South African trainer HK-bound
HONG KONG - A new trainer will be joining the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) training roster next season – Brett Crawford.
The 53-year-old South African was granted a trainer’s licence for the 2025-2026 season, bolstering the training ranks at Sha Tin to 23, including nine expatriates.
It was his second attempt, following his unsuccessful application in 2022, when the HKJC gave the nod to New Zealander Jamie Richards.
Crawford becomes the second South African to train at the Asian racing hub. The other is former 13-time Hong Kong champion jockey Douglas Whyte, who started training in 2019.
“It’s (Hong Kong) basically a global stage and it’s probably one of the few places in the world that has talent from all over the world competing against each other,” said Crawford.
“So, without a doubt, it definitely makes you bring out the best in yourself. I think for me that’s probably the greatest challenge that I am looking forward to.”
Crawford is one of South Africa’s most decorated trainers with 38 Group 1 victories among a career tally of almost 1,500 winners.
He began his horse racing journey as a child, riding work before transitioning to a stable employee immediately after finishing school.
He then honed his craft with some of South Africa’s most esteemed trainers, including the internationally renowned Mike de Kock, as well as champion trainers Eric Sands and Dennis Drier.
In 2001, Crawford successfully applied for the position of private trainer with Sabine Plattner, one of South Africa’s leading thoroughbred horse owners, marking the start of his training career. He obtained an open licence in 2010.
His best season in South Africa came in 2017/18, when his stable claimed six Group 1 wins.
Crawford operates primarily from the Western Cape, along with a satellite stable in Johannesburg, and trains in partnership with his son, James Crawford.
In the 2023/24 season, he finished third on the South African trainers’ log with 106 winners at a strike rate of 11.7 per cent.
His 2024/25 South African season started strongly with 29 wins under him before he began the father-son partnership. The pair has since added 13 wins as of Jan 29.
Crawford notably scored back-to-back victories in South Africa’s most famous race, the Durban July. He first claimed the time-honoured handicap at Greyville with Winchester Mansion in 2023, before doubling up with Oriental Charm in 2024.
Interestingly, the Sports Road club’s new unveiling comes 12 years after Crawford himself encouraged his then-stable jockey to try his luck in Hong Kong – Karis Teetan.
Now firmly established as one of Hong Kong’s leading hoops, the South African-trained Mauritian jockey combined with Crawford for a raft of high-profile successes – namely the 2012 Cape Derby and Daily News 2000 with Jackson and the 2012 Paddock Stakes with Thunder Dance, all at Group 1 level. HKJC
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