There are new incentives for top trainers to raid.
A new dimension of interest has opened for horse racing fans. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The competitive edge in South African racing has been sharpened on the stone of a large sponsorship for national trainer, jockey, apprentice and groom championships.
Sportsbook operator Lucky Fish has put up a combined R4.5-million for the four titles – and has introduced rules tweaks that could make the competitions a lot more interesting than the traditional National Horseracing Authority versions.
Notably, the trainer championship will be decided on the number of race victories over the course of the 12-month season – as opposed to total prize money accumulated under the NHA and Equus banners.
The 2025/26 champion trainer, Western Cape’s Justin Snaith, racked up R39.5-million in stakes for his owner clients, with 140 winners. Fifth-placed Eastern Cape conditioner Alan Greeff banked just R13.1-million but saddled 149 winners.
With a month of the new season completed, Snaith and Greeff are level-pegging on the stakes front with R1.2-million each. Snaith has 12 in the win column while Greeff has 15.
A new dimension of interest has opened for racing fans.
Encouraging trainers to raid
The Lucky Fish press release explains further details of the 2026/27 initiative: “All four competitions will encompass race meetings staged in all four racing jurisdictions in South Africa…
“With the aim of encouraging trainers to raid outside their home centres, there is a proviso that trainers must have saddled a minimum number of six horses outside their designated home jurisdiction.
“In addition, the trainer must win a race in two of the four jurisdictions to qualify (for clarity, Turffontein and the Vaal racecourses are in the same jurisdiction).
“Similarly, the Lucky Fish National Jockeys Championship will reward the top 10 jockeys based on the total number of winners ridden across South Africa. To qualify, jockeys must have ridden at least five winners outside of their home jurisdiction.
“A total prize fund of R2-million has been allocated to each championship with R1-million awarded to the champion trainer and R1-million to the champion jockey…”
Incentives for apprentices and grooms
There is R200,000 for apprentices, with the top five youngsters sharing the money and the winner getting R100,000. To qualify, apprentices must have ridden at least one winner in two of the four jurisdictions.
The top 30 grooms who take charge of the most winners nationwide will share R300,000, with the most successful groom getting R50,000.
After collecting nothing but trophies and slaps on the back for his previous titles, multiple former champ jockey Gavin Lerena appears to have been mightily inspired by the new prize. The amiable but tough-as-teak rider landed four wins at Turffontein on Saturday and followed up with another at Scottsville on Sunday.
That haul shot Lerena up the current table to third place on 13 wins, 12 behind runaway early leader Keagan de Melo – another former champ who’ll be keenly eyeing the one-bar championship loot.
Another sponsorship deal was announced last week, with bookmaker Betway pledging to continue its alliance with operator 4Racing – backing various feature events and particularly Joburg’s flagship Summer Cup meeting, due to be staged again in a couple of months’ time.
Interestingly, the parties did not announce a number for the Betway Summer Cup sponsorship, which stood at an SA record R6-million until topped by Hollywoodbets’ R10-million for the recent Durban July. Watch out for a wedge about to land.
Every week we see more signs of local horse racing in good health.
