The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa

18/09/2026

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The Thoroughbred's heart is an extraordinary pump!

At rest, a horse's heart can eject around 1000 ml of blood with each heartbeat.

During maximal exercise, stroke volume can increase to around 1700 ml per beat in a fit Thoroughbred.

But the really staggering figure is cardiac output: the volume of blood pumped by the heart each minute.

At rest, a Thoroughbred's cardiac output is around 35-40 litres per minute. During maximal exercise, cardiac output in highly trained Thoroughbreds can exceed 350 litres per minute, with estimates of around 400 litres per minute or more in exceptional athletes.

That's an enormous increase in blood flow, delivering oxygen to the working muscles and helping power the racehorse at speed. ❤️🏇

A remarkable cardiovascular system for a remarkable athlete.

17/09/2026

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Racehorses are graded according to their behaviour and individual needs at the starting stalls when they receive their Starting Stalls Certificate.

These official gradings help the Starter plan the loading procedure for each race, with the aim of making the process as safe, efficient and stress-free as possible for horses, jockeys and Handlers.

A ➡️ The horse is ridden into the starting stalls by its rider without assistance from a Handler.

B ➡️ The horse is assisted by a Handler who leads it into the starting stalls.

C ➡️ The horse is assisted by a Handler leading it, with two or more Handlers required to bundle or push it into the starting stalls.

"Nervous” can be added to a horse’s grading, for example B Nervous.

This indicates a horse that does not like standing for extended periods in the starting stalls or requires additional assistance to remain calm and quiet after loading.

Nervous horses are generally loaded later in the loading process to reduce the risk of them startling horses already loaded alongside them.

HOOD ➡️ A Hood is an official starting-stalls aid made from soft, opaque material. It is used to cover a horse's eyes where this may help a horse that is claustrophobic or assist in keeping the horse calm.

BLANKET ➡️ A Blanket is an official starting-stalls aid for horses that are sensitive to the sensation of the footrails against their flanks. The specially designed padded blanket creates a barrier between the horse and the footrails, helping to desensitise the horse to this sensation. It is clipped to the back of the stall and remains there when the horse jumps out.

H/S (Head In Stalls) ➡️ A horse with an H/S grading requires additional assistance once it has been loaded. A Handler may enter the stall to hold and reassure the horse until shortly before the front gates open. These horses are generally loaded after the quiet horses but before Nervous horses, allowing the Starter to manage the loading sequence according to each horse's individual needs.

FP (Fleck Piaff Training) ➡️ FP denotes horses that have been schooled using the behavioural training method of Malan du Toit. Malan's method has proven valuable in assisting horses with behavioural difficulties associated with loading at the starting stalls. Where FP appears on a horse's grading, it indicates that the Starter should use this specific loading method.

These gradings and aids are not simply administrative markings. They provide the Starter and Starting Stall Handlers with important information about how each horse should be handled, helping to ensure that every horse can be loaded safely and that races can start as smoothly as possible.

17/09/2026

15/09/2026

The Brewer family continue to provide regular updates on Kaidan's progress and have particularly positive feedback for Tuesday, 15 September.

15/09/2026

🏇 Prolonged Absence from Racing: The 120 Day Rule

Under Rule 10.5.7, when a horse has not raced for 120 days or more, the Stipendiary Board must be notified, prior to entry, of the reason for the horse’s prolonged absence from racing.

Why does this matter?

A horse returning to racing after a prolonged absence may have changes in fitness, soundness or overall health. The rule provides an opportunity for appropriate veterinary and regulatory assessment before the horse returns to racing.

The requirements increase with the length of the absence:

120 days or more: The Stipendiary Board must be notified, prior to entry, of the reason for the horse’s prolonged absence from racing.

180 days or more: A veterinary certificate confirming that the horse is suitable to return to racing is required prior to entry.

240 days or more: In addition to the veterinary certificate, the horse must successfully complete a veterinary gallop prior to entry.

The NHA may also require additional veterinary assessment where there are concerns about a horse’s health, fitness, soundness or welfare, regardless of how long it has been absent.

🐴 The purpose is simple: to help ensure that a horse returning after a prolonged period away from racing is fit, healthy and suitable to return to racing.

Trainers are encouraged to notify the NHA as early as possible where a horse is expected to be absent for an extended period, particularly where the absence relates to injury, illness or other veterinary or welfare concerns.

Rule 10.5.7 exists to protect the horse and support a safe return to racing.

13/09/2026

Gimme A Nother (SAf) won the Gr1 E.P. Taylor Stakes on the turf, at Woodbine Racecourse in Canada on Saturday, 12 September 2026.

12/09/2026

In response to the outpouring of concern since this afternoon's incident, the Brewer family has kindly provided an update on Kaidan's condition

11/09/2026

🐎 Did you know a horse's resting and maximum heart rates don't necessarily indicate fitness? Heart-rate response to exercise, and especially how quickly it recovers after exertion, are valuable indicators of cardiovascular fitness and conditioning. ❤️