Heversham Park Stud Farm of Gauteng is planning to launch and sponsor an annual event for retired, veteran jockeys.
The race will take place over 1000m at Turffontein, and Heversham’s Kat Riley said that they would like to name it the ‘Tickey Carr & Terry Lowe Memorial’.
The veteran jockeys who competed in the Steelworks Veterans Race in April 1992 (Pic – Heversham Park)
Pictured above from top (left to right), are: Gerald Turner, Paul Gadsby, Kenny Michel, Snowy Reid, Bill Harvey, Tex Lerena, Benny Little, Ron Phillips, Freddie Macaskill, James Maree and Roy Curling. Front are Dennis Bosch, Vince Curtis, Robbie Thompson and the race’s mascots – Charlie Barends, Harry Berry and Hilton Passmore. Nine of the jockeys on this pic won a Durban July. (Thanks Tex Lerena).
Heversham Park Stud Farm calls on veteran riders – Messers Gadsby, Bosch and Macaskill included, to put their names down for the Heversham Park proposed Veterans Race later this year.
All race conditions, including weights, can be discussed and finalised once interest has been established.
Six jockeys have confirmed so far and at least 12 jockeys are needed for the race to go ahead!
In a press release on Wednesday, 15 May 2024, Heversham Park Stud Farm advised:
“They are our two racing friends who recently passed, and a good stake prize will be attached,” she added.
Heversham’s concept entails a minimum age of 50 years for any veteran riders to compete and a maximum weight of 75kg.
Once all official matters have been dealt with, the race will be scheduled for late in 2024 so that riders have a chance to get themselves fit.
All applicable legal matters will be discussed and permission will be obtained from the National Horseracing Authority before the project goes ahead.
Riley added: “We need a show of interest before we put our plans in place, and we ask interested veteran riders to mail us with their intentions of participating, to [email protected].”
Suggestions from the public are also welcome.
“We feel that this type of event is necessary as a tribute to our older warriors of the turf, and as a novelty concept as races of this nature have not been staged for several years,” said Riley.
