While his talented sons run a 21st century business unrecognisable from the one Snaith Racing patriarch Chris Snaith established in 1972, there is plenty of life left in the 68 year old horseman who officially retired in 2001 – but has saddled more winners than anybody in South Africa after less than a week of the new term!
Chris and Justin Snaith
The newly crowned SA Champion team, who finished last season with 162 winners and stakes of R26,7 million, have 7 winners on the board – all prepped and saddled by Chris – after having 31 runners at three meetings of the new season.
They picked up a hat-trick at Durbanville on Wednesday and saddled another four winners – all ridden by Richard Fourie – at Durbanville on Saturday.
Chris, an avid equestrian in his teens, captained the WP show jumping team for 3 years. This interest led to his participation in amateur horseracing events under the auspices of the Cape Hunt & Polo Club, which paved the way to his qualifying for his professional racehorse trainers licence in 1972.
Shepherd’s Moon with Chris Snaith – 1994
His son Jono told the Sporting Post on Sunday that all the credit for their opening flurry of winners must go to their Dad.
“He has trained and saddled the winner of the Winter Derby for the past three years. He has never lost the knack or the interest. We are really fortunate to be able to lean on his vast knowledge and half century of experience when we are not here at home base. He gets the job done and still enjoys saddling a winner – or seven – in the process!”
