Zeyn Kirsten’s passion for horseracing was behind the purchase of Sandringham Summit, who is the first horse ever owned by Rakesh Singh (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Zeyn Kirsten’s Passion Has Knock On Effect

Zeyn Kirsten is yet another horseracing fanatic from Durban and his passion for the game has seen his business partner Rakesh Singh making a fairytale entrance into ownership.

The first horse Rakesh has ever owned is none other than the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day winner, Sandringham Summit, who must now be the hotpot favourite to be named Equus Two-year-old male champion.

Zeyn revealed after the big win on Saturday, “I’ve been in this game for quite some time. It’s my passion. I’ve owned a lot of horses. I am from KZN. I ended up with David Nieuwenhuizen, he’s a masterful trainer. Rakesh is my business partner. He would accompany me to almost every racemeeting and eventually I got him to purchase a horse with me, Sandringham Summit. He was quite pricey (R1.7 million), but we lifted our hands up, we got him and because it was Rakesh’s first horse he is in his name and his colours. Rakesh actually picked him out as an individual without even looking at the breeding. I then had a look at the breeding … Varsfontein, Gimmethegreenlight, Eden Roc (Var half-brother to Sandringham Summit and now a Sire) … and then we knew that’s the one for us!”

As a little boy Zeyn accompanied his grandfather – an avid racing fan – to the off-course tote. Thus, his interest in the sport was born, an interest that grew over the years to become a dream of being a racehorse owner, a passion he now enjoys with his family.

Zeyn became an owner at the age of 29 and had horses with Dennis Bosch.

He relocated to Johannesburg about 15 years ago and Louis Goosen became his trainer. He took a break for a while when the latter relocated to KZN, but later sent him some more horses.

However, his horses are now back on the Highveld and Nieuwenhuizen is his trainer.

Sandringham Summit is worth a lot more than R1.7 million after just five career runs, not just for what he has won but for the manner in which he has done it.

In his penultimate start he won the same race his half-brother Eden Roc had won, the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, coming from last over the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville 1400m with a finish that took everybody’s breath away.

On Saturday, he stamped his authority in no uncertain terms.

Jockey Calvin Habib said after the race, “It worked out really well for us. He broke well, I landed getting over from the draw and he was in such a relaxed mode. As we came into the straight I got a clear run and I was smiling at the 200 cos I knew he’s still got a kick in him. He put the race to bed very quickly. Thank you so much to Mr Nieuwenhuizen and his wonderful owners for entrusting me with this horse, I am honoured to be a part of this horse.”

The good looking bay Gimmethegreenlight colt won easing up by 2,40 lengths.

Calvin added, “He is definitely proving to be one of the best I have ridden. I’ve been very lucky to ride a lot of two-year-olds who have won me Gr 1s, but he’s definitely up there because he’s proved himself the right horse twice. I’m very lucky and just enjoying the moment, but it is an honour to be a part of him.”

David Nieuwenhuizen said both before and after the race Sandringham Summit would be better as a three-year-old, so this horse has an exciting future.

One of the highlights of Justin Snaith’s 4th national trainers championships was the historic 6th run of Do It Again in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and finishing in the frame for the sixth time.

Justin Snaith Champion Trainer for 4th Time … But Only Just

The national trainer championship was thought to have been wrapped up a long time ago, because Justin Snaith had a huge lead after a fine Cape Summer season.

However, in the end he snuck in by just R338,468 and was likely breathing a sigh of relief that Sean Tarry’s two runners in the Gr 1 R700,000 Douglas Whyte Stakes ran unplaced.

Snaith deserves the title considering his two best horses, Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom, were retired after the Cape Summer season.

He won Cape Town’s biggest race, the WSB Met, for only the second time.

However, that turned out to be his only Gr 1 win of the season.

Nevertheless, it was a season which still brought one particularly memorable moment, i.e. the record-breaking sixth appearance of Do It Again in the country’s premier race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July. The legend then made it six runs and six finishes in the frame, when running on strongly at the age of eight to claim fourth place. His July record of two wins, a third and three fourth place finished is easily the best July record of any horse in history and he was given a fitting farewell at Sunday’s World Pool Gold Cup meeting.

Tarry had begun Sunday’s big HKJC World Pool Gold Cup meeting well over R2 million behind Snaith, who endured his worst SA Champions Season in memory with just a single feature race win (the Gr 2 WSB 1900), although to be fair he did arrive in KZN a lot later than usual.

