Who we are
We are a team of highly skilled professionals
committed to reenergising and reinvigorating the horse racing industry in South Africa.
Horse racing is one of the oldest and most popular sports in the world, dating back to 4500BC. Today, it continues to attract millions of viewers every year. At 4Racing, we believe that passion, clarity of purpose and transparency are key to evolving the sport to its full potential in South Africa.
Be radically transparent
This not only applies to how we will run our business, but to how we engage with all industry stakeholders.
Embrace the power of partnerships
We understand that there is profound power in partnerships, and that 4Racing can only succeed if it develops.
Profit through purpose
While 4Racing is a business that needs to be successful to ensure the success and welfare of all players in the industry.
Drive for transformation
At 4Racing, transformation isn’t seen as a government mandated scorecard to which we must adhere.
Be radically transparent
This not only applies to how we will run our business, but to how we engage with all industry stakeholders. Our philosophy is to collaborate openly with our stakeholders and actively look for opportunities to work closely in the design and implementation of new projects and strategies.
Embrace the power of partnerships
We understand that there is profound power in partnerships, and that 4Racing can only succeed if it develops powerful partnerships with a range of stakeholders. These relationships are vital in our bid to build the world’s most loved racing experience. We intend to work closely with owners, trainers, bookmakers, government, regulators, and other critical stakeholders.
Profit through purpose
While 4Racing is a business that needs to be successful to ensure the success and welfare of all players in the industry, we will strive to be a purpose-driven organisation in achieving our long-term objectives. This will entail support in improving the working conditions of grooms, work riders and all 4Racing employees, as well as enhancing the race experience for punters – whether in person on race days – or at the tote.
Drive for transformation
At 4Racing, transformation isn’t seen as a government mandated scorecard to which we must adhere. Rather, we see it as a critical step in developing a quality racing product that can be appreciated and enjoyed by all spheres of society in South Africa. The power of diversity cannot be derived from simply hitting arbitrary targets. The true benefits only arise when each of us can truly empathise equally with all those we work with and all those who enter in and participate in the horse racing industry.
key differentiators
What sets us apart is our commitment
To ensuring a resurgence in the love for the sport of Horse Racing. Digital transformation is critical to living our core purpose of delivering the world’s most loved racing experience.
Digital transformation
Digital transformation is critical to living our core purpose of delivering the world’s most loved racing experience.
Industry transformation
4Racing will set up a broad based black economic empowerment trust, the beneficiaries of which will be predominantly black SA grooms and stable hands.
4Racing TV
We have created a new host broadcast service to manage all live productions.
Operations
4Racing’s strategy around fixtures and stakes for the 2022 calendar year has seen 240 fixtures proposed at 4Racing venues.
Digital transformation
Digital transformation is critical to living our core purpose of delivering the world’s most loved racing experience. The 4Racing team is exploring the current digital capabilities that underpin all stakeholder experiences, including direct to customer (punters, sports fanatics and lifestyle seekers), business-to-business segments (bookmakers, agencies, affiliates, broadcasters etc.) and all other key industry stakeholders (owners, trainers, grooms, regulators, fellow operators etc.). Put quite simply…we want to radically improve these experiences for the benefit of horse racing…4Racing.
Industry transformation
4Racing will set up a broad based black economic empowerment trust, the beneficiaries of which will be predominantly black South African grooms and stable hands. In addition, it is envisaged that an employee share incentive scheme will be established primarily to support 4Racing’s black South African employees.
We also plan to create partnerships to develop traditional racing. Phase one is to build effective leadership within the community of traditional racing, provide support and skills development opportunities and build integrity in traditional racing. Phase two is to develop partnerships with key stakeholders to creating economic opportunities in all aspects of the value chain, including the sport, agricultural aspects, tourism aspects and awareness of the sport.
We are also looking to renovate the existing grooms’ accommodation and implement initiatives to improve the living conditions of grooms.
4Racing TV
We have created a new host broadcast service to manage all live productions. This provides for further interoperability and interchangeability of the equipment and technologies used when we need to gear up for our major events. Our support of Cape Racing in this regard has already yielded great results, with their Saturday races coverage now of the right standard to be flighted by Sky Racing live in the UK.
We have commissioned established and new magazine shows to bring the sport, the data, the diversity and great personalities involved in racing to the fore and engage new audiences.
We understand that sport is no longer just consumed on the couch via traditional broadcast distribution, but also across social platforms and OTT offerings. In response to this trend, we have invested in a short-from social media friendly content offering and 4Racing TV web, mobile and SmartTV applications for our customers to enjoy a dedicated and curated racing television experience.
Operations
4Racing’s strategy around fixtures and stakes for the 2022 calendar year has seen 240 fixtures proposed at 4Racing venues, and stakes increased from R186 million in 2021 to R207 million in 2022.
The strategy around fixtures and stakes will be to develop a seasonal approach to stakes, whereby the minor races in each region will carry an enhanced stakes level in-season as compared to out-of-season.
4Racing has been granted the operating licences to assume operations at Turffontein and will assume the management of Kenilworth Racing via a management agreement.
The racing seasons in the three regions have been identified by 4Racing as follows:
Highveld - 1 November to 30 April
Western Cape - 1 November to 28 February
Eastern Cape - 1 August to 31 October
The new racing season dovetails well with the KZN winter season that runs from 1 May to 31 July. The plan is to encourage the best horses in each racing region to follow the seasonal roadshow nationally as far as possible.
The racing calendar and stakes allocation follows consultation with stakeholders about the declining horse populations nationally, and to better align the number of fixtures with the current horse populations in each region.
Meet the team
Our 4racing executives
Fundi Sithebe
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Langham
Chief Financial Officer
Colin Gordon
Chief Operating Officer
Lunde Bleni
Executive for Stakeholder Labour Relations and Transformation
