Sean Tarry is engrossed in his copy of the Kimberley Recorder (Picture Supplied)
Two recent publications that have gone down well with the select South African Racing industrymen to have received them so far are a wonderfully inventive broadsheet newspaper edition called The Kimberley Recorder, published by well know owner Ravi Naidoo, and a racing thriller called National Nightmare written by Cape Town’s burgeoning novelist and respected former racing journalist Michael Clower.
Ravi Naidoo was inspired by his Mauritzfontein Stud-based stallion Cousin Casey, “who has given me much joy”, to produce a broadshseet newspaper called the Kimberley Recorder which is packed with entertaining racing articles, interviews, anecdotes, statistics, a crossword and some clever digs at ourselves, the racing fraternity.
A lot of the articles are about “The Cousin” in what must be the cleverest “brochure” ever produced in South African racing.
However, the publication would go down well with all racing folk, not just those who are interested in sending their mares to Cousin Casey.
A skim through it before writing this review shows Ravi’s turn of phrase to be as good as Cousin Casey’s turn of foot, resulting in some amusing, offbeat pieces.
A lot of it is made up, such as the letters page, which is a good giggle while at the same time being thought provoking and forcing us to take a look at ourselves.
There is plenty of interesting stuff too such as an insightful article from the perspective of Jessica Jell about the history of Mauritzfontein as well as articles on some of the stud farms staff members like stud manager Nigel Page and stallion handler Regan van Rooi.
There is also an interview with Oisin Murphy, which rather than containing the usual boring questions, has imaginative questions that draws out answers that give real insight into what it is like to be a jockey and a horseman.
Another article is entitled “The wisdom of breeders”, there is an article about the structure that best suits racing called “The apex and the base” and an article on equine exports.
There is also an entertaining interview with Cousin Casey himself, which will bring plenty of chortles.
Copies of the Kimberley Recorder are being couriered around the country and enquiries about getting a copy can be made to Dominique Millard at Mauritzfontein Stud.
Meanwhile, Michael Clower, who was a much respected racing journalist in Britain, Ireland and South Africa, having started out in Kenya as a jockey and a writer, is fast making a name for himself as a Dick Francis-style novelist of racing thrillers.
Michael’s plots are swift and capture the reader from the first page, making the book difficult to put down.
His latest thriller called National Nightmare sees Rod Hutchinson, an amateur jockey and racing journalist, investigating Grand National protester plans as well as rumours of trainers using various means to cheat.
There are are plenty of sub-plots and twists.
It is an easy and riveting read and can be enjoyed by racing people, and probably even by non-racing people, of all ages.
National Danger is available on Amazon in paperback (R187.21) and on kindle.
