Re:Re:4Racing announces Zwane as chairperson

4Racing, the new South African horseracing controlling body formerly known as Mary Oppenheimer Daughters (MOD), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mxolisi Zwane as Chairperson, effective from 1 April 2021.

Mr Zwane, an attorney of the High Court of South Africa, is a prominent Human Rights activist, as well as being an experienced arbitrator with the Association of Arbitrators, and has held several esteemed positions and served as Director on many boards, including the Pan South African Language Board, National Heritage Council, National Lotteries Commission, Gauteng Tourism Authority, Black Business Council, Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CHAMSA) and Premier Foods to name but a few.

A Managing Partner at Zwane-Sambo Inc., Mr Zwane has also held the position of Chairperson of the Gauteng Gambling Board and is therefore well acquainted with horseracing and the challenges the sport has experienced over the years.

“I am extremely excited to have been presented with the opportunity this position has provided me and I look forward to engaging with all necessary stakeholders as 4Racing proceeds with the vital transformation and rebuilding of the South African horseracing industry” states Mr Zwane.

“This industry has many stakeholders and, importantly, provides both employment for thousands as well as significant tax revenue for Treasury. This makes our work really crucial, both for preserving the jobs and livelihoods of many, and for growing the sport which has suffered enormously over the past decades” continued Mr Zwane. “The challenge is there for all to see and I am extremely confident 4Racing will help deliver racing back to the owners, punters, racing yards and complimentary businesses that rely on a sustainable, growing industry for their livelihoods and enjoyment.”

In addition to Mr Zwane’s imminent arrival to oversee a new era, 4Racing is expecting to receive approval from the Competition Commission by the end of March to proceed with rolling out their strategy, following which focus will be on attaining all the necessary licensing from the Gambling Board. This will be a key milestone given the distress the industry has been under for some time. “There is still plenty of work to be done, but 4Racing is optimistic that the necessary pieces will start falling into place given the amount of work that’s already been done” said Zwane.

The original priority for MOD, and therefore for 4Racing, has been to save jobs and pave the way for a sustainable industry, while looking after the interests of all parties. Of particular importance are the most vulnerable – grooms employed by the racing stables and those working on the farms.

To this end 4Racing will include a broad-based ownership scheme (Grooms Trust) with an Empowered Shareholder structure and employee share ownership program to meet the requirements of Statement 100 of the Codes. The new structure will not only provide for shareholding for empowered shareholders, but will also include a revenue share to fund new initiatives, such as a Pension Fund.

“As a direct result of the Plan, 4Racing will take over the employment of approximately 1,040 employees, while operationally we are committed to levelling the playing fields with regards to stakes in the regions in which we will be operating, while details of an additional Seasonal Stakes Program will also be announced shortly” states Restructuring task Team member Charles Savage. “This program will include placing additional emphasis (and with it, greater prize money) on the extending of the Triple Crown as well as other initiatives designed to encourage greater competition across racing jurisdictions to ensure our champions compete against one another more regularly.”

Digital transformation of the industry is of paramount importance as we seek to elevate SA racing, and plans are being drawn up for large-scale investment into improving the product for the betterment of all stakeholders. Special attention is being paid to ensuring our products and services are easier for partners to carry and deliver to their customers, while we also aim to build on our existing international partnerships to maximise revenue opportunities and improve the showcasing and broadcast of our world-class racing product both locally and abroad.

4Racign has already engaged extensively with Government to create a platform to build a better understanding of horseracing and to win over then state’s support as we seek to rebuild from the bottom up. This includes both the on- and off-course product where improvements with the TAB experience are essential and where the promotion of the various tote offerings are essential for the funding and sustainability of the industry.

“There is so much to be done, and we have a great responsibility to elevate this wonderful sport to the position it so richly deserves” says Zwane. “We really can’t wait to start generating momentum and seeing the strategies the Restructuring Task Team, MOD and other dedicated people have been working on so tirelessly. We look forward to collaborating, and partnering, with all industry stakeholders under a common purpose and goal – and to do it all 4Racing” concludes Zwane - www.turftalk.co.za

Please start by fixing your primary income driver, the punter. The punting experience for me has become absolutely trash. Watching Tellytrack these days is more frustrating than anything. When you get things right for the punter, you will have more than enough income to fix things for everyone, from the groom all the way to the top.

