Newmarket Stables Durban - fundraiser

Hello fellow horse and racing lovers.

I would like to ask four assistance as well as any ingenious ideas that you may have for use.

I am one of a number of people that keep their horses at Newmarket in Durban - a venue steeped in racing history. Newmarket is currently home to 49 horses and the riding school is at full capacity, showing how much interest there is in this sport and these wonderful animals. At least 28 of these horses are thoroughbreds, being given a second chance in life.

However, the council has let this property run into a complete shambles, and we as a non-profit organization try tirelessly to maintain the property to a safe and aesthetic standard. It is a disgrace that council can refuse to not assist in any manner. I'd say about 30% of the stables are not fit to house a horse. A stable block had already been listed as condemned.

Keeping horses is not an easy or cheap exercise, and the pockets of our members are already stretched as we speak.
I would like to appeal for any suggestions or assistants that anyone can give us in order to restore Newmarket to what it was, or at very least ensure there is no more neglect.

We are looking at various fundraising methods or any material donations that can assist. It would be a pity to lose this venue and how eThekwini can ignore a heritage site is really beyond me.

I look forward to any comments

Who is the council??

Suga i will gladly make a donation.

Well - the property belongs to the Durban Municipality.
Some of their structural engineers have written off large portions of the property as condemned.

It is run as a non-profit organizations, and all costs charged to the liveries are purely to cover the day to day running of the property. Sure, through the small training shows we have been able to do some fund raising and have put in an arena of a high standard and we are next looking at improving the roof conditions of the stables.
If council does not assist, this property will fall to wreck and ruin - and it would be a travesty with its unique history.

The interest in horses has grown exponentially in the last few months, and I can categorically say that we get at least 2 applications daily for riding lessons - adults, children, whites, Indians, blacks. There is no divide and everyone is keen to learn.

I wish to keep the past history alive, and at the same time feel that by teaching these people about essence of the horse, we can eventually get them into the racing industry. Or least of all, these are the people that will be able to home your horse once it's racing career is over.

The committee and members would also have loved to have the TBA bring their yearling sales back here, but I assume that will not happening.

I personally feel very strongly about the close link between racing and pleasure horses, as I am involved in both spheres.

If there are any queries, please do let me know. Or if you are in an industry that you feel could offer come thing to our yard at a reduced cost, please let us know. We will of course be eternally grateful and attempt to get exceptional exposure for yourselves.

Greg- would you like to PM me some ideas?

I'm really passionate to restore this historical yard!

Neighmaster, Hibs, Dave... I'm sure you have some ideas

Maybe Gold Circle can help with a race day,i`m sure some members would help sponsor a race or two

Do you offer free riding lessons to the previously disadvantaged communities?

We have offered free lesson to previously disadvantaged - I'm not sure how much weight this carried with council. Council forgets that this is also a green belt, and I am always surprised to hear how many people are not aware that there is a stable yard in the middle of town - we are very unique and convenient that way?

I have spoken to Gold Circle and the next race-meeting that can offer us is Greyville 23 Feb. We'd be looking at selling a table for 10 at about R8000, drinks included. Cash bar prices work out cheaper.
Sponsors get naming rights, as well as Masonite advert board by the inside running rail.

For straight donations, we can discuss a billboard being erected inside our property, totally visible along NMR avenue.

Hampers that we can raffle are also very much welcome.

We just would like go sort out some of the potholes, repaint where needed, fixed damaged stable doors, strip and grade a potential paddock which is terrible over-grown, but in an electric gate for the security of the riders. Of course we'd like to get truss's fixed and tiles put back on, making the stables safe.

If anyone is interested in coming past to have a look at Newmarket, either to reminisce or to see where you can help, pls PM with your details.

I'm really not looking for "hand outs here" but hope there are people out there as passionate as me.

Also, any excess building materials in the greater Durban area are appreciated and Newmarket is able to collect.

Sorry about the waffle and hope I didn't bore you

Post some pictures please...of the current facility....

So you are essentially looking for commercial sponsorship to keep the place going ,I wish you
luck but using free lessons as a guise to get the municipality to fix the place is going nowhere
slowly

imo if you have no social outreach programme I expect you on a hiding to nothing,that place is
looked at as a elite venue for the rich(I have a cousin who stables his daughters horse there),I,ve
been speaking to him about this and told him fund his own kids activities,dnt expect public money

I'm not sure how much the council would actually want to assist in resurrecting this historical building, which really should be their responsibility.

I would live for the council to acknowledge any social out reach that we do engage in.
Here is our most latest website
newmarketstables.weebly.com/

You need to ask yrself who is the stable historical to for the council to recognise it,anyway I wish you
well,but with the massive inequality in sa society I expect they have more important projects

Soodum, i am not doubting you for one minute. Our negotiations with council fall on dead ears and we are no longer wasting their time. They are only interested in their own coffers, which get lined during a show help annually during August. The rest of the year they couldn't be bothered.

Many people with horses cannot afford to keep their horses elsewhere, mainly due to travel
We are very unique in having horses in the middle of town (we see how the public loves the police horses) and can therefore make lessons a lot more accessible to children. Riding is such a healthy sport. A school,such as Clifton used to have riding as their official sport and brought their boys down to Newmarket.

If anyone would like to see Newmarket, pls PM for a show.

We are planning a race day to get interest going and raise some funds, I am however hoping that the racing fraternity can help us here to, to keep the equestrian legacy alive in Durban

Zsuzanna - are you able to get us some exposure?