This has been a disappointing year with enforced racing breaks, thanks to COVID-19, and constant changes.  However, one thing is certain.  Come what may the 2020/21 racing season in Southern Africa will end on the 31^st July.

On 1^st August all Thoroughbred horses foaled in the Southern Hemisphere officially become one year older. If the Borrowdale Park race meeting cannot take place before the end of this month that will put paid to the 2021 Zimbabwe Oaks (third leg of our Triple Tiara) and the 2021 Champion Juvenile Stakes.

The race meeting scheduled for July 18 had to be abandoned as permission was not forthcoming and, apparently, the Mashonaland Turf Club is not permitted to apply for permission to race until July 26. If the SRC gives the go-ahead then (and we know that seldom happens timeously), permission must then be sought from the ZRP and COH.

All going well this could mean an important race meeting (behind closed doors) having to be set up within two or three days. Difficult as this would be the MTC would do so as plans have already been made to run the 2021 Castle Tankard on July 31.

So that’s where we stand right now with everything up in the air. Meanwhile, racing continues around the rest of the world – and in many countries, spectators can now attend.

Watch this space.