Sporting Post columnists share their opinions and insights into horse racing from South Africa and around the world. They are experts who have a deep understanding of the sport of kings, enjoy their thoughtful and fresh articles.
LANCE BENSON: Hats off to Mick Goss. The Emperors Palace Ready To Run concept is without question one of the most professionally marketed events in horseracing in this country. While names like Igugu and Pierre Jourdan do it no harm, Mick has just somehow got the knack of doing things properly.
ROBYN LOUW: They say sportsmanship and easygoing methods are all right, but it is the prospect of a hot fight that brings out the crowds!And doesn’t it just.
LANCE BENSON: Crowded racecourses, real life legends and the spreading of the racing gospel. Imagine being distracted by these and putting all our efforts into a positive direction rather than belittling and assassinating every Tom, Dick and Harry, when the opportunity arises?
ROBYN LOUW: In addition to greed and heartbreak, there is beauty and talent and effort and joy. In addition to money, there are horses.But then, I’m a glass half full kind of girl.
SARAH WHITELAW: This weekend’s racing reminded me of a statement made by a former Cape steward. He said, when addressing the problem of dwindling crowds, ”The monkeys will always climb over the fences (in order to attend the races).”
ALEC HOGG’s blog: Ever since South Africa became the S in BRICS (the others being Brazil, Russia, India and China) I’ve been wondering how long it would take our local horse racing industry to appreciate the potential.
The horseracing Operators, Gold Circle and Phumelela, have each tendered written submissions to Parliamentary Committee of the DTI in support of a need to “level the playing fields”, identified by a Gambling Review Commission
LANCE BENSON: If Tellytrack were a human being, it would be suffering from multiple conditions of schizophrenia and bipolarity. The predictable unpredictability of the beast has been demonstrated in no uncertain terms in the past few weeks
ROBYN LOUW: We just don’t recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they’re happening. We have the horses, we have the programme. We have got to grab this opportunity with both hands.
SARAH WHITELAW: Britain’s recent decision to implement a new law regarding the whipping of a horse in a race has unleashed a storm of controversy.
The South African bred former Equus Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu made a terrific winning debut on US soil for trainer Graham Motion and confirmed his Prevagen $1million Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint aspirations
The evergreen hero travelled to Vereeniging on Thursday for a 100% strike rate from two rides that saw him bring up his recordbreaking 5555th winner milestone
‘The Breeders Cup Distaff is definitely still on the cards and Beach Bomb will probably have one more race before then’ – Gaynor Rupert
It will be good news for South African racing fans that, despite a number of offers from abroad, Gerald and Karen Kalil’s multiple champion Quid Pro Quo will continue her 3yo season on African soil
