AFRICA'S RICHEST RACE 2011 - TRUTH OR WET DREAM?

An Afrikaans article published in the Burger by Eugene Gunning in April this year...translated...don't know if a thread was on here about this before...could the experts please elaborate if this is something to get excited about that could just give the current operators a run for their money or just another wet dream...




George
The richest horse race in Africa and the history of the racing industry in South Africa will be held next year in the Southern Cape.
The winner will be a hefty R25 million richer.
The race will take place in Plettenberg Bay on the existing poloveld, which South Africa used to play polo tests. It will be adapted for the occasion, but the plan is to later build a new race track. There is currently no race track in the village.
Details about the new race planned for next year, the Africa Race International, has just been announced.
Foreign and local investors will finance the race.
The Vodacom July, which is decided in Durban is now South Africa's richest race with prize money of R3 million.
The proposed Southern Cape race will be held on the same basis as the world's biggest races like the Arc de Triomphe, the Dubai World Cup, Royal Ascot and the Melbourne Cup.
The race date has not been finalized, but will take place on a Saturday next year in September in this popular resort town, also known as a outspan of the wealthy.
Other races are also planned and the event will take place over three days.
Me. Phindi Kema, founder of the race, yesterday told Die Burger the plan is that African countries will participate against each other.
All horses participating must be African bred,and expected to be a huge boost for the local racing industry.
It is hoped that South Africa will be under the international horse racing spotlight.
The decision was taken to use Plettenberg Bay because the town has much potential. This is considered a horse racing region.
The plan is to develop the town into the horse racing capital of Africa.
Spectators will be admitted to the event and wil the race be marketed to attract high-income groups of South Africans and local residents will also be targeted.
Betting will be permitted, but the main focus will horse racing as a sport rather than an opportunity to establish gambling.
Expected to be a yearly event with multiple benefits for the local racing industry.
There is still not decided on how many horses will participate.
This is an invitation event and a panel will make the final decision about who will eventually participate.
Negotiations with potential investors are still being negotiated. Kema said most investors will be from the Middle East.
According to a press release, mr. Michael Fenton was recently appointed as racing director.
Fenton is well known in international racing circles.
It is believed the race will open new doors in the racing market for South Africa.
It is described as South Africa's next big sporting event after the World Cup soccer.
- Die Burger

Sure we had a post on here about it a while back...

@RADETZKY :

Ms. Phindi Kema apparently was noted by TBA or media as the first black woman breeder who had some yearlings, bred on her stud farm, offered at last or year before last's sales.

Apparently, she was getting together wealthy Arabs to set up a race track for elitist Africans only. The only Arabs that would want to get involved are those from Dubai, almost all of whom our Mr Mick Goss & Mike de Kock obviously know. I klnow of no wealthy black in South Africa (having approached virtually every one of the enriched blacks to support Bulana when he just started off) who would have a passion for horseracing to be part of such a gigantic project.

I tried to make contact with her, but... no luck! I might get her contact number tomorrow and pass it on if you need to speak to her.

She is believed to have met with Mr Benneth Bulana (to be one of the trainers for the ultra-rich owners) but nothing came of it. I understand that she also met with the MEC in Western Cape who was apparently quite impressed with her project.

But, the site for the racetrack remains idle if it's location is not a mystery!

Nuts and more nuts

Thanks Umlilo...maybe you can keep us posted on developments...somewhere, sometime it might just all come together...

@RADETZKY
:

Seems like it's gonna become open season at this rate (heard other stories which cannot be published)! I've experienced that in other aspects of business... some blacks with a gist of an idea want to become big deals to make mega bucks only because of the empowerment aspect! Don't talk about commitment, knowledge, ethics or sincerity (I wont say that this is the general trend or applies to all blacks)!

Should we like-minded all get together, have a worksop/get-to-gether, explore all the options (legal, public, Government, etc), and plot a common, sensible way forward, we can do it.

Horseracing is, and will always be, a sport; the rest are side-shows & window-dressing- if I might opine.

The sport is too alluring to walk away from or, see it plummet towards self-destruct!

scam

wet dream

One can dream hehe8-)