There will be no race meetings until further notice at Borrowdale Park.

The son of Ato, second in the Zimbabwe Guineas, won the Zimbabwe 2000, second leg of the Triple Crown, at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.

Wantage is trained by Bridget Stidolph and was ridden by Morgan Nyamagwete – the third win for that combo today.  Bred by Newbury Racing and Breeding, the bay colt is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Dennis Evans).  Congratulations everyone.

Zambezi Rapids, with Kevin Derere up, gave punters some anxious moments,  and long-time leader Fire To The Rein was third.

Please note new Borrowdale Park Times: Race 1 – 13:30 Race 2 – 14:05 Race 3 – 14:35 Race 4 – 15:05 Race 5 – 15:35 Race 6 – 16:05 Race 7 -16:40

SEVEN RACES ON THE CARD – THE FIRST RACE IS OFF AT 13 25

With little racing action worldwide Borrowdale Park is getting more attention than usual so make sure you turn on the TV and share in the fun.

There are 7 races on the card including the Zimbabwe 2000, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Although there are only four runners in the Zimbabwe 2000 – Wantage, Zambezi Rapids, Tree Of Wisdom and Fire To The Rein – I am looking forward to a competitive race. Wantage is a 3-time winner, and Zambezi Rapids (2 wins) could surprise us.

Only Fire To The Rein has to date gone further than 1600m and he may be the joker over 2000m. On 15 March, in a 2200m MR 65 Handicap, he was a commendable third to Ineffable and Rawedge – 2.25 lengths behind the winner, carrying 56 kgs.

It would always be pleasing to receive the extra coverage we have, in this instance, had from Sporting Post and Gold Circle on Facebook, but particularly so for this meeting. It is appreciated.

If you do Facebook do not forget Racing At Borrowdale Park In Zimbabwe – https://www.facebook.com/zimracing/ – and follow the support we have been getting elsewhere.

As for the rest follow the links for tips, card changes etc on this page.

Have a great day

Due to the worldwide pandemic nothing is quite so easy, so if you want to bet on Borrowdale Park racing make a plan right away.

In Zimbabwe all outlets of TAB and MWOS are closed, and online betting does not exist.

In RSA all TAB and BETTING WORLD outlets are closed, but online betting is open.

However, all online platforms should carry betting on Borrowdale Park – but one would obviously HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED USER on the respective website.

Online betting platforms carrying open betting include, but are not limited to: –

http://www.bettingworld.co.za/

http://news.tabonline.co.za/

https://www.interbet.co.za/

https://mobile.wsb.co.za/

OWNERS WILL WATCH FROM THEIR HOMES…

The Mashonaland Turf Club today issued the following statement regarding the Borrowdale Park race meeting scheduled for Friday:

 “Please be advised that as we all know things change daily amid the COVID – 19 pandemic, for all of us.

“As we stand today 24.03.2020, the Borrowdale Park race meeting to be held on Friday the 27  March, 2020, will go ahead as planned – but under certain conditions that fulfil both Ministry directive and Government advise.

“The following practices have been put in place by MTC in order to hold the race day –

1. There will be no foreign or international Jockeys allowed on course. All local jockeys will be used on the day.

2. MTC will be closed to any and all members of the public. All gates will be locked and there will be no access to any interested party or other.

3. The Owners and Trainers bar will be closed. There will be no owners allowed on course at any time or at any place, including the grandstands.

4. The parade ring is closed and out of bounds to any and all individuals, including MTC staff working on the day, other than the trainer, jockey, lead grooms, stipendiary and duty Stewards.

5. Tellytrack will be broadcasting the event on channel 239 DSTV.

6. There will only be a trainer and a jockey interview. No owners or grooms.

7. All MTC race day staff have been reduced and limited to an essential skeleton staff that allows us to operate within the minimum of the 50-person Presidential directive.

8. All essential Staff have been divided into 6 groupings and isolated from each other so that no comingling can occur. Separate facilities are provided for dope box operator and vet so that they can operate independently, as do studio, Judges and commentator for the day.

9. The NHRA of RSA has been informed of our intention as well as of our actions taken to both protect race day staff and ensure the best interests of horses and horse racing are adhered to.”

One’s frame of mind this morning probably depends on whether you are a night owl, into Twitter and international news. If not count yourself lucky, because it’s all doom and gloom about COVID-19, looming unemployment, wrecked economies, lack of timely and appropriate action by governments, and so on and so forth.

What’s new?  Zimbabweans are used to all that. We are not used to international racing going into virtual lockdown and must get our minds around this. No doubt the MTC and Borrowdale Park trainers will be meeting today to discuss the way forward and I trust stakeholders and all interested parties will be informed of the outcome, without delay.

As I see it the immediate problems are the supply of horse feed, the effect on planned functions and our big three race meetings, and jockeys.

The situation elsewhere is changing hourly.  Will the South African jockeys be allowed to come to Harare and if not, what is the plan? 

I never thought to close our Apprentice Academy was a bright move but apparently, that’s a done deal – so what is the alternative?  The apprentices want to move to a South African Academy, but we need them here. Local jocks inspire local interest at the best of times and right now we are likely to need every single one of them with their feet on the ground. 