Tarry’s day did not start well with his favourite in the Gr 2 Tabgold Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m, Tail Of The Comet, ending too far back before finishing strongly for third.

Then in the next race, the Gr 2 World Pool with Gold Circle Debutante, his one runner was scratched at the start and the other runner only managed sixth place.

However, his roll began in the next race he contested, the Gr 2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet, as Bless My Stars romped in to land the lion’s share of the R300,000 stake. Snaith’s first runner of the day, Silver Darling, finished unplaced in this race.

Tarry’s favourite in the next race, the Gr 1 R700,000 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes, Lucky Lad, finished last after being jostled out of the gate and then ending up running wide. Tarry’s three runners made up the last-placed trifecta in that race, although The Africa House was badly hampered for the second time in his last two runs.

Tarry then finished third with Thunderstruck in the R1 million Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

However, the picture changed dramatically in the next two races.

Tarry finished first and third in the Gr 3 R1 million Gold Cup with Future Pearl and Nebraas, with the Snaith pair One Way Traffic and Salvator Mundi, running sixth and second last respectively.

Tarry then won the Gr 1 R1,25 million HKJC World Pool Champions Cup with Princess Calla, while the Snaith-trained Pomp And Power once again fought for his head and was eventually eased out of the race.

Suddenly, Tarry needed to just win the R700,000 Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes to be crowned national champion trainer.

Alas, both of his runners finished unplaced to prevent what would have been one of the most amazing comebacks in history.

Tarry had a dispersal sale of his own racehorses in September last year and it left him with a depleted yard.

Yet, he ended a memorable season winning seven of the 29 Gr 1s on offer in country and he also won a third Gr 3 Gold Cup, tghe country’s premier staying race.

Snaith is nevertheless the champion and will no doubt bounce back from the disappointing campaign in Durban, where his horses were struck down by one of those mysteries that trainers are sometimes unfortunate to experience i.e. most of the runners just seemed to run flat races.

Michael Moroney leads in Pray For Rain, ridden by Lyle Hewitson and trained by Lyle’s father Carl Hewitson (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Colourful Irishman Michael Moroney From Galway Loves Racing And Lights Up Durban

The last race of the season was celebrated in true Irish style as the first visit of the loyal supporter of South African racing to this country, Michael Moroney, proved to be a truly memorable one.

He spoke to Turf Talk after father-son combination Carl and Lyle Hewitson had combined in fairytale fashion to bring home Pray For Rain in the LHKIR in December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf.

He said, “It is my first visit to South Africa, I arrived yesterday evening (Saturday) at half-past-four. I’m going back again on Tuesday and I’ve got a runner in Galway on Wednesday. I love the game.”

He continued, “I’m from Galway in Ireland and to be fair Carl told me to come over. He said today was the day. There was confidence. we had a chance of going for another particular race, I don’t want to name it, and I said rather we have Lyle ride him, we will make this a fairytale ending. Lyle rode him, for his Dad, my first time here.”

He explained how his The Poet’s Corner Syndicate entered SA racing and ended up having some horses with the Carl Hewitson yard.

“I have maybe 15 to 20 horses in training in South Africa at the moment. I have a few horses going for breeding, which I’m looking forward to. To be fair it’s due to a person who ended up in Ireland four years ago and asked me to help them get a job over there. This person then asked me if I would get involved in a horse over here. He was with Nathan Kotzen and the horse Pinch Me was my first winner and Lyle rode him. So it was a momento for me and today Carl is not just my trainer, he is my friend.”

Carl has trained about eight horses for Michael and six of them have won, some of them multiple times.

Michael explained why he had continued supporting SA racing after that first win with Pinch Me, “As I say I love racing. I love the breeding side of racing too. To be honest about it, on the flip side it is to do with the exchange rate.”

He explained his beginnings in racing were through his Uncle being involved in point to point racing and his father was a greyhound trainer.

In 2019 Michael made some Galway history.

He part-owned a horse called One Cool Poet who arrived at the 2019 Galway Festival as the winner of just one race in 29 starts. However, One Cool Poet then became only the second horse in history to land a hattrick in the traditional seven-day meeting.

Celebrating the hat-trick by One Cool Poet at Hennelly’s Pub in Galway, Moroney and a group of friends officially declared their favourite corner of their local pub “The Poets Corner”. Little did they know at the time that the name would soon form a new syndicate and carry the luck of the Irish all the way to South Africa.

One Cool Poet won three races in the space of six days at that unforgettable Galway festival and ironically the winning trot started on 30 July 2019, exactly four years to the days before The Poet’s Corner Syndicate’s memorable win on Sunday with Pray For Rain.

