To win a horse race at Fairview is not easy, and the smaller stables have shown incredible resilience to stay in the fight.
Although meetings at the track in Greenbushes are highly competitive, the big yards of trainers Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith still manage to dominate.
This makes it tough for the trainers with smaller stables to survive. In recent times some experienced trainers have thrown in the towel, because costs just got too high to maintain a successful stable.
The local racing fraternity is very proud of the achievements of Greeff and Smith who are up there with the best in the country, but the victories of the smaller yards are also celebrated in style.
At the last two Friday meetings it was great to see some smaller trainers making their way to the winners’ enclosure.
The hard work of Tara Laing, Jacques Strydom, Zietsman Oosthuizen, and Duncan McKenzie paid off. They were rewarded with fantastic victories.
What made the trips to the number box even more remarkable for Laing, Strydom, and McKenzie, is that they are all battling health issues.
Laing couldn’t be at the track to shout her charges home and celebrate her success with her right-hand man, Gavin Venter, and her son, Ewan.
Strydom missed a few meetings after eye surgery. In his absence, Eddie Griebenow did a stellar job to keep the stable ticking over.
Although still recovering from his operation, Strydom couldn’t stay away from his horses for too long and is back at work.
McKenzie cracked two winners last Friday, but no-one even heard his customary war cry of “Go ya baby”, as Duncs was suffering from a bad bout of flu.
The winners must have helped to make Laing, Strydom, and McKenzie feel a lot better. We wish them more success and good health!
Luckily, record-breaking jockey, Richard Fourie, is still in good health after a stunning recovery when he was nearly dismounted at the start of the first race at last Friday’s meeting.
Venter, a former jockey who holds the record for the most East Cape championships, said he has never seen something like that in the 50 years he has been involved with the sport.
“Richard was literally off the horse, but he hung on. That was pure jockeyship. That’s why he is the best in the country,” Venter said.
At this Friday’s meeting, the Eastern Cape Challenge for fillies and mares will get under way with the first leg. It is the R150 000 Breeders Stakes which should be a great race.
There is also the Nomads Golf Club race day to look forward to on July 5, a day before the running of Africa’s biggest race, the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July, at Greyville.
Local racing fans can get together in the Bold Silvano Room at Fairview for a viewing of the Durban meeting on July 6.
Phone Marilyn on 076 301 5449 for bookings.
