THE racing industry in South Africa has adopted an aggressive transformation programme for the upliftment and development of previously disadvantaged communities working within the industry and Gold Circle Racing in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape is making good headway in this direction.

These communities are now represented at all levels of racing in staff, management and at director level and schemes are in place to benefit the least qualified in the industry.

In KwaZulu-Natal the stable employees training school at Summerveld has already made great strides in fitting the racehorse grooms with basic literacy, riding and stable management skills to complement their work as grooms and a large number have passed through to obtain work within and outside the industry.

Gold Circle is taking things further and is now introducing a Stable Employees Educational Subsidy which will operate in conjunction with trainers in the company’s region of jurisdiction – KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

Chief Operations Officer for Gold Circle, Mr Michel Nairac, said the new subsidy scheme was part of the many initiatives Gold Circle had embarked on to express its commitment to empowering the previously disadvantaged by improving skills and contributing to the wider transformation of the horseracing industry.

"The ultimate aim of the scheme is to get black people to become registered trainers within three years" he said.

The scheme will be operated in conjunction with trainers who themselves will benefit through the substantial reduction in the costs they incur in improving the skills and knowledge of their grooms.

Previously disadvantaged individuals from within the pool of current grooms will be encouraged to sit for the Stable Employees examination set by the Jockey Club of Southern Africa.

On passing the examination, the groom’s trainer would apply to Gold Circle for the subsidy that would amount to R500 a month for 18 months, which the trainer would have to pay to the groom as a promotional increase.

During the 18-month period, the stable employee would be given every opportunity to write the Assistant Trainer examination set by the Jockey Club and, if successful, the Gold Circle subsidy would be increased to R1 000 a month for a further 18 months.

Trainers will be able to apply for one educational subsidy for every 20 horses in their care, with a limit of two subsidies per trainer.

Mr Nairac said the subsidy would benefit the trainer in reducing his costs. "But more importantly, it will encourage more grooms to improve their status by sitting for the two examinations and making themselves more efficient and marketable.

"Their standard of employment and living will increase and it would also help the racing industry by providing a wider base of competent workers. At the same time we are developing a pool of future black trainers."

Gill Simpkins
Communications Officer