The first race at Borrowdale Park tomorrow, Friday 27th January 2023, is off at 12.25 pm and the main race, the 1600m Guineas Trial, is at 15.20.
Please click on this link to view and download the online card https://mcusercontent.com/2a1c7dfa1eb4e4b185607f5a6/files/276f54af-7f13-5d70-6854-5b75e983c465/27_January_2023_MTC_BORROWDALE_RACE_CARD.pdf
Tips and card changes, when available, on this site.
Entrance to the course is free.
Photograph by Andrew Philip
I am stepping back from Social Media for a while but may not be able to completely resist LoveRacingZimbabwe, the Facebook Group page, and Twitter. In the meantime, I hope you are all having a super start to 2023. See you later.
Photograph by Gavin Macleod: What a wonderful finish to the 2023 Hachiman Sprint at Borrowdale Park on Saturday. The race was won by Varnica (Takawira) from stablemate Tulip Way (Satombo). Both horses owned by Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward & G Carter, and trained by Debra Swanson.
The 1100m Hachiman Sprint on Saturday was won by Varnica in the most exciting of finishes involving stable companion Tulip Way. Debra Swanson trained five of the six winners on the card – and Norbert Takawira rode four of them. Great stuff.
Although the going was heavy the course was looking good. Spruced up and sparkling. What a difference some paint makes! The TV coverage by 4Racing on DSTV was also greatly improved. All so encouraging.
Photographs by Gavin Macleod
The feature race at Borrowdale Park on Saturday is the 1100m Hachiman Sprint.
This race was won in yielding going last year by Citrusdal, closely followed by Emerald Floe and then came Varnica and Mind Master. Of this quartet all but Citrusdal line up again but there has been quite a turnaround in some of the weights.
As only 7 jockeys will ride at this meeting, recent import Brianna only takes part if there is a scratching.
Vanessa Birketoft probably has a strong hand with Oden and Mind Master, while Veseo will represent the Amy Bronkhorst stable. Debra Swanson will saddle Tulip Way and Varnica, while in addition to Emerald Floe, Bridget Stidolph sends out Love To Bluff.
There has been plenty of rain about and. on Tuesday. a trainer said the one thing one could count on was plenty of unfit horses should the wet weather continue.
The first race on Saturday is due off at 13 40 and the Hachiman Sprint is at 16 30 pm
Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.
Unfortunately, no pic of Brianna 58.0 86 A …………… Gavin MacLeod.
The Mashonaland Turf Club has changed the January 2023 dates and the new dates are as follows
Saturday 14 January 2023 – NOMINATIONS POSTED
Friday 27 January 2023
The first race at Borrowdale Park today, 15th December 2022, is off at 13.15 pm and the main race, the Health Point Champion Fillies Stakes is at 16.05.
Please click on this link to view and download the online card https://mcusercontent.com/2a1c7dfa1eb4e4b185607f5a6/files/917d549d-6beb-2d17-5f0d-d16fdae0082a/15_DEC_2022.pdf
Tips and card changes on this site.
Entrance to the course is free.
Photograph by Jenny Stock
Borrowdale Park’s last meeting of 2022 takes place on Thursday. The feature is the 1600m HealthPoint Champion Fillies Stakes where I will not be taking sides with any of the 8 runners.
This is an impressive bunch, including crowd pleasers Lily Blue and True Beauty, but both will be giving away many kgs to the likes of Masaaken, Obscure and Tigers Eagle, as well as others who could be sneaky. So, I will be sitting on the fence for this one, while expecting an especially exciting race.
