Do Good Horses Plot Their Own Courses?
They chose to leave their own generation early and risk high handicap ratings
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.
They chose to leave their own generation early and risk high handicap ratings
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!’
A considered decision to split the longstanding traditional January Premier Yearling Sale into two defined sales platforms has reaped rich rewards for vendors and the Cape Racing Sales team
‘Go watch the L’Ormarins King’s Plate day replays as they narrowed the course and a few didn’t get runs’
Get the full story as told by those who watched every stride, as well as Richard Fourie’s personal insights of the season in his own words
The seven-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey reached the 1814-win milestone with a double at the city circuit to edge past the long-standing mark of 1813 wins set by the legendary Douglas Whyte