A look back in time at horse racing in South Africa. We provide a historical account of events that shaped the industry in South Africa. Useful, informative and unique content not previously available on the internet.
A terrific Gr1 win apiece at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday for the Avontuur super sires Var and Oratorio initiated a delighted smile on the face of the top farm’s General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh
The ding dong tussle between Potomac and Model Man on 7 June 1986 ranks as one of the great finishes of the 20th century
On this very day 25 years ago, the 76th WPOTA AGM was held and it was decided to build a Grooms School
Judge Derides Jockey Club Official February 27 – March 5 Turf club officials in Zimbabwe confirm that South African Jockey Club officials are in the
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5 The average price at Goodwood, venue for the first yearling sale of the season, increases by 10% – following the
Just 23 horses accept at the second last entry stage for the J&B Met. Raymond Koedyk is believed to be the first South African to be taxed on Pick Six winnings. Windy conditions make for an upset in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship. The untimely death of champion sire Foveros comes as a severe blow to the beleaguered South African breeding industry. No less than seven of the runners in the Gr1 Arc-en-Ciel Paddock Stakes are by Elliodor or his son Model Man. The Gr1 J&B Met is won in fairytale fashion by 20/1 shot Pas de Quoi, a seven-year-old who comes in from the cold after standing a season at stud in ’92.
1993 blows out with Volume 4 of the Racing Record, a new chairman for Durban Turf Club and a proposal to merge Milnerton and Kenilworth approved unopposed. A Little Ballerina wins the Cape Guineas, Marla causes an upset in the Sceptre Stakes and Jean Heming is shot in a vicious attack. TAB Transvaal introduces the Superfecta and Take A Walk wins the Queen’s Plate for David Payne, pushing him R1 million ahead of his nearest rival on the trainers’ log.
Abroad, absent-minded jockey Desormeaux costs Kotashaan the Japan Cup, Basil Marcus extends his lead on the Hong Kong jockey table by winning the first leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown aboard River Verdon, while Robbie Fradd is crowned Mauritius champion jockey. Coolmore announce that Sadler’s Wells stud fee has increased to IR100.000 guineas. The British Jockey Association launches the first Jockey Championship and Wolverhampton stages the first race meeting under lights.
October 31 – November 6 Stakes in the Western Cape return to “normal”, after they had been decreased earlier in the year when the local
October 3 – 9 At Longchamps, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the last one run under the sponsorship of the floundering Ciga Hotel
September 5 – 11 Empress Club leaves South African shores for the USA. The filly is to be trained by Charlie Whittingham on the West-coast,
August 1 – 7 All horses turn a year older. Transvaal TAB posts a record turnover of R95.3 million for the month of July. Turnover
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