The WSB East Cape Derby is a horse race renowned for its quality, tradition, excitement and entertainment.
This Friday, at the Fairview track in Greenbushes, it will be the 60th running of this prestigious race for three-year-olds, over the challenging distance of 2 400m.
As was the case last year, the entertainment side of the race will be limited to the action on the track.
The owners of the participating horses will be allowed on course but the action to the general public is still limited to television coverage, due to the COVID-19 regulations.
It is a pity because you can be sure that the Fairview promotions manager, Karin le Roux, and her team, would have created a carnival atmosphere at Fairview as in previous years.
The derby is the one race, along with the Algoa Cup in October, which the Fairview trainers desperately want to win.
It has never been an easy race to win but the local trainers have really been struggling to find the winners’ box in recent years with the Western Cape yards, sending some top sorts to the Eastern Cape to grab the trophy.
In the last 16 years, there were only two local winners as the Western Cape raiders dominated proceedings.
One of those local victories was last year, when American Princess took the honours for the stable of champion trainer, Alan Greeff.
No doubt, the Fairview trainers want to prove this win was no fluke and a huge effort can be expected from the local three-year-olds.
The derby meeting is only one of the highlights in May, one of the best months for racing in the Eastern Cape.
Last Friday saw the WSB Poly Challenge, for this year, coming to a close with the running of the third and last leg.
It was another exciting and successful series and the bonus of R250 000 for the horse that wins all three legs is still safely in the sponsors’ kitty.
The chase for the consolation bonus of R50 000 was just as exciting, though. In this regard, it is always nice to see when a plan comes together.
Trainer, Juan Nel, stated right at the start of the challenge that he had this bonus in mind with the consistent gelding, Earth Hour.
The stable was rewarded for their hard work on Friday when Earth Hour did enough with his second place to secure the bonus.
It was a thrilling end to this race when Earth Hour and the favourite, Marmara, pulled out all the stops to try to catch the outsider, Thomas Tucker.
Thomas Tucker hung on for a sensational victory, under an excellent ride from Lyle Hewitson, and to the great delight of trainer, Duncan McKenzie.
Now it is the turn of the derby to continue the Fairview excitement.
It should be a cracking race.
