20 Years Ago: Sands Of Time – May 1993

May 2 – May 8

American owner Paul Mellon (of Mill Reef fame) leads in Sea Hero when the latter wins the 119th running of the Kentucky Derby. It is 85 year old Mellon’s first winner in the Run for the Roses. The horse is trained by 71 year old trainer Mac Miller, who quipped: “We’re running out of time – I can’t think of anything more exciting”.

In Paris, France, Kingmambo franks the English 2000 Guineas form by winning the French equivalent. Kingmambo is the only horse to have beaten English Guineas winner and record breaker Zafonic.

A proposed TV programme on TSS, said to be dealing with corruption in the racing industry, is miraculously cancelled at the eleventh hour. Rumour has it that pressures are brought to bear on presenter Alec Hogg – from within the industry, nogal. That has to be the ultimate corruption. Are there really people with things to hide in racing?

David Makins is elected new chairman of the Vaal Racing Club.

Taban, at 6/1, benefits from a blistering early pace set in the Gr2 Concord Stakes by Divine Act and Blushing Star. The son of Home Gaurd is chased home by Dominof and Cape Flying Championship winner Signor Amigo in this wfa race run over 1000m at Greyville.

Regions of the Cape horse racing industry are to be placed under one controlling body, it is announced after a meeting of the Cape Racing Board (BDHRIC). The central body will be established “on business principles, with financial viability as the key criteria”. The central structure, composition and functions will simulate those of a holding company, with regional boards controlling the business of racing.

At the same meeting BHDRIC identifies the marketing and promotion of horse racing as essential, and the Board agrees that it should be vigorously pursued. Which after decades of doing nothing in the Cape should make an interesting change.

Port Elizabeth trainer Stanley Greeff scores a big win when Foreign Source win the R100.000 Thaba’Nchu Sun Stakes at Bloemfontein. The first four home are trained in different centres, as House Colours (Natal), Ravenous (W-Cape) and Chasing Gold (Tvl) fill the places.

Foreign Source, a former Millard inmate who had shown promise before going wrong, should not stop here and is one to keep an eye on if he can be kept sound.

Dancing Duel, the full brother to Olympic Duel, shows he’s out to emulate his illustrious sister when he catapults down the straight at Greyville to win the Gr1 SA Guineas. Cape Guineas/Derby winner Eli’s Truth has no chance with the Millard trained colt, who wins a fast run race by over 2 lengths.

On the same day Flaming Rock proves his wellbeing in the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes, which he wins in a canter. Topasannah just pips Arab-owned import Rami and Midnight Run for second.

 

May 9 – May 15

Not to be outdone by the Cape, the managements of Gosforth Park, Newmarket and Turffontein are set to be amalgamated into one decision making body. A company is to be formed (Transvaal Horse Racing Industry Ltd), which will receive all industry revenues, including those of TAB and the Development Fund. Company directors will be accountable in the accepted corporate sense for performance of the company.

Despite all this progressive thinking, the present system of raceclub stewards will be maintained, and such stewards will continue to handle race meetings and entertain guests. Phew – for one horrible moment there we thought that lunches were a thing of the past…

The British Jockey Club is considering the introduction of random dope testing for jockeys. The initiative is launched by the Club’s new medical officer Dr Michael Turner, previously with the British Olympic team.

Jockeys association secretary Michael Caulfield scoffes at the idea that of jockeys using performance enhancing drugs. “That’s the last thing they would do” he stated.

Sapa Reuter reports that leading UK jockey Frankie Dettori is cautioned by British police for possessing a small amount of cocaine.

Michael Roberts survives an objection to win the Irish 2000 Guineas on 7/4 favourite Barathea (runner up in the English Guineas). Roberts gets home by a head from Fatherland (Lester Piggot), but earns himself a three-day suspension for causing interference to third finisher Massyar. Earlier in the week Roberts was given a four-day suspension for excessive whip usage.

Kentucky Derby runner-up Prairie Bayou goes one better in the Preakness Stakes, second leg of the US Triple Crown. He’s the first gelding in 79 years to win the Preakness. Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero finishes fifth in the field of twelve. His defeat means there will not be a US Triple Crown winner for 15 years in a row.

David Payne and owner Cecil Treger score a one-two in the Gr2 Woolavington Cup when 20/1 shot Sweet Secret holds off stable companion Golden Peak. Sweet Secret, last year’s Natal Oaks winner, and the runner-up are both by sire Peacetime.

The new Mauritius season opens with the Duchess of York Cup. The race is won by former Maingard charge Jungle Sands.

 

May 16 – May 22

There’s drama on Scottsville’s traditional Smirnoff Day (three Gr1 races are staged on the same day) when Bloodline Million winner Royal Thunder, heavy favourite for the R400.000 Smirnoff Sprint, finishes last of the sixteen runners. The race is won by Australian filly Tracy’s Element, trained by Ormond Ferraris for Paddy Hinton. The filly is a half sister to recent Drill Hall runner-up Topasannah. Cape Nursery winner Command Control and Sunny North colt Crimson Waves take the minor placing ahead of Model Man’s son Bold Cruiser.

In the Gr1 Natal Fillies Guineas Vesta earns herself a R50.000 bonus when she wins this third leg of the Fillies Triple. Vesta had won the first leg and finished second in the middle leg of the Crown. The daughter of Best By Test got the fast pace she wanted and comes from last in the straight to win as she likes. The Natal Derby or Rothmans July may be next on her agenda.

In the third of the Gr1 races fireball Marie Galante returns to her best form when she beats Hot Weather and Sound of Rhum from what appears to be an unfavourable draw.

Four year old gelding Chambray is given far from a bum-ride when jockey Jupp partners him to win the Reg-U-Letts handicap at Newmarket. To the sponsor’s delight the race is programmed as a bottom division! The stipes, as always cooperative to add to the mirth, report “Warden squatting in the stalls; withdrawn by vet”.

 

May 23 – May 29

Mares and weanlings come under the hammer at the annual Robertson Broodmare Sale, with an additional dispersal sale taking place on the same day at Zevenbergen Stud.

Three days later the remainder of the Zevenbergen stock is auctioned at the TBA complex in Germiston, together with mares consigned by Stoneleigh Stud and Greg Blank.

The number of people leaving breeding, either voluntarily or forced because of failing finance, now resembles the journey of the lemmings. Whoever survives the current downturn should be well placed to take advantage in four or five years time when shortages in stock to sell are bound to occur.

Top priced lot at the Robertson Sale is Maid of Destiny, a daughter of Bonza Bay and in foal to Hard Up. She is bought for R32.000 by Richard Birch. Second highest price is for With Wonder, in foal to National Assembly, secured for R26.000 by Godfrey Gird.

At the weanling sale at Zevenbergen several of the youngsters fetch decent prices, probably too high if they were bought with re-sale in mind. One is a half brother to Novgorod, bought for R28.000 on behalf of the owners (flown in by helicopter) of that highclass sprinter. Godfrey Gird was active here, too, buying seven lots, which included top priced weanling Russian Sky, a Russian Fox half sister to Comic Star.

At the subsequent dispersal at Germiston R56.000 is paid by Henry Devine for Matchless Moment (a Royal Prerogative mare in foal to Sunny North), and R52.000 for Isle of Martinique (dam of Island Chief and again in foal to Hard Up) by Kramer Bloodstock Consultants.

Seventy-two yearlings come under the hammer at the yearly Highveld Breeders Sale, also at Germiston. Top price of the sale is R36.000 paid by trainer Magner for Shatter Cone, a son of deceased Thatch-sire Stifelius. The sale’s overall average is R9.700, up from last year.

In what is described as one of the best line-ups in years, Cape visitor At The Savoy wins the R100.000 Dion Sharp EP Derby at Arlington. At The Savoy is yet another of Dancing Champ’s progeny to make headlines this season. Lightly raced, At The Savoy is out of Harry Hotspur’s half sister Pax Romana, which makes him a half brother to former PE star Magnolia King.

At Milnerton the midweek race meeting is cancelled because of a waterlogged track, and the Saturday meeting postponed until Monday. Rainfall for May has been exceptionally high in comparison with other years, and the drainage at Milnerton (which was overhauled not two years ago) is unable to cope.

The weather is a lot better in Natal, where the Gr2 Greyville 1900 (formerly Republic Day handicap) ends in a prolonged battle between race favourite Crown Estate and the filly Perfect Order. The two Cape challengers, both entries for the Rothmans July, finish 3 lengths ahead of the bunch, with Crown Estate getting the upper hand close home. Gaelic Find and Secret Hoard take the minor placings.

Rob Hannath, acting CEO of the HRA takes up the appointment of chief exececutive and general manager of Turffontein Racing Club. Hannath follows John Alexander, who becomes chief executive of the New Zealand Racing Conference.

Critics of the TBA’s restrictive importation criteria can thank their lucky stars they’re not living in Japan. That country has an import duty of about R100.000 per horse. Foreign bred horses are allowed to compete in only 3000 of Japan’s 26.000 annual races (12%). Japan has recently agreed to increase that percentage to 55% by 1999.