The Status of Traditional Horse Racing in the Eastern Cape
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THR Cover FA 9/10/13 10:49 AM Page 1 The Status of Traditional Horse Racing in the Eastern Cape www.ussa.org.za www.ru.ac.za THR Intro - Chp 3 FA 9/10/13 10:40 AM Page 1 The Status of Traditional Horse Racing in the Eastern Cape ECGBB – 12/13 – RFQ – 10 Commissioned by Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board (ECGBB) Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, was awarded incidental thereto, contemplated in the Act and to advise the a tender called for by the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Member of the Executive Council of the Province for Economic Board (ECGBB) (BID NUMBER: ECGBB - 12/13 RFQ-10) to Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) with regard to gambling matters undertake research which would determine the status of and to exercise certain further powers contemplated in the traditional horse racing (THR) in the Eastern Cape. Act. The ECGBB was established by section 3 of the Gambling Rhodes University, established in 1904, is located in and Betting Act, 1997 (Act No 5 of 1997, Eastern Cape, as Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. amended). The mandate of the ECGBB is to oversee all Rhodes is a publicly funded University with a well established gambling and betting activities in the Province and matters research track record and a reputation for academic excellence. Rhodes University Research Team: Project Manager: Ms Jaine Roberts, Director: Research Principal Investigator: Ms Michelle Griffith Senior Researcher: Mr Craig Paterson, Doctoral Candidate in History Administrator: Ms Thumeka Mantolo, Research Officer, Research Office Eastern Cape Gambling & Betting Board: Marketing & Research Specialist: Mr Monde Duma Cover picture: People dance and sing while leading horses down to race. Back Cover picture: A man from Laphum’ilanga Club rides umhambo 2013 THR Intro - Chp 3 FA 9/10/13 10:40 AM Page 2 Imbono (Vision) | We’ll remember the heroes of our land of birth, clothed in the attire of our people, upon our return to them to witness the dancing hooves as our horses compete. Our women ululate and the men stomp (traditional dancing) Mares stampede as we turn the tide to return the tradition where it was born. Izenzo (Mission) | It is the strength begotten on the Sunday (from our faith) that keeps us going. It takes much effort, but we shall rise to the occasion and do for ourselves. In support of our unwavering love for horse racing. The Laphum’ iLanga Club, iDutywa Rhodes University The Status of Traditional Horse Racing in the Eastern Cape 01 THR Intro - Chp 3 FA 9/10/13 10:40 AM Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction 01 2 Methods 03 3 Literature Review 05 4 History of Traditional Horse Racing 07 5 The Extent of Traditional Horse Racing in the Eastern Cape 11 6 Horse Racing practices 13 6.1 Traditional use 14 6.2 Race styles 14 6.3 Categorising Horses into Classes 16 6.4 Venues and Tracks 16 7 Management of Traditional Horse Racing 17 7.1 Racing Clubs 18 7.2 The Eastern Cape Amateur Horse Racing Association Horse owners are instructed, by Mr Bidi on how to register (ECAHRA) 19 their horses for the race. 7.3 The OR Tambo Horse Racing Association 20 7.4 Ad Hoc Races 21 7.5 Proposed Traditional Horse Racing Business Ventures 22 8 Management of Horses 23 8.1 Breeding 24 8.2 Health Care 24 8.3 General management 26 8.4 Jockeys and Tack 28 9 The Drivers and Intricacies of Traditional Horse Racing Events 29 9.1 Sport 30 9.2 Identity 31 9.3 Economics 31 9.4 Indigenous Knowledge Systems 32 10 Gambling and Betting Practices within THR 33 11 Other Roleplayers/Stakeholders 35 12 Support and Policy Development Interventions 37 12.1 Support 38 12.2 Legislation and Policy Development Interventions 39 13 Traditional Horse Racing as a Tourism Product 41 14 Findings and Recommendations 43 15 Conclusion 49 16 Summary of Recommendations 51 02 THR Intro - Chp 3 FA 9/10/13 10:40 AM Page 4 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Amaqhirha - Doctors Amayeza - Medicines Bherhi - A Thoroughbred horse Mdyarho - A horse racing event (from the Afrikaans word jag) Umhambo - A style of riding known in English as ‘trippling’ or ‘racking’ (related to a number of isiXhosa words referring to travelling or journeys) Umkhwelo - In the context of this report umkhwelo refers to long-distance endurance horse races (from the verb -khwela meaning to ride or climb on) Umphalo - a kind of horse race in which a horse gallops as fast as possible towards the finish line (apparently derived from the word ‘pole’ in reference to the winning post and used in the sense of “the first past the post wins”) A boy leads a horse to the track 01 THR Intro - Chp 3 FA 9/10/13 10:40 AM Page 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board advertised a tender for research assessing and auditing the status of traditional horse