Michael concluded the interview by saying, “It’s a fairytale!” with some fine alliteration used in his choice of adjective to describe the enormity of the fairytale!

Hewitson’s two-meeting riding stint here during the Hong Kong break yielded two winners and both of them Listed races.

Pray For Rain was purchased by Carl for just R35,000 at a recent BSA Online auction and he has won both of his races for the yard, meaning his earnings for Hewitson so far are already R160,000.

Lyle used his Hong Kong experience to maximum effect in the Umngeni Handcap. He bounced the speedy Soft Falling Rain gelding out and claimed the rail from a good draw of four. His pace judgement, stretching the other runners but leaving a little in reserve proved perfect, as the horse found just enough extra when challenged late to get up by a quarter-of-a-length from the consistent African Skyline.

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth – the home of Cape Racing (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Stakes Are Up, Up, Up…Cape Racing Raises Bar Again!

When spring officially dawns with its abundant promise on 1 September 2023, Cape Racing will introduce seasonally fitting stakes increases for the benefit of its loyal stakeholders.

Prize money for races will be meaningfully increased at all levels of competition.

The Cape Racing Summer Season kicks off in November and is the benefactor of the most substantial increases.

These increases range from a rise of R20,000 for a Maiden Plate (from R100,000 to R120,000) to R25,000 for a Class 4 Handicap (from R110,000 to R135,000) to R35,000 for a Class A Stakes race (from R150,000 to R185,000).

Careful consideration was given to fairness and balance across the range of divisions – the principle being: that there is an economically viable place for all horses of all strengths in the Cape.

The traditional “off-season” period, run between September and October, also benefits from notable prize money increases.

THE TEAM AT CAPE RACING IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING THE MAJORITY OF THIS PERIOD AT HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE, AS THE CONSTRUCTION AND REBUILD OF HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH CONTINUES TO TAKE PLACE.

Racing is scheduled to return to headquarters on October 21^st, 2023.

Overall, in terms of percentage, prize monies in the Western Cape have increased across the full spectrum of races by between 50% and 125% since the takeover of Cape Racing in October 2022.

Owners and trainers have praised this latest boost in the line of significant advancements implemented by Cape Racing as crucial to progress.

Leading owner Marsh Shirtliff commented:

“Some of us race for fun, and not for the money, but that doesn’t mean we don’t feel the impact of costs increases. We’ve seen feed and transport, to name but two costs, skyrocket in the last year. Extra prize money is simply very good for racing in our region.”

Trainer Greg Ennion said the increases were “quite amazing” and added:

“I’ve had my best buying year in many years due to the first increases, and now I anticipate even better for myself and other small stables. These increases also fit in well with Cape Racing’s syndication initiatives.”

Ron Caris, who holds shares of different values in 14 horses spread across the country counts himself a member of the ‘smaller’ owners group. Caris believes the increased stakes for Maiden Plates (up between 50 and 70% since 2022) and the good prizes affixed to restricted Maiden Plates, will be of particular value.

He commented: “It’s fair to say that smaller owners invariably race the cheaper and often lesser competitive horses, and hence have most of their interest in the Maiden Plates. The stakes increase at Maiden level is welcomed because it gives individuals who own horses bought in the R50,000 – R100,000 bracket a better chance of recovering at least a part or perhaps even all of their initial outlay. This will keep us coming back for more!”

New stakes have Snaith smiling! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Trainer Justin Snaith was enthusiastic in his praise for the new stakes.

“For the first time in racing history, the stakes per race in the Western Cape are the highest in the Country, by quite a margin, following the new stakes increases. This is going to benefit not only owners, but grooms, trainers and jockeys alike. The ripple effect will be felt across the entire industry. We will witness increased investment as a result of these increases, which will also benefit breeders and, ultimately, the horse population. The energy at Cape Racing is infectious and can be felt by all stakeholders in the province. Thank you to Greg Bortz and Hollywoodbets for their considerable contribution to the sport.”

‘Prize money is lifeblood’ – Justin Vermaak

Justin Vermaak, Racing and Bloodstock Executive for Cape Racing, said that prize money is the lifeblood of racing, which serves as the catalyst for increased owner investment.

“We have seen the direct impact on yearling prices over the past year. Once again, Cape Racing is raising stakes to attract the best horses, owners, trainers and jockeys to compete in Cape Town.”

He added: “Along with the increases in these minor race stake levels, we will see big hikes on feature races throughout the season. These will be finalised in August after our Graded Races Committee meeting. Stakeholders can expect similar significant increases to boost the features calendar.”

Greg Bortz, the Chairman of Cape Racing added: “It is our goal to keep innovating and to keep trying new ways to stimulate our sport. This will improve the livelihood of all those who rely on horseracing, from the grooms to the trainers to the jockeys to our employees and to all other service providers and stakeholders. We recognise that the horse owner sits at the epicentre of our ecosystem. Without owners, we have no horses with which to race. It was Ralph Marston who said “what you do today can improve all your tomorrows”. We are certainly putting that theory to the test! Bottom line – we are looking forward to a fantastic summer. We look forward to welcoming owners and horses from around the country to our shores. Space is going to be limited, so we encourage those seeking to race here in the summer to start making plans!”

Media release by Cape Racing on Thursday 27 July 2023

Princess Calla has gone to the top of the Equus Horse Of The Year points table (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Equus Awards Upheaval At World Pool Gold Cup Meeting

The HKJC World Pool Gold Cup day meeting usually causes an upheaval to the Equus Awards standings and this year’s renewal was no different.

The most important upheaval was to the Equus Horse Of The Year award. The Sean Tarry-trained Princess Calla’s impressive win in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m sees her jumping to the top of the Equus Horse Of The Year points table and she also becomes the only horse to have won three Gr 1s this season. Each of Charles Dickens, See It Again and Princess Calla have won an open weight for age (wfa) Gr 1, while Charles Dickens and See It Again each have an age restricted Gr 1 to their names, whilst Princess Calla has two gender restricted Gr 1s to her name. She also won three Gr 2s, including one against the boys by 5,25 lengths. However, who is the better horse, her or Charles Dickens, and how much weight does opinion have versus statistics?

The first upheaval on the day was caused by the David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Sandringham Summit, whose betting drift did not stop him powering home to a second successive impressive Graded race victory in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes. Lucky Lad looked a shoe-in for the Equus Champion Two-year-old male award after his 5,30 length demolition of the field in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion as that took him to four runs unbeaten, including a comfortable 2,35 length win in the Gr 2 WSB SA Nursery and a win in the Gr 3 Protea Stakes. Lucky Lad will still end up on top in the Equus points table for this award. However, he finished last in the Champion Stakes after being jostled early and then caught wide. The stipendiary steward report on the incident says: “a) LUCKY LAD (R Fourie) was awkwardly placed on the inside of SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (C Habib) shortly after the start etc.”

However, there is no mention of the reason for him finding himself in that “awkwardly placed” position.

The horse in draw 9, Kyomai, jumping at an outward angle coupled with the horse on the very outside, Sandringham Summit, being angled inward after the jump appears to be the combined reason for the incident.

Nevertheless, the incident only caused slight inconvenience to Lucky Lad. Him being trapped out wide from that draw was always going to be a possibility and that is the way it panned out.

It is highly unlikely the trophy would have had a different name on it without that incident at the start, especially considering Sandringham Summit passed the well drawn and previously unbeaten Main Defender as if the latter was standing still and won easing up.

The bare result here has Sandringham Summit facing Lucky Lad in a Gr 1 and beating him by 16,40 lengths. Their only previous meeting was on their respective debuts over 1160m and Lucky Lad prevailed by 0,25 lengths.

So, Saturday’s race and the impression created by the top class Sandringham Summit will likely see him winning both the expert panel vote and the public vote and clinching the award, despite Lucky Lad having won a Gr 1, a Gr 2 and a Gr 3 compared to Sandringham Summit’s Gr 1 and Gr 2.

The Equus Champion Sprinter award sees Isivunguvungu coming right into the picture after winning the Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint over 1200m. It will be a close battle for the award between him and Gimme A Prince. Gimme A Prince will remain on top of the points table courtesy of winning a Gr 2 as well as the Gr 1 wfa Pongracz Cape Flying Championship and the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint. Isivunguvungu has won two wfa Gr 1s, the other being the Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint over 1000m. However, Gimme A Prince’s win with topweight in the Golden Horse Sprint was arguably the best sprinting performance of the season. There is a perfect line pointing to that too, because on Sunday Isivunguvungu beat Surjay and Thunderstruck by 0,30 lengths and 0,60 lengths respectively on weight for age terms, whereas Gimme A Prince beat them by 0,95 lengths and 0,90 lengths respectively giving them 4kg and 6kg respectively over the same distance. The Gr 1 wfa meetings between Isivunguvungu and Gimme A Prince are somewhat ironic because over Isivunguvungu’s best trip of 1000m Gimme A Prince beat him by 1,55 lengths and over Gimme A Prince best trip of 1200m Isivunguvungu prevailed by 1,60 lengths. Isivunguvungu could be said to have been unlucky in the Cape Flying, but equally Gimme A Prince was unlucky on Sunday when taking a bump early which forced him to sit further back than he would have liked.