Have a look at the field:
1 (2) LILY BLUE 6m 60.0 (MR98) M Thackeray – Bridget Stidolph – 12 wins 1000m – 2400m
Owner: Ms Robyn Macleod & Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (Nom: Miss K Stidolph); Breeder: Mr G J Armitage; Breeding: Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA)
2 (6) TRUE BEAUTY 5m 60.0 (MR 99) F Herholdt – Thomas Mason – 6 wins 1200m – 2000m
Owner: Ms S P Moyo & Mr G Tafeni; Breeder: Bosworth Farm Stud; Breeding: Skitt Skizzle – Beautiful Jo by Silvano (GER)
3 (8) MASAAKEN (AUS) 5m56.0 (MR88) N Takawira – Debra Swanson – 7 wins 2000m – 2850m
Owner: Mr D H & Mrs J L Cocksedge; Breeder: Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd, NSW; Breeding: Teofilo (IRE) – Lahqa (AUS) by Stratum (AUS)
4 (4) OBSCURE 5m 54.0 (MR83) J Penny – Bridget Stidolph – 6 wins 1450m – 2000m
Owner: Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (Nom: Miss K Stidolph); Breeder: Mr G J Armitage; Breeding: Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA)
5 (7) SHESALEGEND 5m 54.0 (MR80) M Josi – Vanessa Birketoft – 7 wins 1200m – 1700m
Owner: Messrs G M Littleford, S H Murray & P C Rugg; Breeder: Scott Bros; Breeding: Mogok (USA) – Majestic Legend (AUS) by Royal Academy (USA)
6 (3) TIGERS EAGLE 4f 54.0 (MR82) T Gould – Debra Swanson – 5 wins 1600m – 2700m
Owner: Mr C J Danckwerts; Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein; Breeding: Flying The Flag (IRE) – Neck Of The Woods by Al Mufti (USA)
7 (5) VARNICA 6m 54.0 (MR84) R Satombo – Debra Swanson – 10 wins 1100m – 1260m
Owner: Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward & G Carter; Breeder: Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd; Breeding: Var (USA) – Muvango by Manshood (GB)
8 (1) DIFFERENTIATE 6m 50.0 (MR74) K Derere – Amy Bronkhorst – 6 wins 1160m – 1800m
Owner: Brumby Syndicate (Nom: Grant Littleford); Breeder: Scott Bros; Breeding: Eightfold Path (USA) – Take The Lead by Al Mufti (USA)
Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News
Full sisters, Lily Blue and Obscure, have stood their ground in the 1600m HealthPoint Champion Fillies Stakes, to be run at Borrowdale Park on Thursday.
This well-performed pair run in the colours of the Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (some of whom are seen here). The girls will be out in force on Thursday – for sure – and giving it their best shout.
Photograph by Jenny Stock of Zimbabwe Equine News
The first race at Borrowdale Park today, 4th December, 2022, is off at 13.20 pm and the main race, the Health Point Gold Cup (Gr3) at 16.10.
Please click on this link to view and download the online card https://mcusercontent.com/2a1c7dfa1eb4e4b185607f5a6/files/af92c14c-4c62-de20-9e66-dd0bbfb402bd/4_December_2022.pdf
Tips and card changes are also on this site.
Entrance to the course is free.
In addition to the Spey Bridge Awards, there were other presentations at Borrowdale Park on Thursday evening.
Bridget Stidolph was Zimbabwe’s Champion Trainer during the 2021/22 season.
Congratulations Bridget!
ZIMBABWE CHAMPION JOCKEY 2021/22
Congratulations Teaque Travis Gould!
You had to do a great deal of travelling to achieve this.
ZIMBABWE CHAMPION APPRENTICE 2021/22
Great stuff Walter Shumba!
Wishing you many more winners.
Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2021/22 Spey Bridge Awards!
The presentations were made at a function at Borrowdale Park yesterday evening – very well organised and a good time was had by all.
Champion Filly – CALL THE WIND
Champion Sprinter – WHAT A DANDY
Champion Older Horse – TRUE BEAUTY
Special Award – COOL SOLUTION
Personality Of The Year – GYLES DORWARD
Horse Of The Year – TRUE BEAUTY
Photograph: True Beauty. the Horse Of The Year, won the 2022 Castle Tankard and is owned by Mrs S P Moyo & Mr G Tafeni. Bred by Bosworth Stud, the Skitt Skizzle filly is trained by Thomas Mason. Well done everyone.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 