So this guy is married to the lady who got appointed to the RA board. This is a good political appointment to give the illusion that the whites are sharing power. It will go a long way to possibly get the 3% back from bookies winning bets.

When is Colin Gordon being announced? The F1 guy at Tellytrack? When will the RA be disbanded, it serves no purpose.

Lots and lots of smoke and mirrors and very much a need to know culture.

I will state publicly here for the record I Joao Da Mata have zero faith in 4Racing.

That does not mean I wont buy horse and in my little way support SA racing. That would not be the solution BUT I wont accept them , not today not until they FULLY represent horse racing.

@easy I get the feeling that the new elite do not give a toss about anyone outside of the new inner circle. There has been a real opportunity to do things differently and put racing above individual agendas. Unfortunately the opportunity has not been grasped and the new elite are making exactly the same mistakes of those before them. Every individual stupid enough to "invest" in something where there is little chance of showing a return while feeding the machine, should be cherished and nurtured, not excluded.

I share your views.

what cr@p...sw ex tri box

Thor wrote: Please start by fixing your primary income driver, the punter. The punting experience for me has become absolutely trash. Watching Tellytrack these days is more frustrating than anything. When you get things right for the punter, you will have more than enough income to fix things for everyone, from the groom all the way to the top.

The primary driver is the owner. Owners were around before punters. Look after the owner and then the punter will be looked after. Without the owner there won’t even be a punter.


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I wish 4Racing all the best.

We really need some action plans after this limbo period and more transparency going forward.

With Zwane's background maybe the 6% tax on racing bets can be removed to level the playing fields with sports bets.

Getting the image and confidence back for the punters to use the tote is a major challenge and look forward to hearing what changes will take place.

Mac with the greatest respect ( and I have met you with Kharg) i personally think you are incorrect. The owner is definitely important but not the primary driver of the sport. Lets take the gambling away altogether and see how many so called owners will purchase expensive thoroughbreds to race for a cup ( or a pie and coke as Molly says). Im not sure what you mean when you say look after the owner and the punter will be taken care of!! How does looking after the owner help the punter? These are the people that keep the game alive by providing stakes for horses and owners to race for. The stakes currently are pathetic im surprised that owners continue to buy and race ( numbers prove that owners are declining). So if we want to get stakes up again we need to ensure better facilities better product better opportunities to the people who ultimately provide the owner with a return on his / her investment. Personally I don't see owners racing against one another for fun and paying people to look after their horses, train their horses, and ride their horses, or indeed even to breed them. Just my opinion of course and again I respect yours but we will just have to agree to disagree.

Just to add to the above the truth is that no one entity is more important than the other. This industry needs to pull together and provide for all concerned, owners grooms punters in order to grow again

MissT wrote: Mac with the greatest respect ( and I have met you with Kharg) i personally think you are incorrect. The owner is definitely important but not the primary driver of the sport. Lets take the gambling away altogether and see how many so called owners will purchase expensive thoroughbreds to race for a cup ( or a pie and coke as Molly says). Im not sure what you mean when you say look after the owner and the punter will be taken care of!! How does looking after the owner help the punter? These are the people that keep the game alive by providing stakes for horses and owners to race for. The stakes currently are pathetic im surprised that owners continue to buy and race ( numbers prove that owners are declining). So if we want to get stakes up again we need to ensure better facilities better product better opportunities to the people who ultimately provide the owner with a return on his / her investment. Personally I don't see owners racing against one another for fun and paying people to look after their horses, train their horses, and ride their horses, or indeed even to breed them. Just my opinion of course and again I respect yours but we will just have to agree to disagree.

I was typing and then i saw your post.

110% I could not have said it any better.

Racing is a package deal with different parts to function together to make it work. Too many parts are broken and do not get fixed.

How many non racing folk knows about the final leg of the Tripple Crown and Tiara tomorrow?

Where is the advertising to get new blood in the game?

If my dad and his dad wasn’t horse racing punters, I would have probably not been a punter.