Sands of Time: July 1993
JUNE 27 – JULY 3 Hidden Fortune secures a bonus cheque of R300.000 when he wins the SA St Leger, third leg of the Newmarket
4th July 2013
1 Comment
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.
JUNE 27 – JULY 3 Hidden Fortune secures a bonus cheque of R300.000 when he wins the SA St Leger, third leg of the Newmarket
A look back at horse racing history from South Africa and abroad, going back 20 years ago to June 1993
Regions of the Cape horse racing industry are to be placed under one controlling body… The British Jockey Club is considering the introduction of random dope testing for jockeys… Frankie Dettori is cautioned by British police for possessing a small amount of cocaine… Michael Roberts survives an objection to win the Irish 2000 Guineas…
Grand National – cock-up beyond the realm of farce… How the Jockey Club copes with crime… Empress Club opens 5/2 July favourite… 7yo Senor Santa wins another Cup… Mark Khan relocates north…
Natal raceclubs re-introduce breakfast racing… Empress’ earnings pass the R3 million… Natal Tote reduces the Pick Six betting unit from 50 to 10 cent… Selwyn Lipschitz brings off a clever gamble… Computaform launches Computab…
Michael Roberts officially accepts an offer from Sheikh Mohammed to ride the Arab ruler’s horses in Europe… The Natal Tote introduces the Quartet bet…. Cape media react indignantly to the overturning of a penalty for excessive whipping…. SA champion jockey Jeff Lloyd rides winners of six of the ten races at Clairwood….
A former SA Champion jockey and 3-time Met winner, sends out his first runner in the Met
Empress Club, at odds of 6/10, starts as the shortest priced favourite in the history of the Met… Plans to set up a quarantine station for racehorses on Robben Island are at an early stage, says a Jockey Club spokesman…. In the Cape, a six-month probe by Deloitte and Touche results in the recommendation that Cape racing should be privatised…. Transvaal Provincial authorities introduce a new control board…
The Ready-to-Run sale, held at Kenilworth, averages a modest R6.000 for 39 lots; Goldmark is voted Cape Horse of the Year; the Gr1 Cape Guineas is a triumph for Hassen Adams’ Damascus Stud; Tote betting in Japan reaches $29 billion for 1992; Empress Club wins the Queen’s Plate by 3 lengths and is confidently expected to start at odds-on for the J&B Met. Admits one bookmaker: “I wish I had nothing to do with the race”.
Michael Roberts officially wins the British champion jockey title as the curtain falls on the current season.The Cape Turf Club drops a bombshell when its scheduled summer campaign is moved from Milnerton to Kenilworth. The unit of betting in the Pick Six is reduced from 50c to 10c in the Cape, and couplings are abolished from all forms of Tote betting. Zimbabwe racing celebrates its centenary, with invited guests from around the world….
SA horseracing needs strong leadership – today. Otherwise we are doomed. Stakeholders don’t need this kind of circus!
