ALTHOUGH it was difficult to make the decision to leave his job and follow his love of horse racing, one of the country’s horse trainers, Siboniso ‘Bo’ Ngcobo, has started reaping good results.
This trainer won the first race in March 2024 in Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, with the horse Lightning Jimmy, ridden by the jockey who has won the Hollywoodbets Durban July twice, S’manga Khumalo.
In April this year he won the R500 000 Grade 2 Stakes, TAB SA Nursery in Turfontein, Johannesburg, with the horse Better Never Ends, controlled by one of the best jockeys, Muzi Yeni.
This horse was scheduled to run in the race that will precede this year’s Durban July but was eventually withdrawn.
Ngcobo (50), spoke to a reporter fromIt’s the weekendXolile Mpisane, for his journey on horses and the desire to see the number of black people involved in them increase.
Xolile Mpisane: How did you get into the horse industry?
Ngcobo Show: If I remember correctly when I was studying Standard 8 (Grade 10) I wanted to be a jockey but at that time it was very difficult for black people to enter this field. When I finished matric I went to study Chemical Engineering, I even went to work in Johannesburg and Verulam, and I was promoted. Through it all, the love of horses did not end. Because the years had passed, I thought it would be better to become a coach.
XM: What procedures are followed to train horses?
SN: I quit my job in 2015, and started in horses. I had to accept that my income would decrease significantly while I was studying but luckily my wife, Wendy, allowed me to do what I love. I started working in the stable, and after two years I got a certificate to be an assistant trainer. It took me another two years to get certified as a coach.
XM: What was it like when you started to become independent?
SN: I had a rough start, struggling because I only had one horse (Lightning Jimmy) until the end of the year. Many people advised me that it is better to stop because I cannot live with one horse. Fortunately, when I won the race, people started to trust me with their other horses, and I also received sponsorship from Hollywood Racing, who gave me other horses.
XM: What other inspirations have you had on your journey?
SN: My family has been very supportive from the beginning of this journey until now. There are also many people who are not in this field who have given me knowledge and others who have given me their horses to train. There is a horse called Aventador who treated me well and out of the 10 races I have won, I have won six of them. I currently have 11 horses where I train in Summerveld, Shongweni.
XM: What would you encourage those who wish to enter this field, especially those who grew up in areas where horse racing is not popular?
SN: What I can say is that the important thing is for a person to approach people who can encourage him, show him the many ways in which he can participate in this game. When I was growing up there was no black person I could talk to about getting into horses. I am at the Summerveld Training Center and if anyone needs help they can contact me by phone, and we will arrange how to communicate.
There is so much to do with horses, it doesn’t mean that you only have to be a jockey or a trainer. There are people who take care of horses in different ways and there are also opportunities to buy horses for those who wish to own them.
XM: As today is the big day for Hollywoodbets Durban July, what do you expect from the big race?
SN: There is not a single trainer or horse person who does not wish to be a part of this great race, Hollywoodbets Durban July. Its stake has been increased to R10 million, and the winning horse will break R6 million. That way there are horses that end up being left out that they wanted to enter. It is difficult to predict which one will win but there will be 18 top quality horses competing.