It’s a long way to PE. For some reason 750 clicks doesn’t sound quite so far when you say it, but by the time we pulled into the Fairview complex at 6am on Friday morning, I was feeling every one of those kilometres (particularly the ones on the gravel road detour…!). What did I say about the scenic route last week ? Hmmm, I should be a little more careful what I wish for!
Anyway, I predictably got us lost, but we finally found the correct turn-off and were greeted by the big cheery entrance gates with ‘Welcome to Fairview’ emblazoned on them. Thus encouraged we made our way into the complex. We passed the race course buildings on the right hand side, but continued along the road and eventually stopped to ask for directions at an impressive looking gate which turned out to be the entrance to the new section. It was attractively landscaped and manned by a very friendly and helpful guard. I stared wistfully at the neat rows of stables behind him as he directed us further down the road.
A little further along, we found parking, pulled on some warmer clothes and made our way to the entrance gate of the older half of the training centre. Again, a friendly attendant greeted us and directed us to where we needed to be. There were also helpful signs showing which trainers were in which barns and each stable block was neatly and clearly marked.
I counted no less than 3 horse walkers, plenty of paddocks for horses to roll or simply enjoy some time in the sunshine and what looked to be resident set of starting gates, which some of the grooms were showing to their horses. And there is space ! So much space ! No crowding or hundreds of horses, grooms and trainers all trying to use the same bit of track. We watched some of the strings going out – and apart from the horses ringing, I never noticed more than 3 horses on the track at any one time.
For those of you who have not been to morning gallops, it really is something I highly recommend. There is something truly magical about the sound of hoof beats thundering up the track, and the clouds of breath and steam rising off the horses in the morning air..
Gavin Smith helpfully pointed out the trotting and galloping tracks and explained that each trainer had their own ring cut and cleared out of the bush. What luxury !! It felt ordered, well organised and well thought out and the horses we saw all looked relaxed and happy.
In between strings, we were treated to a tour of the yard and some of the resident stars as well as a cup of coffee to get the circulation and grey matter fired up again.
Once I had exhausted my list of nosey questions, we left Gavin and Garith in peace and went poking around the newer blocks. I understand that the ‘new’ Fairview is modeled on Randjiesfontein and is arranged in two neat rows of barns with a lovely wide avenue down the middle. Each stable is grassed along the side and a few had rugs hanging out to air in the sunshine, giving it a festive, but workmanlike air.
We met Mitch Wiese and Martin Cohen and bumped into Dun Katz who was up to supervise a draft of raiders from the Hodgson yard. Des McLachlan kindly invited us in and bestowed the great honour of letting me run my hands down the glossy coat of Hear The Drums. The PE stalwart was a little on the tetchy side when we visited, but I have to say he is in fabulous condition. Next along the row Dorrie Sham was good-naturedly shooing some stray jockeys out of her office. We got chatting and discovered a mutual admiration for Monty Roberts. This earned me enough credit for a quick tour of their yard and then we headed off to find our guesthouse.
It turned out that the old Greenacres Hotel is run by ex Capetonian Claire Miles and the proprietor of the little feed cum tack shop below is another ex Capetonian, Belinda Zeelie. My ambitious plans for a nap disappeared as we traded stories of people and horses we knew from back in the day.
This research thing is hard work, and our ears pricked up when Claire informed us that Mrs Steenkamp is in charge of the racecourse catering. She kindly phoned ahead to check on our chances of breakfast and no sooner had we got the nod than we were racing back off down the road. The actual race course building feels rather grey and institutional and is functional, rather than aesthetically pleasing. However, it is nicely laid out with the betting counters tucked away below the grandstand. The grandstand itself is neat and tidy and I was impressed to see that it is kept that way by ladies walking up and down all day collecting any stray rubbish. The layout is also wonderful as you step off the bottom of the grandstand almost directly into the parade ring and no matter where you sit on the stands, you have a fantastic view of the horses parading and cantering down.
The restaurant area (the Hear The Drums Room) has been refurbed and feels really warm and friendly. Mrs Steenkamp’s breakfast was every bit as good as we were promised and everyone stopped to chat and say hi and enquire who we were, so by the time the jockeys were called to mount up for the first race, we were feeling right at home. Quite a few Cape jockeys and trainers were also there for the day and it was nice to see some familiar faces.
The biggest revelation for me came at the end of the first race. People cheered ! Not just the odd punter down on the rail, but everyone. There was shouting and cheering and general spirit and excitement the likes of which I’ve not seen in years. And race 1 was no fluke either – people cheered at every race – what fun !
I caught up with Rod McCurdy (congrats again on your winner in the first) and also got to meet my telephone friend, Wally Strydom, who went out of his way to introduce me to any locals I’d not met and also to give me a tour of his photographic hall of fame. My goodness there are some fantastic and quite possibly priceless pictures in that collection – it really is well worth a browse around.
No report on PE is complete without a mention of those famous starting gates, but I have to compliment everyone again on how smoothly everything ran the day we were there. I gather that a new set of stalls are on order and can only see things improving from here on in.
The Smith stable had a blinding day with Gavin and Warren Kennedy leading horses into the no 1 box for the first 3 races on the trot. I always enjoy watching Muzi Yeni ride and was chuffed to see him bring Shee’s Gone West home 2 lengths clear in the 4th for Grant Paddock.
The Cape contingent were made conspicuous by their absence in the Nursery, but nonetheless it turned into a thriller. When we spoke last week, Grant Paddock had said how highly he rated Jella Loochee and the son of Catalochee certainly didn’t disappoint. Running handy most of the way, he still had enough in reserve to stride out with In A Rush in a drive to the finish. However, the gigantic Windrush colt was too good for them on the day, finishing 2.5 lengths clear for a delighted S’Manga Khumalo and chalking up a fourth tour of the winners enclosure for Gavin Smith. The highly fancied Royal Tribe put in a determined effort and was closing fast, but is perhaps still coming back to his best after being gelded and having a 2 month layoff.
It went the way of the Cape Raiders in the EC Guineas with the lethal combination of Glen Hatt And Joey Ramsden taking the honors on Azeroth and the Hodgson and Kotzen yards picking up second and third.
Grant Paddock and Muzi Yeni proved a force to be reckoned with in the 7th, when Ecclesiastic narrowly beat West Island home in the Derby Plate and Yvette Bremner and Marthinus van Rensburg rounded off the day by winning the last on the lovely Al Mufti filly, Roselana.
I really am in danger of being besieged by hopeful estate agents, but cannot say enough how thoroughly I enjoyed my day’s racing. Every single person I met was warm, friendly and helpful and again, what fun not to be the only one shouting a horse home. PE, it seems, really knows how to enjoy its racing and I cannot recommend a visit down to the Friendly City highly enough.
So while the long drive had me a little Sleepless in Seattle, I have to say that I came home thoroughly Impressed with PE!
