Sporting Post columnists share their opinions and insights into horse racing from South Africa and around the world. They are experts who have a deep understanding of the sport of kings, enjoy their thoughtful and fresh articles.
Post Covid something changed with your racing, and I can’t quite put my finger on it…and the NHA needs to sort out priorities, be more transparent, and consistent in their findings
Chris van der Merwe says that judging by their posts, punters believe that they’re keeping horse racing alive and well in South Africa
The opening of direct exports creates an interesting market for South African racehorses. This is not confined to the best horses of each generation
A seasoned racing fan writes that in the zone between 15 and 3 minutes before the official race time, nobody is interested in listening to the personal fancies and various constructions of the presenters’ exotic permutations
The importance of strategic breeding decisions, deep pedigree knowledge, and the pursuit of excellence that defines the world of breeding
Saturday’s Cape Racing Gold Rush contender Bavarian Beauty has been in the news in recent days and Robert Bloomberg now has his say in the Sporting Post Mailbag
Last weekend’s feature results certainly fired shots ahead of the season. But did they hit the ratings target and why fiddle with handicap ratings in black type races? All that happens is one or two horses get favoured against the majority of battlers
The current structure and model is undeniably fragmented and haemorrhaging, requiring reformative change
I noted with some alarm the comments made by Mr. Bortz about the discrepancies in the due diligence performed on the ROA, and request him to make these discrepancies public
I find it totally unacceptable and unfair to be singling out one trainer, a young man (28) who had his first runner on 5 January 2023 for prohibited substances labelling it, doping
Hollywoodbets recently announced a groundbreaking initiative by way of a cash incentive of R1 million for the first rider to surpass the longstanding Anthony Delpech benchmark of 334 winners
Just 48 hours after Cheeky Wink’s smart win at Tipperary, the Kieswetter and Heffer families enjoyed another champagne moment at Sandown
Ridgemont’s Rafeef fairytale received more endorsement on the Championships Finale at Turffontein on Saturday when his daughter, Chasing Happiness, ran her eight opponents off their feet to register her second stakes success when winning the TAB Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes
The number of entries compares favourably in quantum with recent years, with 58 first entries received in 2024, 60 in 2023, 68 in 2022, 53 in 2021, 52 in 2020, 49 in 2019, and 69 in 2018
Ironically, it was a colt which provided Alan with a first Gr1 success, this being Alec and Gillian Foster’s homebred Cereus, who landed the 2001 Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville, his victory completing a momentous double on the day, with the Gr2 Golden Slipper having gone the way of juvenile filly Tatler, a great-great-great grandaughter of Sun Lass!
