Time To Say Goodbye
At approximately 17h15 today the last race ever will be run on the Vaal sand track. There are unlikely to be any fireworks, champagne or tears shed – but many questions remain
29th October 2015
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At approximately 17h15 today the last race ever will be run on the Vaal sand track. There are unlikely to be any fireworks, champagne or tears shed – but many questions remain
Sand racing’s glory years in this country will be remembered as somewhere between September 2005, when the now retired Guilermo Figueroa rode the Oppenheimers’ Hilti to win the Gr2 Emerald Cup for trainer Mike De Kock and September 2015, when Africa’s richest race on sand will be run for the last time
The news that the Vaal sand track has just over two months left before it is replaced with turf has been greeted with a mixture of shock and relief. Given the recent troubled history, the move is an assertive decision in principle. But one can only wonder what input the owners and trainers of the proven sand performers had in the decision
Phumelela is to replace the problematic sand track at the Vaal with a turf surface in what is strategically the first step towards the installation of a synthetic racing surface in Johannesburg.
The Vaal racing was delayed after the second race today following serious safety concerns raised by the jockeys with regard to the rail structures
Racing at the Vaal was interrupted after the running of the fifth race today following a track inspection. Four jockeys chose to stop riding
This was a gross embarrassment for South African racing. At the rate that we are going, we really can’t blame the casino’s or mobile phones or international sport – or whatever else we love to blame
Phumelela Gaming has launched an urgent investigation into the reasons for Thursday’s race meeting on the Vaal sand being abandoned after only two races
Phumelela put on the show-why are they so quiet and saying so little 24 hours after the event? Taking the fifth amendment maybe?
Former SA Champion jockey Andrew Fortune’s six month quest to be relicenced to ride again reaches something of a watershed
