Futura – big July runner
I will miss the Vodacom Durban July this Saturday for the first time in fifteen years. A braai with a few mates here in Singapore and hopefully the opportunity to listen in, means that the spirit and atmosphere will be enjoyed in various forms across the world. With the international popularity of this great race, I am sure I will not be alone, writes Gareth Pepper.
From a young age I always had dreams of attending the July and one of my first experiences of the amazing day was actually as a spare groom.
I was fortunate that trainer Mike Azzie and his family always made room for me and welcomed me into their home and stables. I was afforded the rare chance to accompany horses to a racemeeting, I had always dreamed of attending.
Honour
We left Randjesfontein around midnight and, through my own choice, sat in the float with the grooms and horses . What a thrill, what an experience and the day had yet to begin!
A nap was out of the question, and, after arriving just as the sun rose, I tried my best to take it all in.
The day itself went by in a blur and all I can remember was that from there on in I counted down the days until the following year. Again the Azzman was responsible for a wonderful introduction into what was to become my favourite meeting to attend.
Fast forward a few years and I attended several July Day’s as an assistant trainer.
The privilege and honour I felt was immense and I remember my father and I chatting about our dream of having a runner on the day – and what the feeling must be like to actually have a runner in the big race.
Those dreams sadly never materialised this year with our big hope Unparalleled sidelined until the spring and Will Pays only making the field as a reserve runner earlier in the day.
I can say is that we won’t stop now and that dream will never cease!
To the owners, trainers and jockeys who work tirelessly for The dream, I hope that the day is what you hope it will be. Unfortunately we can’t all have winners but just being there is an honour in itself.
Futura
Sean Cormack – good friend
Looking at the July field, Futura has always held a special place in my heart and I’m especially excited for my good friend Sean Cormack to be afforded what looks to be an outstanding chance in the race.
Sean, who taught me many things in my life, and is now a good friend, is someone who deserves to don that red sash and for all he has done for me, I will be shouting him home.
Then the magnificent, Wylie Hall – well I don’t need to spell out why he would be a deserving victor.
Luckiest
I cannot begin to imagine the flood of emotions the connections went through last year, so for that, for the gentleman that Michael Leaf is – all the best to you all. That is to Weiho Marwing and my friend Bernie Fayd’herbe – who has tasted July success previously.
Mike Azzie – I hope he has a cracker of a July
And also to a man that has influenced my life and taught me to appreciate the sport I love so dearly, Michael Azzie, not only for the July but the day itself – I hope you have a cracker!
I get the feeling that the best horse may not win on the day, but the luckiest, and there are so many other people, horses and connections I could mention, but I wish you all well in the July and for the day itself.
Once I started presenting I had dreams of actually doing some sort of work on the day and was once afforded the opportunity to do a few interviews and previews and that for me was such a thrill in itself.
I really do hope that with the knowledge and experience I am gaining overseas, that I will one day be afforded the opportunity to be a part of the on-course broadcast in the future.
To all of my colleagues, have a great day and i wish you all the best.
Till next time.
