Veteran KZN trainer Doug Campbell turns 80 in August 2024 but is still working hard and is ever the master of his art.
He achieved a terrific 1000 winner milestone at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday when Ermelo, a Rabada half-brother to Royal Pleasure won for owner Tommy Crowe under Denis Schwarz.
Ermelo brings up the 1000 under Denis Schwarz (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A consummate gentleman and one of South Africa’s longest standing racehorse trainers, Doug started training at Sugarhill Stables, the family farm near Richmond, KZN, in 1970, sending jumping ponies to Port Elizabeth, and was granted his racehorse trainers’ licence after some wrestling with the old Jockey Club, in 1978.
Watch the interview from Sunday:
Winners flowed in quick succession, including the likes of Dawson Trail, Maisons Laffitte, Kirklevington, King’s Bay, Mystery Guest and National Navigator, to mention just a few.
Di and Doug Campbell prouldy pose with Ermelo (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A story often recounted when racing folk gather to reminisce involves the Doug Campbell-trained Northern Guest pure-white grey, Mystery Guest who bolted the old Gosforth Park track moments before the 1989 Gr1 Fillies Guineas.
“The vet, Dr Macdonald, insisted that Mystery Guest was to be scratched. I was furious with jockey Kevin Shea. She ran around the entire track. But I said to the stipes, ‘I haven’t come all this way to have my horse scratched’, and they left her in. Kevin rode her to a big surprise record-setting win, and he was forgiven!” recounted Doug.
We wish Doug and Di everything of the best.