It is no good speculating when facts are limited so let’s be positive. Racing at Borrowdale Park has managed to continue in tough times, and we must carry on doing so.  


At first, I thought The Centaurian’s somewhat grandiose plan for a ZIMFUN RACING CLUB was pie in the sky – because I don’t do figures – but the more I think about it the more I like the idea.  So, I am in for a share even if I must stage a hold-up somewhere along the line to raise US$100.

Let’s concentrate on being constructive.  We must keep on dreaming, and making sure we look after our animals and anyone else who needs help.  We will get through this.

Have a good day!

The Centaurian wants ‘a show of hands’ to get the ball rolling…

I AM TOLD that some 1,500 people read my occasional columns on horse racing – thank you very much! Very rewarding to know.

Of course, racing is a great sport for all concerned – breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, spectators, punters, bookies, media and of course the taxman. It has a vast number of followers around the world – but it is an expensive sport, very expensive and out of the reach of most of us, even through the medium of syndicates.

Then I thought that the fact you are reading my column must be because you enjoy the sport very much – but maybe you are not in a position to actually go out and buy a horse – or even join a syndicate.

Then I thought maybe you would like an opportunity to have an affordable involvement, and what might that look like.

Then I thought of the ZIMFUN RACING CLUB – that might work.

ZimFun would be a limited company whose mission would be to race as many horses as possible at Borrowdale Park – and if lucky, beyond – and if very lucky, at a profit. Maybe I can persuade PJ Moor to set up the company for us – free of charge!

A limited company circumvents all the hassles associated with changing syndicate memberships – shareholders can change every week without affecting the company’s eligibility to race.

So we need to make shares affordable – how about US$100 per share – and you can buy one or as many as you like – I would buy at least five straight away.

What should be the authorized capital? It doesn’t matter – make it a million – and we can issue shares as pledges come in.

How much do we need? Silly question! I need all readers to buy one share – in which case that would generate $150,000 – mmmm always the optimist but why not?

How many horses would that buy? If we want a lot of horses then we need to buy well and ship them from South Africa – say $5,000 for the purchase and transport. Then $5,000 for a year’s training fees, paid in advance to minimise the paperwork.

So the annual start-up budget is $10,000 per horse – and 15 would be nice.

The company would have a small elected Board of Directors – on annual rotation – all unpaid – and if you liked, I would be happy to Chair the company. I have been considerably luckier with horses than I have with wives – maybe that’s because I have more empathy with the former!

I would be happy to stand as nominee for the Club too.
I would try and persuade Spencer Murray and Grant Littleford to do the accounts for nout.

Horses would be allocated equally to all trainers who are training more than ten horses at the time – and we would let the trainers do what they are paid to do – with no interference unless asked. There is nothing worse than an owner thinking he knows more than a trainer!

With the advent of WhatsApp and emails – our trainers will be able to keep every shareholder fully informed – as necessary – it’s easy.

And there can be stable visits too – albeit these will have to be well planned if 100 people plan to turn up. But even that is no big deal – bring a bottle of red or a six-pack and the jobs a good ‘un.

We would look to buy a range of horse types from sprinters through to stayers. We might favour colts over fillies but the maxim will be to buy horses we think can win races and are within our price range.

As to colours – we need another first here – and I am going to suggest that our colours be based on a big smiley face – to reflect this is fun, but serious fun – so mainly yellow and black.

On race day, lots will be drawn for which thirty shareholders go in the parade ring. Borrowdale Park has a big parade ring with not many horses and not many owners – thirty should be easy peasy.

Wide-angle lenses provide for winning photographs – of which there will be many.

We will try to make our racing club a big personality club – and mirror the success of Centaur Syndicate that has been going for over forty years – well run with at least one great social event each year. Given the scale of our potential membership that will likely be an annual braai and disco – I know just the place for that.

Big race wins like the Tankard or the OK or the Gold Cup Sprint will trigger separate scale celebrations.

At the end of each year – or maybe racing season – we will look to consider the company’s position at an AGM. We might have made a profit but it is more likely that we will not have done so -but we will have had some great fun.

At that point in time, we will have a rights issue to raise more capital to keep going for a further year and hopefully to buy new stock. The annual accounts will tell us what our shares might be worth and we can buy and sell them at that point in time. If individuals wish to sell their shares at other times, there can be no objection if the seller and buyer can agree on a price between themselves.

Ideally, Zimfun should have the structure and resources to run for many years. Zimfun should also have the capacity to reinvent itself each year – as I said before at $100 per share we only need to sell one hundred shares to get the show on the road.

So now I need to have a show of hands – from my 1,500 readers.

Please “Like” this column and let’s see if we can make it happen – actually since I am buying five shares, we only need to sell 95 more.

Racing fans, this is your opportunity to do just your little bit for Borrowdale Park – which collectively could make Zimfun one of the biggest owners at the track. Go on – “Like” the idea and I will get the ball rolling.

It was a memorable, and triumphant, afternoon at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon for the Bridget Stidolph yard. The stable sent out the winners of both the feature races, and Mathew Thackeray rode both.

