Dave Mollett:Equus Champ 2014 (Pic: Africanbettingclan)
At the age of 67, Dave Mollett continues to sparkle and entertain racegoers with his wit, charm and humility. It is also probably the worst kept secret in the country that the Yorkshireman apparently hacked up lengths ahead of a strung out field in a recent poll conducted of Tellytrack on-course presenters.
Having heard whispers about this top secret survey, we were keen to get the full results but a last minute telephone call to Tellytrack as we went to print on Tuesday failed to provide any confirmation.
Despite his enormous popularity and the numerous accolades heaped on him as a top division leading television personality, Mollett showed again that he is no slouch in the less glamorous print division.
It was thus pleasing for us as his colleagues to raise a glass to him as he stepped up to the podium last Wednesday evening to collect a well-deserved Equus Print Media Award.
A more likeable and endearing personality, one would have to go far to find.
Molly bounced back strongly after winning the award in 2008/2009 and looks set to go the distance for another 20 years.
He came to South Africa in 1970 and joined the Rand Daily Mail in 1972 as Assistant Racing Editor.
Molly is resident in Lonehill Johannesburg and lives with his partner of ten years, Ning and his three children, Jade, Kimberley and Philip.
He attributes as major influences on his career the late Reg Griffin, former head of Timeform and commentator Peter O ‘Sullevan.
It is a little known fact that Molly once called a race at Turffontein, but even with only four horses in the field, he decided to confine his talents to print.
An aspirant professional footballer as a teenager, he broke his leg and landed up watching racing on television in the hospital. He was hooked.
Today he is often seen on course, striding out rather badly – a direct result of the injury.
But football’s loss is horseracing’s gain.
Well done Molly!
