pigeon racing is an expensive pastime, but if correctly pursued its pays off better dividends than gold shares and unit trusts. In fact, after the initial cost of building a loft and buying top pigeons, few other hobbies offer such high cash rewards
The potential returns on investment
For an entry fee of US 000 (over R10 000) into the Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race (SCMDPR), a fancier stands the chance to win US0 000 (more than R2 million) as a first prize – that’s besides five cars and numerous other cash prize categories. Scoring only in position 250 still pays back 50% of your entry fee.
There are a number of car races on the programme, where an entry fee of not much more than R100 buys the chance to win a brand new car.
Buying pre-sold identity rings is optional, but most organisations in South Africa hold ring races in various prize categories. Rings are pre-sold for anything between R5 to R2 000 each and the cash prize payouts decided accordingly.
Depending on the number of entrants and the number of prizes paid per category, you can expect a return of anything between 100% to 1000% on your investment.
Pigeon ID rings and young pigeons are also auctioned, and the proceeds go towards cash prize money.
In larger South African organisations like the Transvaal Racing Pigeon Federation, the combined seasonal cash prize kitty usually exceeds R1 million.
One- Day Loft Races are held in various parts of the country, where all you need to do is breed and enter your pigeon and pay the entry fee of R500 to R3 000. per pigeon.
Most One-Day Loft Races have a car in the prize kitty. This can be included in the entry fee, or an additional entry fee may be charged.
Fame and fortune
Money makes money and this is also true in pigeon racing. As added bonus, your fame as a fancier with a winning loft results in demand for your pigeons, which puts more money in your pocket.
The prestige of winning these money races also motivates fanciers to keep their quality in check to maintain their winning status. For this reason astronomical amounts are paid for stock pigeons.
Few South African citizens can pay cash for a brand new car, but fanciers win a number of cars each year. Often the entry fee for the race they won didn’t exceed R100 per pigeon –and you just need one pigeon to win.
When Gauteng millionaire Mark Kitchenbrand, of Kitchenbrand Club 500, bought the top-scoring SCMDR pigeons for nearly R3 million, it brought him worldwide fame. The offspring are in demand all over the world and offers for the youngsters from this winning gene pool exceed R80 000 each.
Winners from Europe
South Africa continually needs to import superior stock from Europe, either as cross material or to ensure their lofts’ survival attempt after a few bad seasons with locals. This proves beyond a doubt that the testing field abroad generates a better quality.
However it’s only since the inception of the SCMDPR that we could buy Europe’s best in our own country.
The European gene pool consists of super breeders which are shared between champion fanciers who are in the financial position to buy only the best.
Often the key stock pigeons that grace the successful pedigrees of the superstars are also noted in the pedigrees of our local successes.
The new quest for knowledge
The high winning stakes in the pursuit of quality pigeons has compelled us all to do better research in terms of selection and breeding quality pigeons. Knowledge is power and success cannot be bought
Make it your new year resolution to study quality and copy the breeding principles of the strain makers, who in most cases, were people of lesser financial means, but who were exceptionally dedicated. – Thomas Smit ([email protected] or call (011) 680 4778). |fw
