South African jockey Ryan Munger has just returned home to South Africa after completing his first full season at Woodbine in Toronto. Munger, the first South African to base himself at the prestigious Toronto course, made an indelible mark on the Canadian racing scene after an excellent debut season.

Woodbine, renowned as the epicenter of Canadian racing and home to prestigious events like the King's Plate and other Grade 1 races, provided the backdrop for Munger's stellar debut. Riding a total of 444 times, Munger clinched victory 47 times, amassing an impressive 2.451 million Canadian Dollars in earnings. His consistency reflected in 64 second-place finishes and 57 third-place finishes, with a remarkable 37.84% of the time on the money. This outstanding performance secured him the 7th spot on the log, quite an achievement considering a substantial portion of his rides involved unfancied runners. Munger indeed punched above his weight during this inaugural season.

SAHorseracing.COM recently caught up with Munger to glean insights into his transformative year at Woodbine. Munger, reflecting on his return to South Africa, had just disembarked from long flight.

"Despite the hectic journey, my time at Woodbine was truly enjoyable. Racing there is a whole different ballgame compared to South Africa—no handicap system, just a unique world of claiming races where horses can change hands mid-race. It was a distinct experience, but one that I relished," said Ryan Munger.

"In preparation for my stint at Woodbine, I delved into thorough research, aligning my expectations with the reality I encountered. Surprisingly, there's a significant South African influence, particularly in the abundance of Horse Chestnuts among the broodmares. It was a revelation—I hadn't known that Horse Chestnuts stood in the U.S."

Munger's intent to travel to the U.S. this year were hampered by logistical issues. "This year, my plans to venture into the U.S. were thwarted due to my wife's paperwork not being ready in time. I refused to go without her, and even if I had, my scope would be limited to riding for Canadian trainers," he stated.

When asked about his American ambitions, he was clear thatbit would be on the agenda in 2024. "As I weigh my options for the U.S. venture, there's a myriad of choices—California, Florida, with Gulfstream and Santa Anita, respectively. Yet, my gaze is fixed further south, particularly on Louisiana and the Fairgrounds. That's where my aspirations lie for the upcoming year, navigating the diverse landscape of American horse racing," mentioned Munger with a sense of optimism and caution in his voice. The American racing scene is no easy place but does create opportunities few countries can offer.

During his holiday, Munger hinted at a potential return to riding in Johannesburg from the middle of January 2024. While he hasn't committed to a firm date, he intends to resume his stint at Woodbine when it restarts on the 27th of April in 2024. Munger's journey has undoubtedly been one of triumph, in a world that new to South African riders. It was a risk to compete in the close knit Woodbine community but he more than added value to the riding ranks he has the potential to grow even further and further build the relationships he has already fostered in the first season. 

Images extracted and adapted from Woodbine