With the pending countrywide COVID-19 lockdown and the suspension of our local racing up to and including 16 April, the Sporting Post has suspended the printing of our famous weekender issue as well as the publication of our popular weekly SP Digest, but will be up with the pace again as soon as racing resumes.
Our website will continue to keep you abreast 24/7 of news, developments and opinions.
Not since the equine influenza outbreak in December 2003 has South African racing faced anything remotely like the challenges of the now.
The major difference being that the social and human impact of COVID-19 adds a dimension unlike that experienced by the sport of kings in any of our lifetimes.
Looking back, racing in the Cape and Eastern Cape Province were most seriously affected by the outbreak of equine influenza.
In Cape Town, a total of 18 race meetings from 10 December 2003 to 7 February 2004 were cancelled. In Port Elizabeth a total of 10 race meetings from 10 December 2003 to 31 January 2004 were cancelled.
A total of 21 out of 37 race meetings were cancelled in the Johannesburg area from 17 December 2003 until 31 January 2004.
The impact of the outbreak on the horse community outside of racing was limited.
We survived that – we will survive this.
Stay safe, stay positive and stay with www.sportingpost.co.za
