That was it! 25 Race Meetings. 217 races. More than R46-million in prize money. 13 Grade 1 races. 9 Grade 2 races. 9 Grade 3 races. 7 Listed races. And a whole lot of winners – including, most importantly, South African horseracing.
Gold Circle’s Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins has gone a few shades lighter grey again this season.
Graeme Hawkins
But the veteran racing man and his team can look back on three glorious months of high-class racing action, and the satisfaction of knowing again that, through the thick and the thin, the politics, the squabbles and the differences of opinion, the SA Champions Season once again played the role of the National Championship of the sport of kings in South Africa.
Things got off to a nervous start on 4 May with Cape trainer Harold Crawford getting the show under way courtesy of longshot Perovskia winning the Drill Hall Stakes to deny Brett Crawford’s subsequent Gr1 winner Undercover Agent by a nostril.
The same evening White River threw Anton Marcus a curved ball and almost ended his season prior to the Daisy Guineas. Marcus was to emerge one of the season’s heroes.
The Greyville track, everybody’s favourite battering ram, also came in for stick with dust clouds being emitted by thundering hooves on the opening evening.
But prompt public action was forthcoming. On the Monday the KZN racing operator assured the public and stakeholders that the track would receive urgent attention and that an inquiry had been opened into the circumstances regarding the preparation of the track and that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken.
Track & Ball Derby winner It’s My Turn’s omission from the Vodacom Duran July final field also had the social media wires hotting up. The son of Dynasty was to go on and win the Gold Vase and the Gold Cup, as well as the probable Equus Champion Stayer award. Owner Fred Crabbia and trainer Dean Kannemeyer emerged with dignity and played it like true sportsmen.
The Vodacom Durban July also came under fire from the Public Servants Association who objected against any Markus Jooste horses participating on July day. That came to nought and nobody seemed to care, or even notice, that Mayfair Speculators were part owners of Gr3 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Chimichuri Run on Super Saturday.
More nervous moments arose just three days prior to the July when the Summerveld and Ashburton Grooms barricaded the training centre entrances, demanding better wages. An agreement was reached.
Never a dull moment as the July had reached a climax with the runners at the post – but was delayed by 15 minutes and an electrical fault – we can’t blame Eskom for this one – saw the start effected manually in the end. According to reports, the gates were tested before the race and opened perfectly.
The July pace was diabolical. But Justin Snaith emulated Terrance Millard to saddle the trifecta.
Super Saturday saw It’s My Turn cock a final snoot at the July panel on a day of action-packed racing.
We’d do it all again in 2019!
