The basis for awarding the equine categories for the Equus Awards from the 2023/2024 season has been slightly altered from the past year. The pattern race points system remains intact. The tables will be updated after major race meetings and are being updated by the NHRA. The final list of nominees for each award will be derived from the final points standings amongst the relevant categories. The panel of judges will then use the tables derived from the points system as a guide when making their final decision. There will no longer be a public vote.
Points are accumulated by each horse during the season in Graded races, with an exception made for the Champion Stayer category, where Listed performances are also to be included. The points system ensures that South Africa’s best races are awarded the most points in each category. Each horse nominated to the final voting list has demonstrated potential Champion status.
Grade 1 races will carry more points than Grade 2 races, Grade 2 more than Grade 3. Open races carry more points than restricted races (by age or sex), and WFA or fixed-weight races have more points than conditions or handicap races of the same grading. Additionally, certain races have been designated “Super Status” in their respective grading to acknowledge their enhanced importance in the graded race pattern throughout the season. These races will carry the most points in each category and grading.
Points will accumulate for the first four finishers in the Grade 1 and the first three in the Grade 2 and Grade 3 races. Listed races that carry points towards the Champion Stayer category will be awarded for the first three finishers except in races restricted to fillies and mares, where only the first two will be awarded points. All graded performances in the season will carry points towards the Horse-of-the-year, age-group, and male/female categories. However, the four distance-related categories (Champion Sprinter, Miler, Middle Distance, and Stayer) will EXCLUDE performances in Age-Group restricted races, and points for these categories will only accrue from races where all ages may participate.
Six races at Grade 1 and two at the Grade 2 level have been designated “Super Status” and will carry enhanced points. All these Super Grade 1 races are WFA races, while the two Super Grade 2 races are WFA plus penalties.
The points outlined above are summarised in the table below:
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Grade 1 | 48 | 24 | 12 | 6 |
| Durban July | 40 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Grade 1 Open WFA | 40 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Grade 1 Open Hcp | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| Grade 1 Age restricted | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| Grade 1 F&M | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| Super Grade 2 | 24 | 12 | 6 | |
| Grade 2 Open WFA(+P) | 20 | 10 | 5 | |
| Grade 2 Open Hcp | 16 | 8 | 4 | |
| Grade 2 Age restricted | 16 | 8 | 4 | |
| Grade 2 F&M | 16 | 8 | 4 | |
| Grade 3 Open WFA(+P) | 10 | 5 | 3 | |
| Grade 3 Open Hcp | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| Grade 3 Age restricted | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| Grade 3 F&M | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| Listed Open Conditions (2400m+ only) | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
| Listed Open Handicaps (2400m+ only) | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
| Listed Open F&M (2400m+ only) | 3 | 1 |
The Graded races designated Super-status are:
TIM WHITFIELD
Tim has seen sport from many different viewpoints, which gives him a unique insight into the media, and how to deal with sportsmen and women. An author of three books, Tim is currently the owner-manager of Gameplan Media, a sports media company promoting events as varied as cycling, canoeing, athletics, fashion and horse racing. As a sports journalist and editor of sports publications, he has covered sport all over the world, at all levels, for over 40 years. He was the head of sport for South Africa’s largest newspaper group and led their team to the 2012 Olympic Games. He has covered World Cups, World Championships and Olympic Games, and hundreds of local events for over 40 years.
LOUISA WHITFIELD
Louisa has been a video producer for 35 years. She was the owner-manager of Look Video Productions, a Durban-based video production company that produced professional videos for over 30 years. Louisa worked in the industry during the evolution from analogue video to the digital era of HD, 4k and 8k. She produced a vast range of videos from corporate, promotional, training, induction and safety videos to social media, event and profile videos. These covered sport, construction and education, and produced inserts for broadcast on many major South African television channels.
GRAHAM DANIEL
Graham was awarded the Photographer of the Year at the 2024 KZN Sports Awards, is a Creative Director & Visual storyteller for 369Communication. He is a passionate photographer for sports events and functions; showcasing the action, story and essence of many enthusiasts in and around South Africa in a unique style which captures the emotion behind the moment. He believes every image tells its own story and is reflection of the understanding of the mechanics and the moment. Painting with light in real time.
CLOSING DATE: Monday, 4 August 2025
Submissions: info@equusawards.co.za
Thursday 14 August 2025
Silver Ring, Hollywoodbets Greyville
Phone : +123 123 123, Mail : avenue@mail.com
