The Highveld racing implosion proudly brought to you by 4Q Racing

The Vaal race card today is quite the anomaly. The first two Maiden races are well supported with the extremely rare scenario of having a 20 carded field in the second race competing for the R70 000 stake on offer. It goes downhill rapidly from there and single figure runners make up the rest of the card. Kimberley would be proud of the R55 000 MR71 soupmeat handicap that attracted 8 runners and who have a combined winning total of 12 races between them. Compare this to Fridays PE meeting where a FM66 and MR68 head up the soup both with a stake of R63 000.

Things get worse when the weekends offerings are compared. 4Q offer Maiden races for a stake of R70K while Cape Racing offer the same level at R100 000 ( 42% higher ). The Soupmeat stakes on the day offered by 4Q comprises of a MR80 that has a R60 000 stake, while the comparable race in the Cape is a MR70 that has a stake of R80 000 ( 33% higher off a 10 pound lower base ).

You have got to wonder how many Joburg horses will be semigrating south this season. As an owner, or for that matter a trainer too, you need your head read if you haven't started making plans yet.

.....Mary.... Mary....not quite contrary....how will your 4Q garden now grow....:S

The feedback I received from the Equus Awards evening is that the 4Q management and senior employees (ex-phum dead wood) are expecting the benefactor to inject another R500m to keep the business afloat. And based on what the 4Q spokesperson said at the dog and pony show at Kenilworth recently "this family does not walk away from anything", its fair to assume that the benefactor will be coughing up soon.

Hopefully the stakes in 4Q country (Maryland) will be increased substantially soon

Go 4Q you good thing and show the boys down south that you indeed have a cash pile.


Based on Dave's article "Question of Balance" I hope my comment above is not harsh nor personal.

......whaaaaat..... more of Mary's moola required already.....:dry:

A real sad state of affairs up North.

In my lifetime it must be the first year that we did not have any racing for 3 x consecutive weekends in JHB, bar obviously AHS and COVID.

Somebody please help this lot

.....but they are getting help....a rather generous benefactor seems to be wanting to throw more money at the problem
.......:S

Have just gone through the racing calendar for September and I see once again no local Gauteng racing over the weekends of 17 and 24 September. Unless I have the incorrect information.

These people running the show in Gauteng have lost the plot completely, no racing and scheduling sense. It is only a question of time until all collapse. I fear it may be too late already!!

Once again, a sad state of racing affairs up North.

Saint Tropez wrote:

Have just gone through the racing calendar for September and I see once again no local Gauteng racing over the weekends of 17 and 24 September. Unless I have the incorrect information.

These people running the show in Gauteng have lost the plot completely, no racing and scheduling sense. It is only a question of time until all collapse. I fear it may be too late already!!

Once again, a sad state of racing affairs up North.

Currently, as far as I can see, also no weekend meetings scheduled for 15 and 22 October - will this be the norm going forward :ohmy:

Frodo wrote:

Saint Tropez wrote:

Have just gone through the racing calendar for September and I see once again no local Gauteng racing over the weekends of 17 and 24 September. Unless I have the incorrect information.

These people running the show in Gauteng have lost the plot completely, no racing and scheduling sense. It is only a question of time until all collapse. I fear it may be too late already!!

Once again, a sad state of racing affairs up North.

Currently, as far as I can see, also no weekend meetings scheduled for 15 and 22 October - will this be the norm going forward :ohmy:

Apparently, the Racing Operator does not want two meetings to clash anymore at the same time.

I imagine not a big thing for Large yards and large owners, but smaller owners who would like to see there horse run, maybe invite guests not to helpful this new Gauteng policy.

Just another dent in the SA Racing coffin that is all but nailed shut and buried.

.....4Q country is gonna be in big trouble as they are banking on their peak season and feature races as a drawcard.... which will entice a bit of quality raiders but the mass of lower rated horses will certainly be more than welcome in the Cape where increased races and incentives may see them earn and race in growing satellite yards.

Down there we will see bigger fields and better racing ....while here in 4Q land small fields with poor horses and zero course attendance and a further drain on operational costs.....:huh:

naresh wrote:

Frodo wrote:

Saint Tropez wrote:

Have just gone through the racing calendar for September and I see once again no local Gauteng racing over the weekends of 17 and 24 September. Unless I have the incorrect information.

These people running the show in Gauteng have lost the plot completely, no racing and scheduling sense. It is only a question of time until all collapse. I fear it may be too late already!!

Once again, a sad state of racing affairs up North.

Currently, as far as I can see, also no weekend meetings scheduled for 15 and 22 October - will this be the norm going forward :ohmy:

Apparently, the Racing Operator does not want two meetings to clash anymore at the same time.

Not sure ..... as per the current schedule (SAHorseracing), we have a double meeting scheduled for Durbanville and Turffontein on 1 Oct, but NO meeting scheduled for 15 Oct (in fact, no meeting has been scheduled from 11 thru 21 Oct) :ohmy: