ALGOA Cup Day is not only the biggest meeting of the year in Gqeberha but also a special day on the South African horse racing calendar.
On Friday there will be a carnival atmosphere at the Fairview track in Greenbushes when racing combines with family fun, fashion and charity.
Racing fans all over the country love to get involved on this day as the event is steeped in history.
The country’s top trainers make no secret about the fact that the Algoa Cup is a special race to win.
Legendary names of past winners appear on the spectacular trophy and the big question is who will be the winner on Friday?
This question is a bit of a sore point for the local trainers as it’s been a long time between drinks since an East Cape horse won the biggest race in the province.
The Jacques Strydom-trained Surfin’ USA was the last local horse to win the Algoa Cup, way back in 2009.
Since then, the visiting Western Cape stables have been transporting trucks full of silverware back to that famous mountain.
It has been hectic times at the Fairview stables as the trainers put everything into preparing their horses for a crack at Friday’s R350 000 race over 2 000m.
Although it will be an enjoyable social occasion for many, Friday’s meeting is packed with quality for the racing purist to enjoy.
The Algoa Cup is the standout (race 7 on the card) but fireworks are also expected in the Racehorse Owners Association Stakes for three-year-olds, and the Wedgewood Handicap for fillies and mares.
There will be exciting news for the Fairview work riders on Friday. The Work Riders races on designated meetings are extremely popular and the riders are set to receive brand new riding kits on Friday.
This will be a huge boost to those riders who work with horses at the stables every day.
The work riders are improving all the time when they are getting chances to show off their skills and talent in official races. Their development will be closely followed by all the role-players.
Algoa Cup Day will be spectacular but last Friday’s meeting on the poly surface was also one for the history books.
The Western Cape gelding, King Regent, became the first horse to win all three legs of the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge.
He won the third and final leg of the Challenge just as easily as he won the first two legs on the Fairview Polytrack.
The popular Challenge started in 2016 and King Regent is the first winner of the Triple Crown. Jockey Denis Schwarz was on board with all three wins.
Find the latest news about Algoa Cup Day and your race day tips on the Facebook page of Henk Se Wenk.
Entry to all Fairview meetings is free.
