Richard Hoiles and Rouvaun Smit, both leading commentators in the UK and South Africa respectively, will be swapping microphones with each other again next year at two prestigious racing festivals hosted in both countries.
Hoiles, one of the leading commentators for Channel 4 Racing as well as dedicated horse racing channels At The Races and Racing UK, will be attending the inaugural Investec Day of Dreams. Investec is partnering with Cape Thoroughbred Sales to bring the Investec Day of Dreams to life, which is part of the Cape Summer of Champions Season at Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday, 23rdJanuary 2016. The British commentator will swap seats to call the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby, on a card which also includes the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, and the Investec Cape Dream. Horses running in the Investec Cape Dream have all been purchased at auction from the prestigious Cape Thoroughbred Sales.
As one of the most popular Cape commentators, Smit’s voice is synonymous with South African racing. Smit will be attending the Investec Derby Festival again next year to commentate on the 2nd race on Derby Day on Saturday, 4th June 2016.
Rouvaun Smit
As per his English exchange, RouvaunSmit also a former Radio DJ, has been part of the national broadcast team of the SABC since 2001 where they are responsible for the extended coverage of the country’s big race meetings. His international race calling experience includes the 2009 Jockey International in Mauritius and races at Meydan.
Richard Hoiles
Richard Hoiles, said “I am delighted to again be calling the Investec Cape Derby. Rouvaun, Investec and all at Kenilworth Racecourse made me so welcome this year that I am thoroughly looking forward to a return visit. The racing at Kenilworth during January is top class and I feel very fortunate to get the chance to again provide the sound track to one of its top races.”
Rouvaun Smit, said “‘It is almost impossible to begin to describe the experience I had, nor find the appropriate words of thanks and appreciation for the unforgettable time we had at the Derby Festival all thanks to the generosity and vision of Investec. I am truly humbled to be given this rare privilege again! It certainly is an opportunity of a lifetime, for which I will always be eternally grateful, feel tremendously blessed and extremely honoured to again be chosen as the voice to represent South Africa at Epsom. But more importantly, we are all looking forward to welcoming Richard Hoiles back to the Mother City to call the Investec Cape Derby again.”
About Epsom Downs Racecourse & the Investec Derby Festival
The race every owner wants to win
Epsom Downs Racecourse is situated on the North Downs in Surrey, just 15 miles from central London. Epsom is a historic training centre and home to a significant number of racing stables.
The racecourse is the venue for the most famous Flat race in the world, the Group One Investec Derby, which takes place on the first Saturday in June every year.
With a history dating back to 1780, the roll of honour for the premier British Classic is studded with the names of the greatest horses to have graced the English turf.
The Investec Derby Festival also features the Investec Oaks and the Investec Coronation Cup, both also run over the Derby course of one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards, for fillies and older horses respectively.
The Investec Derby and Investec Oaks, two of the five British Classics, are for three-year-olds, with the former open to colts and fillies and the latter to fillies.
Investec started backing the Investec Derby Festival in 2009 and three years later announced the extension of the sponsorship for a further 10 years up to and including 2021.
The 2015 Investec Derby Festival, which sees the 236th running of the Investec Derby, takes place on Friday and Saturday, June 5 & 6, while the 2016 Investec Derby Festival is staged on Friday and Saturday, June 3 & 4.
