Historic items in SA Racing
Highveld amalgamation falls flat, Aussie imports continue to win features and Ormond Ferraris saddles the first four past the post in the SA Derby – for the second time. Aldora has a successful dispersal, Gosforth Park’s juvenile races play havoc with the form book and Shoe Express annihilates the Rupert Ellis Brown field, while Breeders Cup registration fees are postponed.
National Emblem continues to impress, rain plays havoc, Harry’s Charm is touted as ‘the new Special Preview’, records broken at the National Sales and Aussie horses come out on top as Cape raider wins Gauteng feature
Racing loses two breeding mainstays – Hennie de Jager and Transvaal stallion Hobnob, while Clairwood secures a new sponsor. Special Preview is touched off in the Keith Hepburn Stakes, while Bert Abercrombie continues his association with Harry Hotspur to win the Southern Cross Stakes. SAA won’t help Flobayou, leaving Tracy’s Element to win the Computaform Sprint, Dancing Danzig proves her mettle, and Scoop The Kitty wins the Cape Summer Handicap. There’s an upset in the Vaal Bookmakers’ Handicap and Race Master wins the First National 1600, while Winning Purple provides one of the few highlights of the KZN winter season.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Transvaal clubs amalgamate, Inland Revenue accords racehorses tax status, Surfing Home wins Premier’s Handicap, James Goodman wins KZN Guineas, Guy Rixon passes away and Fort Wood commences his first season at stud.
Gold Cup is won by PE challenger Arthur Miller and 7yo Stateway. Amberpondo wins the Summerveld Stakes and Flobayou makes a winning 4yo debut in the Stewards Cup. Pas de Quoi bows out on a high with a win in the Champion Stakes and the ARCSA Awards are held in the Greyville parade ring on race day. Stanley Greeff achieves a career best of 123 winners for the season, finishing 7th on the national log on stakes. Taban wins the Natal Mercury and Dahlia’s Legacy wins the Golden Slipper. Cape challenger Hainan Dao is a shock winner of the Gold Vase and La Fabulous wins the KZN Breeders Challenge.
Bacio rewards Garth Puller by winning the Durbanville Oaks and Gary Alexander saddles 6 on a card. The mood in the Cape is as black as the weather and the Winter Series has to be rearranged to accommodate the tracks. A big day for Stanley Greeff in the EC Paddock Stakes and Dions renews sponsorship of EP Derby. Flaming Rock bows out with a 2nd in the Mainstay.
Charl Pretorius writes in his Off The Record column on the 4Racing website that owners, trainers and racing fans are gravely concerned about the state of our industry
‘One reason why Phumelela did not succeed in its objectives was the misunderstanding of the business of gambling by its board, and its failure to recognize the major TRENDS in gambling and gaming’ – Robin Bruss
