While dreams, omens and lucky numbers will no doubt still play a part for many casual observers when selecting a likely winner of Saturday’s R2,5 million Gr1 J&B Met, under the modern conditions of the race, we are looking at what is practically a weight-for-age scenario. Read More
It doesn’t get much better that two top yards clashing in one of South Africa’s great classic races. It is the clash of the unbeaten lightly-raced Aussie versus the established local star going for seven in a row. Sound like a one-sided affair? Don’t be fooled… read more
In 2005 Alastor won for Sean Tarry – to quote a household name in Jockey Garth Puller: “When the bookies saw the age of the horse, they priced him 25-1.When they saw the age of the jockey,they doubled it to 50-1!” read more
We are now dealing with proper breeding stock, sired by proper sires, which makes it that much more difficult to choose and also that much more expensive, says Joey Ramsden read more
Mike de Kock has won the Dubai Racing Carnival’s Al Rashidiya over 1800m on turf at Meydan the last three times. It could be number four on Thursday! read more
As the J&B Met day countdown begins…no comparisons to Variety Club, but this flyer’s cruising speed could have them all running for cover early on read more
A champion sire, leading sire of sires and champion broodmare sire, Fort Wood’s influence should be felt in the South African stud book for generations to come. read more
There is just no stopping Joey Ramsden and his top owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste and the combination were to the fore in yet another Cape feature after a glorious and memorable summer read more
Interestingly, the trainers of the past four Met winners have no runners this year read more
I once stuck my hand up at R500 000 only to find my bid-spotter telling me “its your bid at R800 000”! Oops, how did that happen?, asks John Freeman read more
Roy’s Goddess looks a filly much in the same mould as My Sanctuary – plenty of natural speed and precocity and her win is a good start for Great Britain read more
I confess I was not entirely convinced by the big brash sale to begin with, but it seems air-conditioning and a decent plate of sushi do work at horse sales after all! read more
Justice had been served since, after winning the Gold Cup in 1962, Speciality had run close seconds in the July, the Queen’s Plate and the Met in which he ran 5th 2 ½ lengths behind The Giant in 1964. It was as one paper put it, “Third Time Lucky”. read more
Sean Tarry’s Elusive Fort filly Siren’s Call tops the log after the first entry stage for the R2,5 million CTS 3yo Challenge read more
A legend celebrates his 58th birthday on the eve of yet another bid to win the Met. The ice-cool Karl Neisius says he has no immediate retirement plans – scoffing at danger and suggesting that one could fall off a horse just as easy as falling down stairs read more
Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm’s world class young sire Oratorio made the perfect start to 2015 with a Gr2 winner in Australia read more
Finding the winning Met quartet with your personal golden thread, combines a measure of skill with some luck. We are looking for some suggestions read more
While trainer Gokhan Terzi and SA Apprentice Wesley Marwing teamed up for an excellent afternoon, the same could not be said about the Tellytrack coverage – they seem to hate Borrowdale Park! read more
A reader poses a few betting maths questions and suggests that In a game that seriously needs to hold on to its existing followers, and attract newcomers, poor payouts are not helping. read more
Justice had been served since, after winning the Gold Cup in 1962, Speciality had run close seconds in the July, the Queen’s Plate and the Met in which he ran 5th 2 ½ lengths behind The Giant in 1964. It was as one paper put it, “Third Time Lucky”. read more
I had a little mishap at the sales on Monday whilst washing my hands read more
These are GREAT stories. They are funny and tragic and inspiring and dramatic. These are our stories and this is our heritage and perhaps what makes it all the more special is that it is our people, and our horses, bringing them back to life for a whole new audience to enjoy. read more
Racing has to be able to offer life changing prize money on a regular basis, with jackpots that can come close to or rival casino or lottery pools and payouts read more
A point that came across very clearly was that lack of sufficient funding was compromising the NHA’s ability to function efficiently and contrary to last year’s assurances, the funding relationship between the NHA and the operators is clearly NOT an easy one. read more
Mike Bass’s secret to training success? It’s a matter of getting horses fit, making sure they don’t hurt themselves and trying to keep them in one piece. read more
Call him clever. Call him astute. Call him lucky. The vastly experienced horseman has made a flying start to his association with racing in this country and has proven himself to have a deadly eye for a good horse. read more
January sees Gauteng stakes go up, Empress Club retires, Cape Sales are a success and Bushmanland takes the 1995 Cape Argus Guineas. Flobayou notches his 9th career win, Zim racing suffers a devastating loss, Shepherd’s Moon walks the Paddock Stakes and Newmarket gets a new betting hall. Millard jnr saddles the first two past the post in the J&B Met and clever riding wins the J&B Reserve Stayers. read more
Sports betting not a success in the Cape, Mark Watters struck off, spiralling debt forces the TBA to implement credit control measures, Gauteng clubs move closer to amalgamation. Shepherd’s Moon wins the Cape Fillies Guineas, Muis Roberts launches his autobiography in South Africa and Rusty Pelican wins the Premium Stakes. Wally Segal retires. Fields for the Cape season start to shape up and Crimson Waves wins the Queen’s Plate. read more
Vincent O’Brien retires, Quick Wit wins the November Handicap & Flobayou wins the Merchants. Britain implements random drug testing on jockeys, the HRA changes betting units, Stanley Greeff becomes our winning-most trainer and Western Rocket wins the Computaform Stakes. There’s disappointment in the Dingaans, Tobie van Booma wins the Mauritian jockey championship, and another son of Model Man hits the spotlight. read more
Japanese jockey causes upset in the 1994 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, first barrier trials held at Milnerton, Russian Fox passes away, Surfing Home wins the Gold Bowl and Special Preview makes a winning comeback. read more
