I don’t see the snazzy tractors in this pic
I managed to catch some of the Vaal sand racing over the weekend. One certainly gets the impression that there will be plenty of dry eyes the day this surface is removed or just kept as a training track. It does not look fit for the purpose of racing. The cost of maintaining it to keep it in decent condition just for training on, let alone racing, looks to be astronomical, writes Joey Ramsden.
I saw tractors worth five or six million going over it before each race and this left me with eyes very much wide open.
If people saw what we have to use to maintain our tracks down here at Milnerton and the tractors and equipment used, one would really not believe one’s eyes. I think the Vaal sand was supposed to be something inexpensive and handy for the winter racing but it certainly looks a long way from that at the present time.
Whether The Weather
It is interesting to see the sun blazing away in Johannesburg with temperatures of 31 and 32 degrees while we shiver down here in the Western Cape. We even went as far as having a log fire burning over the weekend; it was that cold. This fluctuating weather makes it even more difficult with the enforced African Horse Sickness vaccines. For some reason, this year our horses have really struggled.
We have had issues in the past but last year they seemed to sail through the vaccination period. This year has been a problem again. With our temperatures dropping down to between twelve and fourteen degrees during the day, after having had a week of mid twenties, one can get an idea of how difficult it can be.
It has hit some trainers harder than others. We have tried a number of things and have not yet found a reliable solution to our problems. Maybe it is the way different trainers vaccinate?
Golden Oldie
It was nice for us to get off to a winning start on Saturday with a really decent 3 year old in Hard Day’s Night. Apart from being an exceptionally lovely horse and having ability, he must have the best name in racing.
Hard Day’s Night is one of the world’s great all time songs and the movie is not far behind it. Who can fail to remember John, Paul and Ringo running round like mad things. It is probably time to go back into the archives this week and reflect on what a classic piece of cinema it really was.
Hard Day’s Night (the horse) has a couple of options in the sales races and I suppose the Guineas but I think there are still plenty of good horses which have not yet been seen out. They are either waiting for Kenilworth or certain conditions around the country. Either way, now we can sit back and start to train him like a horse with a future. Always a good position to be in.
RTR Panel
Summerhill judges and lots of fun – some good looking guys in this bunch
It is sales season just round the corner and the start of the ready to run season and the gallops.
This week we have gallops up at Mick Goss’ Summerhill Stud for the Joburg Ready to Run sale. I think, yet again, I have been lucky enough to be selected for the panel. I have quite good results from my past selections but I have no doubt my luck will run out at some stage. It is an extremely tough job as one does not get much time to look at one’s notes. To then give selections whilst on this illustrious panel, with its many famous eagle-eyed experts, is not easy.
However, it is always good fun and a good day out with the usual fantastic Mike Goss hospitality in a lovely setting. Last year we had wonderful weather as opposed to previous years when it was slightly dodgy. I hope it is set to remain fair.
The Noose Tightens
The inevitable has eventually happened and the net looks to be closing in on the Great Escaper, the Saddam Hussein of football, Mr Sepp Blatter.
Soon, I believe, he will no longer be able to leave his football compound in Zurich, Switzerland. He will be holed up like that mob in Waco, Texas. I would not be surprised to see fires coming out the windows and computers thrown from the same orifices. It is probably time to button down the hatches as this could be the last place we will ever see good old Sepp.
The noose is certainly tightening. One never stops wondering and I don’t think anyone could help feeling disappointed when Michel Platini dropped out of the Fifa presidency race. Well, sadly, we all now know why. There is nothing sacred left in this world.
May that noose tighten – and may it tighten quickly.
Read the full story on www.joeyramsden.com
