Mission Statement

"To facilitate debate on matters of national importance to the Sport of South African Horseracing and to provide equitable funding solutions for approved projects. Additionally, Racing South Africa seeks to assist in the curing and management of diseases, to assist in the changing of international protocols, to improve the delivery of horses into and out of South Africa and to effectively market South African horses to the world."

 

Background

Following the outbreak of African Horsesickness (AHS) in the Middle East in the late 1950's, the only mechanism to export horses from a country infected with AHS was via the USA Protocol. Once the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) accepted changes to the AHS Code in order to allow the 1989 Spanish Olympic Games to take place (following the Spanish outbreak of AHS in 1987/88), attempts were made to negotiate an export protocol with the EU. But it was not until 1995, when a workshop was held at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, that any real progress was made to develop South Africa's international export strategy.

Flowing from that workshop, the South African Horse Import & Export Council (Section 21) was formed to oversee the strategy and by 1997 the South African Export Protocol, 97/10/EC, was ratified with the EU. To facilitate the export of London News to Hong Kong, a 4-stable vector-protected quarantine station was built on Kenilworth Racecourse and together with stables at the Government-owned quarantine station at Montague Gardens, export numbers increased steadily.

After the two year suspension had been lifted following the first outbreak of AHS in the AHS Controlled Area in 1999, the South African Equine Trade Council (Section 21) was formed to market South African bloodstock to global markets.

Further demand for exports lead to the building of the 32-stable vector-protected Kenilworth Quarantine Station (Pty Ltd) in 2003 and it was agreed that the three organizations should be brought under the management of a Chief Executive Officer.

Formation of Horseracing South Africa (Pty) Ltd

There has long been a need for an organization focusing on breaking the shackles that have isolated South Africa's horseracing industry from the rest of the world. The causes of our isolation were twofold: Firstly, political which was resolved when South Africa transformed in 1994. Secondly, diseases causing the restriction of movement of South African horses internationally.

Therefore, a new organization was established to solve this problem and on Wednesday 3 August 2005, Horseracing South Africa (Pty) Ltd, trading as Racing South Africa, was founded on behalf of the main stakeholders of the South African Horseracing industry: the Breeders, the Operators and the Owners.

Core Functions

At its inception, the following functions were agreed by the Board of Racing South Africa:

1. To fund and direct the management of the Equine Research Centre at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria.

2. To assist in the development of the South African Horse Export Protocol

3. To manage Kenilworth Quarantine Station

4. To fund and direct the work of the South African Equine Trade Council

5. Due to the nature of Racing South Africa's shareholding, it also facilitates and encourages debate on matters of national importance to the South African horseracing industry and in many instances provides a funding solution for decisions taken.

Racing South Africa Board of Directors 2010/2011