Bless My Stars will replace Make It Snappy at the top of the Equus Three-year-old filly award points table. Voters now have a choice between the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Make It Snappy versus the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic winner Bless My Stars, who also finished third in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and won the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet.

Was See It Again’s runner up finish in the Champions Cup enough to usurp Charles Dickens from his position as favourite to win the Equus Champion Three-year-old Male Award? It was certainly not enough for the points table part of the award.

The Stayers award will go to World Pool Gold Cup winner Future Pearl, the Middle Distance Award should go to See It Again, the Miler Award should go to Charles Dickens, the Two-year-old filly award will go to Mrs Geriatrix, the Older Female award will go to Princess Calla and the Older Male award looks to be an intriguing fight between Gimme A Prince, Isivunguvungu and Trip Of Fortune.

Danielle Rivalland rode Do It Again at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday when he came out to say farewell to his adoring fans (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Top Class Tribute To The Legend, Do It Again

Michele Wing and the Gold Circle team compiled the below video tribute to the legendary Do It Again, who was retired after his historic run in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Golden Sickle can make it two from two on the Highveld (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Vaal Classic Tuesday Formguides And Selections

www.attheraces.com

1 11:45 AM – 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Plate (F & M)

All racehorses turn a year older on 1 August in the Southern Hemisphere. After two runner-up positions PASS THE BATON could get her just reward and get off the mark. MOUNT ETNA was more at home over the extra and should challenge. INNER SENSE is having her peak run and must be considered for honours. She is coupled with UNITED WE STAND who is on the up. ZOOM LADY has been costly to follow but is one for exotic bets. Watch debutante CRYSTAL MAIDEN.

Top Tip: INNER SENSE (1)

Watch out for: ZOOM LADY (2)

2 12:15 PM – www.soccer6.co.za Maiden Plate

TAMIL TIGRESS is back in the maidens and could show them a clean pair of heels. MIZZEN SAIL (coupled with newcomer KUDZU – watch) will relish the extra and rates a live threat. TRIP TO STATES is improving with racing and the extra should suit. CALLABURN, CHIEF WHIP and THE DONELLY are capable of improvement – respect money.

Top Tip: TRIP TO STATES (1)

Watch out for: CALLABURN (6)

3 12:45 PM – Play Soccer 6, 10 And 13 Maiden Plate

Tricky race. Younger runners and stable companions STREWN SKY and CICADIDAE will relish the extra and have most scope for improvement. Also, now three-year-olds, COPPER JOHN and BREATH OF MAGIC could come into the reckoning. QUEEN BRITANNA is back in the maidens and if at her best could go in. PIKE PLACE is maturing now and must be considered. At six years old BROADWAY is trying hard to exit the maidens but could disappoint again.

Top Tip: PIKE PLACE (1)

Watch out for: BROADWAY (2)

4 1:15 PM – 4Racing Thanks And Appreciates Sean Tarry Racing Fm 76 Handicap (F & M)

Five-year-old mares JUST BE NICE and MABONENG could show their younger rivals who their bosses are. Both are holding form and could get into the fight for honours. SPARKLING JUBILEE was sidelined for a long time and won well in her comeback run. She can now go on. PRIMROSE PATH should be held by her. MISS SHAIVI drifted in the betting last time and ran accordingly. Expect a better run. Others are all looking for minor money.

Top Tip: JUST BE NICE (1)

Watch out for: PRIMROSE PATH (2)

5 1:55 PM – Book A Table Call 0116811796 Mr 82 Handicap

BEY SUYAY is the ‘safe’ horse. He gives his best over this distance and should go close. RUNNING RIFLES is in a good place and will be right there going for the judge. ELUSIVE SWANN is running close up and could challenge off a handy weight. TOFFAS was not striding out last time and if ready after a rest could make his presence felt. LADY CALAVERA and 10-year-old NORDIC REBEL cannot be ignored for money.

Top Tip: RUNNING RIFLES (1)

Watch out for: BEY SUYAY (2)

6 2:30 PM – 4racing.tv Fm 76 Handicap (F & M)

KIND JUDY is running well and appears best over this distance – chance. However, SPECIAL CHARM has a better record, having won both her runs at this track, including one over this trip. BALLROOM BLISS could get close to PRINCESS KESH being 2kg better off for a 1.40-lengths beating over this track and trip. Stable companion to KIND JUDY and BALLROOM BLISS is BURMESE TIARA who is looking for Quartet money.

Top Tip: KIND JUDY (1)

Watch out for: BALLROOM BLISS (2)

7 3:05 PM – Tab Telebet 0861 000 822 Fm 90 Handicap (F & M)

Good race – all with claims. TAYOOBA is threatening for her 2nd victory. She races before this – watch. Three-year-old GLOBAL THUNDER has her blinkers back on and should contest the finish. There’s not much separating SILVER WINTER (something amiss last time), ROZARA (not striding out last time) and WINGS OF NIKE (claims 1.5kg) – any could take honours. ROSE FOR TRIPPI makes her debut in her new yard – she can improve the already good record of first-run winners.

Top Tip: ROSE FOR TRIPPI (1)

Watch out for: ROZARA (5)

8 3:40 PM – 4Racing Thanks And Appreciates Crawford Racing Fm 76 Handicap (F & M)

GOLDEN SICKLE won easier than the margin suggested on debut for the Tony Peter yard and could go in again. ON CUE has found form and will run another honest race. She will be closing late. SIMPLY MAGIC, SAMOA, DANCING DORA and FEATHER THE NEST are also looking to chase her down.

Top Tip: GOLDEN SICKLE (1)

Watch out for: ON CUE (2)

9 4:15 PM – Next Vaal Race Meeting Thursday 10 August Mr 68 Handicap

If RED CARPET GIRL doesn’t give away too much start she should contest the finish. A serious threat could come from DELLA’S SWORD who despite her pedigree, appears best over the minimum distance. Former stablemate MIA REGINA could be hampered by an inside draw – check how the going was in earlier races. LIL MISS MONEYBAGS and MERCER GIRL are looking for Quartet money.

Top Tip: MIA REGINA (5)

Watch out for: RED CARPET GIRL (8)

Vaal Classic Fields, Tuesday

The Galway Races Summer Festival began today (Monday).

Today’s Question

When was the first “Galway Races” Festival held?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

The Galway Races (Irish: Rásaí na Gaillimhe) is an Irish horse-racing festival that starts on the last Monday of July every year. Held at Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway, Ireland over seven days, it is one of the longest of all the race meets that occur in Ireland.

The busiest days of the festival are Wednesday, when the Galway Plate is held, and Thursday, when the Galway Hurdle and Ladies’ Day take place.

Festival history

The first racing festival held in Ballybrit was a two-day event with the first race meeting on Tuesday, 17 August 1869. The summer festival was extended to a 3-day meeting in 1959, 4 days in 1971, 5 days in 1974, 6 days in 1982 and, most recently to, 7 days in 1999. The summer festival is the highlight of the business year for most local businesses as crowds and horses flock from all over the world to attend one of the world’s biggest race meetings.

The pub underneath the Corrib Stand, built in 1955, was for many years the longest bar in the world. It was replaced by the Millennium Stand which opened in 1999. The Killanin Stand opened in 2007 replacing the old Corrib (west) Stand.

On the 4th day of the Galway races there was a race meeting held in Tuam. The last race meeting held at Tuam racecourse was in 1973.

Additional race meetings also take place in September and October, but these are not as popular as the summer festival, which draws more than 150,000 spectators.

On 21 April 2020, the Galway Race Committee announced that the 2020 summer festival—scheduled for 27 July to 2 August—was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and would be held behind closed doors for the first time since 1869.

The 2021 festival was held with a maximum of 1,000 people allowed to attend each day.

The festival returned to full capacity in 2022 and over 130,000 people were expected to attend over the week.

In culture

The Galway Races are the subject of At Galway Races, a poem by W. B. Yeats. They are also the subject of eponymous folk song, popularized by The Clancy Brothers, The Chieftains, and The Dubliners. The Celtic rock band, JSD Band played it on their album, Travelling Days. The song also appears on The Kreellers 2008 release, Sixth and Porter. Further, it constitutes the last third of the track Medley on the 1988 album If I Should Fall from Grace with God by The Pogues (the two first parts being The Recruiting Sergeant and an instrumental version of Rocky Road to Dublin).

In 2009, TG4 broadcast a comedy TV series, Rásaí na Gaillimhe, that unfolds during Galway Race Week.

wikipedia

Turf Talk Newsletter – 31 July, 2023