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.
What a tragedy for racing that the current philosophy in place is seeking non-racing solutions for a sport with way more potential than any other form of gambling and gaming to grow into something spectacular
After the Hollywoodbets Settlers Trophy objection on Heritage Day, where a lack of communication was probably more of an issue than the outcome of the reversal of Somerset Maugham over Han Solo, Saturday’s objection outcome was more logical – watch the replay here
‘If all this leads to the collapse of racing in KZN, we may never see another child from KwaMashu rise in this industry again; nor from Umlazi, Ntuzuma or any of the province’s rural communities…’
There is a quote by pre-eminent local owner and breeder Sir Abe Bailey that “It’s said that all those who go racing are rogues and vagabonds. That may not be true. But it is true that all rogues and vagabonds go racing.”
There seems to be a belief that with a few tweaks many of racings considerable problems will all go away and that there is a lot of low hanging fruit ready to be plucked, but nothing could be further from the truth!
‘Race-riding can never be brought down to brute strength. It is about finesse and timing, being at one with your horse, reading a race, pace judgement and having a feel for what is underneath you’
This is not only an issue for potential new customers, but also true for existing players as there is nothing more demoralizing than putting in hours of form study only to be blown out of the water with some formless or one hit wonder horse spoiling the party
‘If we want to keep the population up, then a steady trickle of events is much better than clumping a bunch of races in distant and expensive months to come, while a local off-season is catering to Graduation and Progress plates rather than to the majority of the horse population’
‘I am not saying that policing horseracing is an easy job and I do believe that rules are very necessary – but make them apply to all, and then fairly and evenly!’
Any director that sits on the Kenilworth Racing board who represents MOD or has links to MOD, should not have participated in any deliberations at the Kenilworth Racing Board on matters pertaining to MOD
James McDonald closed a highly successful short-term stint in Hong Kong with a quartet at Sha Tin on Sunday
