2026 EQUUS AWARDS CELEBRATE SOUTH AFRICA’S RACING CHAMPIONS
Johannesburg, South Africa — The 2026 Equus Awards were hosted by 4Racing at The Galleria in Kramerville on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
The awards recognised the outstanding achievements of the 2025/26 racing season, with champions honoured across the country’s racing, breeding and media communities.
It was a night of celebration for Justin Snaith, who was named Champion Trainer and collected further honours for his charges Wish List (Champion Three-Year-Old Filly), Double Grand Slam (Champion Older Female) and dual Gr1 winner for the season See It Again, who took the honours for Champion Older Male, Champion Middle Distance Horse and the coveted Horse Of The Year title. Additionally, See It Again’s handler, Sokhe Mwelase, was named Groom of the Year.
It was a 7th National Trainers title for Snaith, who first claimed the title at the age of 39 for the 2013/14 racing season. He followed up in 2017/18 and added a third title in the Covid-19 ravaged 2020/21 term.
Paul Peter set a new SA season winner benchmark of 221 and grossed R23 431 563 in 2021/22, but Snaith was back in the driving seat the next year and has been the reigning National Champion Trainer for the last four consecutive seasons.
The evening also celebrated a first Apprentice Jockey title for Blaine Marx-Jacobson, a first Champion Jockey title for Craig Zackey and a second Champion Owner award for Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech).
In the breeding categories, Palace Of Dreams was named Champion Broodmare, Vercingetorix was crowned Champion Stallion for a second successive season, and Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein added another Champion Breeder award to their trophy cabinet.
The event also recognised the contribution of racing media, with Charl Pretorius receiving the award for Print Media for his submission, ORMOND FERRARIS – A portrait assembled from moments, with special mentions for the submissions from Michele Wing and Ravi Naidoo.
In the category for Still Photography, Chase Liebenberg took the honours with his entry titled A Moment To Remember. Newcomer Julia Marnewick received a special mention by the judge.
Chad Karstens received the Videography Award for A Day in the Life – Paardeberg Stud Farm, with special mentions to Owen Greeff and Dyllan Govender for their entries.
Additionally, the Equus Committee awarded Special Achievement Awards to Vaughan Marshall and Raymond Rhodes.
The full list of winners are below:-
Equine Awards
• Champion Two-Year-Old Filly: Palace of Arvernia
• Champion Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Haute Couture
• Champion Three-Year-Old Filly: Wish List
• Champion Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Star Major
• Champion Older Female: Double Grand Slam
• Champion Older Male: See It Again
• Champion Sprinter: Buffalo Storm Cody
• Champion Miler: Questioning
• Champion Middle Distance Horse: See It Again
• Champion Stayer: Holding Thumbs
Media Awards
• Print: Charl Pretorius
• Still Photography: Chase Liebenberg
• Videography: Chad Karstens
Special Achievement Awards
• Vaughan Marshall
• Raymond Rhodes
Vaughan Marshall was acknowledged for his achievement of saddling thirty-two Gr1 winners – including six Cape Guineas, two Cape Town Mets and a L’Ormarins King’s Plate title – over his 45 year career to date, and his reputation as a stallion maker with the likes of Captain Al and his sons in particular.
Raymond Rhodes was honoured for his illustrious career in the saddle, which spanned the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. Big race wins included two Durban Julys and two Queen’s Plates and he was Champion Jockey for the 1970/71 season. He was associated with great horses such as Numeral, In Full Flight and the mighty Hawaii and rode for trainers including Henry Eatwell, George Azzie, David Payne, JF ‘Cookie’ Coetzee, Ormond Ferraris, Syd Laird, Nic van Tonder and Bert Sage. He regarded the late Coetzee as the best trainer he worked for.
Breeder Awards
• Champion Broodmare: Palace Of Dreams
• Champion Stallion: Vercingetorix
• Champion Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein
Racing Awards
• Champion Apprentice: Blaine Marx-Jacobson
• Champion Jockey: Craig Zackey
• Champion Trainer: Justin Snaith
• Champion Owner: Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech)
• Horse of the Year: See It Again
• Groom of the Year: Sokhe Mwelase
ENDS.
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