ROBYN LOUW: Cheltenham and the sensational Mark Boylan. His passion and enthusiasm are infectious and it’s incredible to see how much interest and media coverage this one boy PR wonder has generated for racing in general and Cheltenham.
ROBYN LOUW: The press release from the NRB left the Cape racing fraternity reeling. Cancelling race meetings is absolute anathema. I did a bit of digging to try and find out more. And the more people I spoke to, the less clarity I had.
LANCE BENSON: It is high fashion but quite misleading to speak of the racing industry. Industries surely have a saleable end-product?
ROBYN LOUW: While the weekend’s sales marked the end of the journey for the breeders and stud staff, it was also the beginning of the journey for new owners and prospective trainers.
ROBYN LOUW: The forums are always a good place to look when you’re casting around for something to write about. Someone is always annoyed or excited about something ! It is also a great place to find out about people who are doing extraordinary things.
ROBYN LOUW: With Phumelela taking the reins as of the first of Feb and our new brooms no doubt wanting to sweep clean, perhaps now is the time to address what appears to be a glaring hole in our armour and look at a few issues of good old communication.
ROBYN LOUW: I’m going to set aside all the tat – the gossip that so readily flows after a social event, hideously inappropriate comments from people who should know better having to be retracted by lesser mortals who should have put a stop to it in the first place; bungled track inspections; price-inflating buy backs; and the negative, discouraging comments from those factions always so eager to see a star fall from grace.
ROBYN LOUW:While I’m beating the publicity drum, I believe that the operators have installed a new correspondent to publicize our horses and racing events internationally and I am absolutely thrilled.
ROBYN LOUW: A group of my horsey friends has a running conversation under the heading ‘Today joy was brought to me in the form of’. Any time anyone has something extra specially good happen to them, we get to flag and share it. I think that’s a pretty good way to stay positive as well as to pay it forward by sharing it with your mates.
ROBYN LOUW: I have been accused of taking the scenic route to making a point (or to borrow the Afrikaans phrase – ek gaan haal altyd die hond agter die bos uit). So, this weekend’s Queen’s Plate, I attended last year and it was wonderful. I’d had, to quote Mr Jobs, an insanely great time.
ROBYN LOUW: 2012 is going to be the year of legends. Battles will be fought, history will be made. Where will you be?
After Saturday’s potentially gamechanging L’Ormarins King’s Plate day, a total of 28 thoroughbreds remain in contention for the 163rd renewal of the R5 million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met
One World made good for master trainer Vaughan Marshall to give the Milnerton veteran his maiden success in the 164th renewal of the L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate courtesy of his son One Stripe at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday
