It is all systems go for the Berlin November Handicap race 2016 edition.
And for the first time in the past three editions of its history, this year the race will see female jockeys taking part.
This was announced by Berlin November owner Luthando Bara at a press conference held at the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board (ECGBB) offices in Beacon Bay yesterday.
The 2016 edition, which is the fourth, will take place on November 28 at the Berlin Horse-racing track, said Bara.
According to Bara, the race would be incomplete without female jockeys.
What is the idea behind the inclusion of female jockeys?
“Every sport needs to be transformed to look beyond gender, and that is what we are trying to achieve by scouting for women jockeys,” said Bara.
“It was our realisation that there were no female jockeys in horse-racing all over the country, and we aim to change this.”
This is but one of the newest innovations that have been added to bolster the value of the race.
This time around, unlike in previous years where there were just 12 races, traditional and thoroughbreds, two more have been added.
Bara explained: “We have added two more races which will be finals, one for traditional horses and the other for thoroughbreds.
“These two categories will be a winner-takes-all, with prize money worth R50000 each for whoever reaches the finish line first in the traditional horses, same for thoroughbreds.”
More than 240 horses will be participating from all over South Africa, as well as from Lesotho.
About 70% will be traditional horses, while 30% will be thoroughbreds.
But the ambitious Bara did not end there in highlighting proposed new innovations.
In this regard, after having had to cancel the Legends Marathon this year, he has since added to the Berlin November a 5km fun run, which will be run on the same track as that of the horses.
“This is to promote integration in sport, but not only that but integration of sport and other industries for a complete package,” he said.
Indeed on this day horse-racing will meet athletics, music, fashion, heritage and culture.
Bara said he had managed to secure sponsorship from the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture, as well as from the ECGBB.
Women will be in Berlin saddle
And for the first time in the past three editions of its history, this year the race will see female jockeys taking part.
This was announced by Berlin November owner Luthando Bara at a press conference held at the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board (ECGBB) offices in Beacon Bay yesterday.
The 2016 edition, which is the fourth, will take place on November 28 at the Berlin Horse-racing track, said Bara.
According to Bara, the race would be incomplete without female jockeys.
What is the idea behind the inclusion of female jockeys?
“Every sport needs to be transformed to look beyond gender, and that is what we are trying to achieve by scouting for women jockeys,” said Bara.
“It was our realisation that there were no female jockeys in horse-racing all over the country, and we aim to change this.”
This is but one of the newest innovations that have been added to bolster the value of the race.
This time around, unlike in previous years where there were just 12 races, traditional and thoroughbreds, two more have been added.
Bara explained: “We have added two more races which will be finals, one for traditional horses and the other for thoroughbreds.
“These two categories will be a winner-takes-all, with prize money worth R50000 each for whoever reaches the finish line first in the traditional horses, same for thoroughbreds.”
More than 240 horses will be participating from all over South Africa, as well as from Lesotho.
About 70% will be traditional horses, while 30% will be thoroughbreds.
But the ambitious Bara did not end there in highlighting proposed new innovations.
In this regard, after having had to cancel the Legends Marathon this year, he has since added to the Berlin November a 5km fun run, which will be run on the same track as that of the horses.
“This is to promote integration in sport, but not only that but integration of sport and other industries for a complete package,” he said.
Indeed on this day horse-racing will meet athletics, music, fashion, heritage and culture.
Bara said he had managed to secure sponsorship from the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture, as well as from the ECGBB.
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