Hurdles May Be Crowd Magnet For SA Racing
Michael Clower announced his retirement last week at the age of 76. He was a jockey, chartered accountant, published author and a journalist. Michael visited Kenilworth in 2006 and was surprised to see so few people watching the goings-on in the parade ring. He is surprised that the grandstand is not packed to capacity.
The stands at the SA Racing Championships were as good as in Ireland. The course was well-mown and the grass was green.
Racing is not popular in South Africa. It's organised to generate betting turnover.
Hurdles are popular with racing fans in South Africa. Phumelela wants to mix it with overseas races every 5 to 10 minutes.
There are fewer people going to racing nowadays. The main reason is that the sport is all flat-racing. In the old Hunt Club, there were many people attending the races. Even in racing-mad Ireland, a minor evening jump meeting in the middle of nowhere can attract 8,000 people. It's a disincentive to go racing. In Kenya, the trainer arranged a race so that only the first four horses turned out and finished in order. This was illegal and the stewards declared it void. An eccentric trainer once put his purchases down to 'Cash' at Goffs Sales. He let fly when he found out that he was printing his name as the buyer.
People in South Africa say jump racing is cruel. I say that's b***s. Horses are bred to race.
Ernie Rodrigues is a professional photographer.
The only time I was involved in a race that was fixed was at an amateur meeting at a country course in Kenya. My horse was ridden by his girlfriend, who had ridden in races in Singapore. She won by four lengths.
The Turf Club sends spotters to the big-betting Derby to look for licensed trainers and jockeys.
He didn't say if they were either the IRA or the paramilitary protestant opposition.
After doing his report at Leopardstown, he was the last person to leave the racecourse. His car was left in the car park, but he found wires hanging down from the steering wheel. The security man on the top floor called the police. He walked round the vehicle twice and peered underneath it. It was not a bomb. He got in and turned the ignition. Nothing happened. Mary Slack is changing the way the interviews are shown in South African racing.
I took a lot of persuading before I got in and began the drive home.
The Sporting Post is the best racing website in the world. The sport needs to focus on the races that are relevant to the public.
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