Cape Racing has announced the Star Grooms campaign as a gesture of appreciation for the people who work so tirelessly behind the scenes.
For the duration of the 2020/21 Cape Summer Season, leading owners Khaya Stables will be rewarding the Top 5 grooms in all feature events, a total of 29 races until the end of February 2021.
Grooms are one of the most essential members of any racing team and are the true unsung heroes of the sport.
On average, a groom cares for three horses, with a typical workday including feeding and watering, the daily routine of grooming the horse, physical inspection for any soundness issues, and treating any minor ailments according to veterinary advice.
This is over and above basic caring and loving of their horses.
They also have a multitude of additional duties to fulfil on race days.
Our grooms are already hard at work long before most people are awake and their day can extend into the evening hours, depending on whether the horse is racing that day or not.
They typically work six days a week, including weekends, and often travel from track-to-track as the racing season, trainer and race programme may require.
Because most of this work gets done quietly and behind the scenes, grooms seldom receive the credit they deserve from racing fans.
Star Grooms will place the grooms squarely in the spotlight and reward them for their tireless dedication.
The incentives will be distributed as follows:
1 st place: R5000
2 nd place: R2000
3 rd place: R1500
4 th place: R1000
5 th place: R500
The winning grooms will also receive a beautiful trophy.
List of qualifying races:
- December
- 12 WSB Fillies Guineas (Gr1)
- 12 Green Point Stakes (Gr2)
- 12 Southern Cross Stakes (Gr2)
- 12 Cape Summer Stayers (Gr3)
- 19 Cape Guineas (Gr1)
- 19 Peninsula Handicap (Gr2)
- 19 Victress Stakes (Gr3)
- 26 Southeaster Sprint (L)
- 26 Need for Speed Sprint (NBT)
- January
- 8 Cartier Sceptre Stakes (Gr2)
- 8 Jamaica Handicap (L)
- 9 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (Gr1)
- 9 Paddock Stakes (Gr1)
- 9 Premiers Trophy (Gr2)
- 9 Chairman's Cup (Gr3)
- 30 Cape Town Met (Gr1)
- 30 Majorca Stakes (Gr1)
- 30 Cape Flying Championship (Gr1)
- 30 Western Cape Stayers (Gr2)
- 30 Politician Stakes (L)
- 30 Summer Juvenile Stakes (L)
- February
- 27 Cape Derby (Gr1)
- 27 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes (Gr2)
- 27 Vasco Prix du Cap (Gr3)
- 27 Cape of Good Hope Nursery (Gr3)
- 27 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery (Gr3)
- 27 Selangor Jet Master Stakes (L)
- 27 Kenilworth Cup (L)
- 27 BSA Yearling Cup (NBT)
Leading trainer Vaughan Marshall was thrilled with the announcement.
“What a wonderful initiative to acknowledge the grooms for their dedication and hard work – a huge thank you to Khaya Stables,” he added.
- Media Release by Kenilworth Racing on 9 December 2020
- Pic for illustration only – courtesy of Chase Liebenberg
