The Work Riders’ Challenge carries R50 000 in prize money for the riders and a Racing Association Highveld Feature Seasons award. It comprises three race meetings:
Vaal Turf Thursday 3 December 2009
Vaal Turf Sunday 7 February 2010
Turffontein Standside Saturday 1 May 2010
Work riders will score points in each race at the three meetings as follows: FIRST - 10 points; SECOND - 7 points; THIRD - 5 points; FOURTH - 3 points.
The work rider accumulating the most points at each of the three meetings will win R5 000.
In addition, there are grand prizes for the three riders who score the most points in total across the three meetings: CHALLENGE WINNER - R20 000; RUNNER-UP - R10 000; THIRD - R5 000.
A special award will be made to the Work Riders’ Challenge winner at the 2009-10 Racing Association Highveld Feature Seasons Awards ceremony.
Abram Makhubo won the Challenge last season in spite of not riding in the final leg. He scored 74 points in the first two legs and finished 13 points clear of runner-up Jackson Feni
"Phumelela is delighted to welcome Betting World aboard as a co-sponsor of the Challenge," said Phumelela Sales Executive Clyde Basel.
"We will approach Theta with a view to them co-sponsoring the last leg of the Challenge as they did last year. Their participation was most welcome last year and we hope to have them on board again," Basel added.
The Work Riders’ Training Programme is an ultra-successful empowerment initiative that was established by the Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust, which also manages the programme.
The Horseracing Trust’s BEE Work Riders’ Training Programme is an ultra-successful empowerment initiative and is run on the Trust’s behalf by trainer James Maree, a former champion jockey, at his Alewynspoort establishment.
The programme comprises courses for grooms and work riders from Turffontein, Vaal and Randjesfontein training centres as well as private establishments on the Highveld. Those who pass the basic course are allowed to ride in races down the straight, while those who pass the advanced course can also compete in races round the turn.
Regular trial gallops are held after Highveld race meetings to allow advanced work riders to familiarise themselves with the racetracks and to qualify to ride in races, and in conjunction with the Racing Association, stages work-riders’ races almost once a week at Turffontein and Vaal race meetings, in which riders are paid standard riding fees and pocket the jockeys’ share of any stakes their mounts earn.
The programme has been a resounding success and more than 230 people have passed the basic course, while about 50 have graduated from the advanced course. The programme has improved the earning potential of many previously disadvantaged grooms and opened new career opportunities for some of them.
Five graduates have gone on to become professional riders and others have travelled overseas to compete for rides with work riders from every corner of the globe. Many have become freelance work riders for different trainers and their earnings have quadrupled.