Eugene Gunning

George – The richest horse race in Africa and in the history of the industry in South Africa will be staged in the Southern Cape next year, with the winner set to pocket an incredible R25m.

The race will take place in Plettenberg Bay on the existing polo field on which South Africa have played polo tests. The plan is to eventually build a horse-racing track there.

Local and overseas investors will finance the Africa Race International.

The Vodacom July, which is held in Durban, is currently South Africa’s richest race with prize money of R3m.

A date for the new race still has to be finalised, but it’s expected that it will take place on a Saturday in September next year. Other races are also being planned and the event is expected to run for three days.

Race founder Phindi Kema said that the plan was for African countries to compete against one another.

It will be a requirement for all the horses to have been bred in Africa. It is expected that it will be a big boost for the local horseracing industry and hopefully it will place South Africa on the international horseracing stage.

Plettenberg Bay was decided on as a venue because of its potential and the plan is to establish it as the horseracing capital of Africa.

It will aim to corner high income groups as spectators. While betting will be allowed, the main focus will be to establish horseracing as a sport rather than a gambling opportunity.

It is expected to become an annual event and there will be advantages for the local horseracing industry.

There has not yet been a final decision about how many horses will participate.

It will be an invitational event, with a panel set to decide on the participants.

Negotiations with potential investors are still continuing. Kema said that the biggest investor would come from the Middle East.

According to a press release, Michael Fenton has been appointed as race director. He is well-known in international horseracing circles.