForm Express option.
ComputaForm: http://news.tabonline.co.za/Computaform/ComputaForm
ComputaForm Express: http://news.tabonline.co.za/Computaform/ComputaForm-Express
The simplified TAB totesheets will still be available at no charge at the following URLS:

On the day: http://news.tabonline.co.za/Fields-Tips/Todays-Racing
Future: http://news.tabonline.co.za/Fields-Tips/Future-Racing
Phumelela Publishing will ensure current online subscribers who have paid in advance will not lose
out.

Any credit on their accounts will remain in place until such time as the printed edition is
resumed and the online edition is again limited to subscribers.
Phumelela Publishing understand that there are punters who prefer the printed hardcopy, but in
these trying times, desperate measures will become the order of the day, no matter how
unfortunate.
For now, there is no alternative.

RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming

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