IRC Q&A: Colin Gordon

Popular Colin Gordon is right in the firing line at the new 4Racing, the operator charged with putting racing in South Africa back on track following large-scale mismanagement by the previous operator. 

Colin has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, gained in all aspects of the sport initially as Company Secretary at the then Jockey Club, also as GM of the Racing Association and later as Racing Manager to the late Chris Gerber.

Colin has been exposed to most aspects of the industry from Handicapping Steering Committees to Industry Liaison, which will be to his advantage as he steers this ship through stormy and shark-infested waters.

Colin joined 4Racing as COO in 2021 with a refreshing open-door policy and transparency foremost in 4Racing’s objectives, but also knowing that actions speak louder than smiles and words.

Here is our Q&A with Colin Gordon:

1. Full name? Colin Gordon

2. Date of Birth? Not a fan of Birthdays

3.Steak or sushi? Sushi by a short head

4. Superstitions? Don’t wear green on race days

5. Fav Holiday Destination? Mozambique

6. Which: BMW or Merc? Red Bull Honda! No it’s the Kalahari Ferrari for me – Toyota Land Cruiser 

7. Who inspires you the most? Parents and siblings who wake up every morning and go out to put food on the table for their families

8. Big night out or quiet night in? Quiet night in as long as there is live sport/racing to watch

9. Left-handed or right-handed? Right handed (unfortunately! Left handers look so much better in sport)

10. Autocratic, bureaucratic or democratic leadership? Democratic to a point

11. What annoys you the most? Personal Agendas

12. Full transparency or what people like to hear? Full transparency

13. Funniest person you have ever met? Barry Hilton or his cousin Andrew Fortune

14. Durban July or Cape Met? Cape Met – always prefer race conditions at G1 level that favour the best horses

15. Strict whip rules or no whip at all? Strict Persuader rules

16. What is your biggest phobia? Being out 1 leg in a Pick 6

17. Most embarrassing moment? Had a shocking angle of the Met when Rainbow Bridge won and holding back celebrations as I wasn’t sure whether a fast finishing Do it Again had collared us!

18. Cape Racing: All year or periodic/seasonal? In and out of season racing

19. One thing to make racing better for all? Relevance. Make the sport relevant again

20. Biggest ambition? To make horses, trainers and jockeys household names in ALL SA households

21. Proudest Achievement?My two boys

22. Economy or business class? Emergency Exit!

23. Racing tradition: Important or Obsolete? Very important but as long as its not used as an excuse to not embrace change

24. Your star sign? Aries

25. Bath or shower? Shower

26. Read or Netflix? Read but do love a good series like Peaky Blinders!

27. Would you rather ask for permission or ask for forgiveness? Forgiveness

28. Nominate someone for our Q&A next? Eric Sands

Nominate two horses to follow for the rest of this season: Universal and Trip of Fortune

Chosen charity for readers to donate to: CHOC (Website presently not functional)