Racing currently goes ahead at Borrowdale Park on Friday where a seven race meeting is headed by the $60 000 Gr3 Zimbabwe 2000, the second leg of the Zim Triple Crown.
While the feature only hosts four runners, with a lean total of 41 horses competing over the seven race card, the meeting comes on the first day of South Africa’s local lockdown and may well provide a punting opportunity.
See the Hollywoodbets betting on the meeting here
There is a local connection in the feature with Sun Met winning owners Craig and Ross Kieswetter’s Highlands-bred Dynasty grey Zambezi Rapids lining up under Kevin Derere.
1st $36000, 2nd $12000, 3rd $7500, 4th $4500
ZIMBABWE 2000 (Grade 3)
For 3 yr olds/ 2nd Leg Triple Crown
| 1 | 1 | Wantage | 58 | 81 | A | M Nyamagwete | Bridget Stidolph | |
| 2 | 2 | Zambezi Rapids | 58 | 69 | S | K Derere | Kirk Swanson | |
| 3 | 3 | Tree Of Wisdom | 58 | 66 | S | N Takawira | Kirk Swanson | |
| 4 | 4 | Fire to The Rein | 58 | 65 | BA | B McNaughton | Gokhan Terzi | |
Kevin Derere rides Zambezi Rapids
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Mashonaland Turf Club said that that as we all know things change daily amid the COVID – 19 pandemic, for all of us. They said that as they stood on 24 March, the Borrowdale Park race meeting to be held on Friday 27 March would go ahead as planned – but under certain conditions that fulfil both Ministry directives and Government advice.
The following practices have been put in place by MTC in order to hold the race day: –
- There will be no foreign or international Jockeys allowed on course. All local jockeys will be used on the day.
- MTC will be closed to any and all members of the public. All gates will be locked and there will be no access to any interested party or other.
- The Owners and Trainers bar will be closed. There will be no owners allowed on course at any time or at any place, including the grandstands.
- The parade ring is closed and out of bounds to any and all individuals, including MTC staff working on the day, other than the trainer, jockey, lead grooms, stipendiary and duty Stewards.
- Tellytrack will be broadcasting the event on channel 239 DSTV.
- There will only be a trainer and a jockey interview. No owners or grooms.
- All MTC race day staff have been reduced and limited to an essential skeleton staff that allows us to operate within the minimum of the 50-person Presidential directive.
- All essential Staff have been divided into 6 groupings and isolated from each other so that no commingling can occur. Separate facilities are provided for dope box operator and vet so that they can operate independently, as do studio, Judges and commentator for the day.
- The NHRA of South Africa has been informed of our intention as well as of our actions taken to both protect race day staff and ensure the best interests of horses and horse racing are adhered to.