racing in the Eastern Cape. The term ‘traditional horse racing’ (THR) is used for convenience but covers a range of horse racing events, not all of which are ‘traditional’. The term, within the research and this report, is used to denote all horse racing in the Eastern Cape which lies outside of the formal gambling horse racing industry which is localised to Port Elizabeth. Rhodes University, Grahamstown was awarded the tender by breed (EC Horse crossed with a faster breed) and are managed the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board, and a Service by the owners of the horses. All horses are used in umphalo Level Agreement was duly signed. The research was undertaken and umkhwelo racing, but only EC Horses are used in umhambo over an eight (8) week period from March to May 2013 and racing. EC Horses and cross-breeds are usually bred locally was titled “The Status of Traditional Horse Racing (THR) in and Thoroughbreds are bought off the racing yards of Port the Eastern Cape.” Elizabeth and Durban. Races are organised by Horse Racing Clubs (mainly in the southern areas of the Eastern Cape) and Qualitative research methodologies were used in the process Horse Racing Associations (mainly in the northern areas of of data collection. These included in-depth interviews and the Eastern Cape). Races occur almost weekly, mostly on direct observations. Initially a questionnaire was used to guide Saturdays and public holidays. Jockeys of umphalo and umkhwelo interviews based on the activities specified by the ECGBB. racing are usually boys or young men of lighter weight, and Attending races was found to be the most effective method mostly from within the horse-owning family, whereas umhambo in obtaining information, and provided opportunities for much jockeys are usually older men. Tack (saddles and bridles) and direct observation. the attire of the jockeys varies considerably. Historically Xhosa men raced on oxen as a form of THR is a cultural and traditional practice or sport, with distinctive entertainment at social gatherings. Horses were introduced training methods, riding styles, rules of the sport and horse into South Africa in the early 19th century and replaced oxen care methods. It has been developed over the past one and as a mode of transport, for use in combat and, initially only in a half centuries by the people of these areas. It should thus be the southern areas, for racing at cultural events for entertainment regarded as part of the indigenous knowledge system of the and prestige. It was only in the second half of the 19th century region. THR is still viewed by the people involved as a socio- that the term mdyarho was used to describe a horse race, cultural event that is for entertainment, that carries with it when the amaXhosa raced against Settlers. great prestige, and as a celebration within a significant cultural or other event. It remains predominantly male in terms of The researchers found THR occurring in most Local horse owners and riders. Municipalities of the Amathole and OR Tambo Districts, and in the bordering Local Municipalities of Chris Hani and Alfred Nzo Districts. Three styles of mdyarho are practiced; umphalo (turf/speed/galloping racing), umhambo (trippling) and umkhwelo (speed endurance racing). Umhambo is the preferred style in the northern parts of the Eastern Cape. Numerous tracks have been established in villages. The race track is the only infrastructure that exists at the race venue. Tracks usually occur on communal land surrounding the village. Horses used are Eastern Cape (EC) Horses (also called indigenous or Xhosa horses), Thoroughbreds and a cross- 02 THR Intro - Chp 3 FA 9/10/13 10:40 AM Page 6 No organised betting or gambling takes place at these races, passed on through generations in horse owning families. Race with only occasional private wagers between horse owners, venues are also not specifically protected in terms of local although it was reported that betting did occur about a decade municipal planning and zoning. or two ago at some of the bigger races. Entrance fees per horse per race are paid and this is allocated to administration, Provincial Government has expressed an interest in developing judges and prize money for the winning horses. and promoting THR as a tourism product. The research indicated the potential for tourism as a local tourism project in the Government departments and the private sector have expressed marketing of cultural festivals and events, and at some of the an interest in supporting and promoting THR. Support in the larger races where other cultural activities could be introduced. form of the development of basic infrastructure at race venues Development of the venue at Tsolo Junction could be a (railings along the tracks, shelters for both horses and spectators, possibility, and this would also assist in developing tourism and water supplies), and assistance with information on horse along the Wild Coast.