A familiar voice to older Cape racegoers, Hendrik Jacobus (Hennie) Pietersen has passed away at the age of 74 in Stellenbosch. According to his former colleague and friend, Martin Locke, Pietersen suffered with blood circulation problems. He was diagnosed with cancer of the intestine, which eventually spread to the lungs.
Pietersen, who worked in years gone by for Gilbeys, was the original Afrikaans race-caller and also worked for the SABC for many years. He was a popular and well-known voice on Radio Good Hope, which played to a very different target market in those days. We recall the Saturday afternoons of the 1970’s when Driaan Engelbrecht in the Good Hope Sea Point studios would cross over by telephone to the track where the always energetic Pietersen would do a mini Charles Fortune scene-set of Milnerton racecourse and the prevailing weather and crowd. Afrikaans horse-names were far more popular then than they are these days, and the likes of Kolskoot, Blommelied(AD Coetzer trained?) and So Ja, spring to mind.
While the charismatic Pietersen was rambling on air about the seeming inconsequentials then, the world waited anxiously and with bated breath on tenterhooks for him to announce the all important result. Everything was so final then. No emotional commentaries – just a number! Hennie Pietersen is survived by his wife Reita and stepdaughter, Urita. A memorial service was held in Stellenbosch on Monday, 9 July 2012.
Have Your Say - *Please Use Your Name & Surname
Comments Policy The Sporting Post encourages readers to comment in the spirit of enlightening the topic being discussed, to add opinions or correct errors. All posts are accepted on the condition that the Sporting Post can at any time alter, correct or remove comments, either partially or entirely.
All posters are required to post under their actual name and surname – no anonymous posts or use of pseudonyms will be accepted. You can adjust your display name on your account page or to send corrections privately to the Editor. The Sporting Post will not publish comments submitted anonymously or under pseudonyms.
Please note that the views that are published are not necessarily those of the Sporting Post.
A Cape jockey has told of the enormous relief and the burden lifted from his shoulders on Friday after two well-known racing men took the cudgels up on his behalf some months ago to defend the father of four against an NHRA charge
A Pick 6 carryover of R2 million is set to take the exotic pool to R15 million, while the World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup sees a Quartet carryover of R1 million and a likely pool of R5 million
A team is working against the clock to ensure an update of confirmed and verified statistics in the key categories is published prior to the first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday
Former Commentator Passes Away
Home » Horse Racing » Horse Racing News » Former Commentator Passes Away
A familiar voice to older Cape racegoers, Hendrik Jacobus (Hennie) Pietersen has passed away at the age of 74 in Stellenbosch.
According to his former colleague and friend, Martin Locke, Pietersen suffered with blood circulation problems. He was diagnosed with cancer of the intestine, which eventually spread to the lungs.
Pietersen, who worked in years gone by for Gilbeys, was the original Afrikaans race-caller and also worked for the SABC for many years. He was a popular and well-known voice on Radio Good Hope, which played to a very different target market in those days. We recall the Saturday afternoons of the 1970’s when Driaan Engelbrecht in the Good Hope Sea Point studios would cross over by telephone to the track where the always energetic Pietersen would do a mini Charles Fortune scene-set of Milnerton racecourse and the prevailing weather and crowd. Afrikaans horse-names were far more popular then than they are these days, and the likes of Kolskoot, Blommelied(AD Coetzer trained?) and So Ja, spring to mind.
While the charismatic Pietersen was rambling on air about the seeming inconsequentials then, the world waited anxiously and with bated breath on tenterhooks for him to announce the all important result. Everything was so final then. No emotional commentaries – just a number! Hennie Pietersen is survived by his wife Reita and stepdaughter, Urita. A memorial service was held in Stellenbosch on Monday, 9 July 2012.
Have Your Say - *Please Use Your Name & Surname
Comments Policy
The Sporting Post encourages readers to comment in the spirit of enlightening the topic being discussed, to add opinions or correct errors. All posts are accepted on the condition that the Sporting Post can at any time alter, correct or remove comments, either partially or entirely.
All posters are required to post under their actual name and surname – no anonymous posts or use of pseudonyms will be accepted. You can adjust your display name on your account page or to send corrections privately to the Editor. The Sporting Post will not publish comments submitted anonymously or under pseudonyms.
Please note that the views that are published are not necessarily those of the Sporting Post.
Share:
Popular Posts
Botes Filly On Cusp Of Making History
The R1 million Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes Grade is the opening leg of the projected R15 million Pick 6 pool at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday
Appeal Upheld – Cape Jockey Looks Forward To Next Season
A Cape jockey has told of the enormous relief and the burden lifted from his shoulders on Friday after two well-known racing men took the cudgels up on his behalf some months ago to defend the father of four against an NHRA charge
World Pool Season Finale – Racecards Available, Time To Study!
A Pick 6 carryover of R2 million is set to take the exotic pool to R15 million, while the World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup sees a Quartet carryover of R1 million and a likely pool of R5 million
KZN Punters – ‘Best In World’ Says Shaheen
The former Tellytrack ace suggested that the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July experience had been one of his most enjoyable yet
SA Championship Statistics – Moodley Assures Public
A team is working against the clock to ensure an update of confirmed and verified statistics in the key categories is published prior to the first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday
Speed Kings Go Head-To-Head
Michelle Wing and her team bring us an insightful preview of the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint