Would like to say well done to Neil Pretorius on his new appointment, well deserved.
ABC team
Racing express.
TELLYTRACK is pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Pretorius as Operations Manager of South African horseracing’s exclusive TV channel.
Executive manager Nico Kritsiotis said on Tuesday: "Tellytrack has grown significantly in the last 24 months and we are facing many new challenges. Neil will give our administrative department a much-needed boost. I look forward to working with him, and I expect our viewers will see a lot of improvements to the channel going forward."
Kritsiotis continued: "When Neil starts on 1 June, my role will become more strategic than operational. I’ll be handling aspects like looking into the new technologies available to make Tellytrack more interactive and I’m aiming at broadening Tellytrack’s viewership by introducing new initiatives. I’ll also be continuing to present and commentate, but not as much as in the past."
He describes Pretorius, currently a popular on-course presenter in the Western Cape, as "a good, go-getter kind of guy" whose enthusiasm for horseracing and insight into what Tellytrack viewers might enjoy should ensure a more polished and enjoyable product.
"Neil’s brief is to handle the day-to-day operational aspects of Tellytrack, like dealing with customer queries and acting as the interface between the channel and our viewers and staff management."
His presenting skills will not be lost to the channel and the Western Cape has a more-than adequate replacement in Grant Knowles.
"For us, it’s a win-win scenario," enthused Kritsiotis.
Pretoria-born Pretorius (45), whose girlfriend Gwen is relocating to Johannesburg with him, is "very excited’’ about his first official posting in horseracing.
A teacher before he moved into the corporate world, Pretorius has worked for the last decade as regional manager for Alucushion Thermal Insulation Pty Ltd. His heart was always in horseracing, though.
"From a very young age, my energy has been in racing, first as a punter and then a racehorse owner."
He has owned such fine racehorses as seven-time winner Hautcar, six-time winner Karee Karee (a R2,300 buy) and Durbanville Cup winner Berlin Affair.
It has long been his dream to work full-time in horseracing - "since I first started presenting on Tellytrack alongside the late Wendy Norman 10 years ago".
Now his time has come, he plans to take up the challenge with both hands.
"This move has come at the right time - and I’m doing this for the right reasons. I have a lot to give the racing industry," he affirms. "I’ll be reporting to Nico Kritsiotis and we’ll put together an agenda of priorities because my job description is diverse.
"It’s a big step to leave the Western Cape. I have joint custody of my son Devon (who turns eight this year and the light of my life) and things are going to change enormously.
"I’ve also built up a great rapport with the Western Cape trainers and jockeys and I’m very grateful to them for always making themselves available to be interviewed, which has made my job so much easier. I’d like that to continue into the future."
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