Lily Blue, to quote commentator Adrian Nydam, annihilated the 1800m Silver Slipper (L) field and has now bagged two legs of the Zimbabwe Triple Tiara. Preston, also from the Stidolph yard was second, 4 lengths back, followed by Lil Miss Gee and Centre Stage.

Bred by Geoff Armitage and owned by the Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (nominee: Kirsty Stidolph), Robyn Macleod and Betty Prosser, one wonders where Lily Blue goes from here. The Zimbabwe Oaks and the Zimbabwe 2000?

Former Castle Tankard winner Peggson proved he hasn’t lost his touch when he won the 2000m Champion Breeders Cup (L) in fine style. Three To Tango finished 3 lengths behind him, then came Bugatti Blue and In The Mood. (Kirk Swanson runners filled all the minor placings and he also had a good day at the office having won the first four races on the card).

Peggson is owned by Messrs A Ackhurst, G De Jong, G M Littleford, S H Murray, A P Nydam, P C Rugg, S W Shutt, S N Buchan & N Evans.
The Stidolph/Thackeray team scored again when top weight Christofle won the last race.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photographs by Gavin Macleod

THE Swanson stable won the Breeders Champion Cup (L) with Amsterdam in 2019 and with five runners in this 2000m event at Borrowdale Park on Sunday they intend to make a race of it.

Bridget Stidolph will saddle Peggson, who will be no pushover, and Action Jackson, from Vee Racing, second to Sygone in the 2019 Zimbabwe 2000, can’t be overlooked.

Of Kirk Swanson’s runners – Three To Tango, Bugatti Blue, Horseplay, In The Mood and Arte – I quietly fancy Three To Tango but all must be in with a very good chance.

In the recent 1600m Ipi Tombe Stakes Peggson went down to Yarraman by half a length but should do better over more ground. He won the 2019 Castle Tankard over Sunday’s distance and I expect him to be involved in this finish.

The opening betting will be interesting – this is probably one of those races where there is no outright favourite.

There are seven races on Sunday and with two feature races, this should be a good meeting.

The 1800m Silver Slipper (L) is one of the two features at Borrowdale Park on Sunday – and the question is can anyone beat Lily Blue?

The trip is unlikely to be a problem because on November 30 she won the 1800m ZNA Charity Champion Fillies Stakes, and several older and wiser, good performers, finished behind her. Since then Lily Blue has won the Fillies Classic, the first leg of the Triple Tiara, and the Zimbabwe Guineas.

Bridget Stidolph has a strong hand because apart from Lily Blue she also fields Prescott who always finishes in the money. This consistent filly finished second in the Fillies Classic and third in the Guineas. Prescott has yet to go further than the mile.

Lil Miss Gee, a daughter of Gimmethegreenlight (AUS), represents the Terzi satellite yard, Vee Racing. She won over 1700m in January, was third in the 1600m Guineas Trial, and most recently third to Grand Rapids in a 1600m Novice Plate. This yard is currently riding high. Can Lil Miss Gee put her best hoof forward?

Thomas Mason of Tomcat Racing throws a dark horse, Centre Stage, into the mix. Ex Michael Miller, this will be her first start at Borrowdale. Still a maiden, she is by Oratorio (IRE) out of a Jet Master mare. Centre Stage has run several seconds from 1400 to 1600m, and in August, at Greyville, was 2.85 lengths off the winner, Vijeta, over 2000m. Her last start was on 10 January, at Greyville.

All the runners carry 58 kgs.

says The Centaurian

The thing about the Pure Maths approach to finding a winner is that moderate horses tend to have inconsistent form and thus their race times are typically unreliable. However good horses perform consistently and so Pure Maths should be confined to horses with indexes above 80 – or more.

In the case of the ZimbabweGuineas, I kind of felt we had some good horses running and so it proved. The Pure Maths approach picked the winner – it said Lily Blue was a blinder and I suggested you “get on”.

I can now report this horse improved by at least six lengths on the time I expected her to run in – that is, she won in 95.62 seconds – not the 96.30 seconds I predicted. The maths on this is 0.70 seconds at 0.12 secs per length – equals six lengths.

Now the other interesting fact is that I was sceptical about the time performance of Prescott in her pointer race – my calculations said she would complete in 96.20 seconds – and on that basis should win the race. I just didn’t believe it – I thought the timekeeper had gotten it wrong!

Well, this filly ran five lengths off Lily Blue – and the maths? 5 lengths x 0.12 equals 0.60 seconds – add that to 95.62 and you get 96.20 – bang on the Pure Maths prediction.

I didn’t mean to put you off from backing her – in fact, I thought she looked well in the paddock so included Prescott in my swingers – and in future, I will believe my Pure Maths more enthusiastically.

Oh, and Wantage improved 6 lengths on his Pure Maths prediction to come second.

There is also a moral here. The timekeepers must get it right and the guys who position the stalls must get it right too or the times become a nonsense!

When the new UK flat season starts, we shall have some fun applying some Pure Maths to their top races – and try and find you some good priced winners.