Top-weighted Holy Land won his 10th race at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, when beating Wantage in the 1600m MR 98 Handicap.

Diego de Gouveia was in the irons and the 8-year-old Ideal World (USA) gelding is trained by Amy Parham. The proud owners are Messrs G Goksel, G Carter,D T Machingaidze, M W Smith, and Mesdames P J Lewis, C M de Jong and S Ziehl. Holy Land was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein.

Congratulations everyone.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News. TOP – Holy Land (de Gouveia) followed by Wantage (Penny), Sun Bird (Syster) and Only Him (Marwing).

Holy Land, with Diego de Gouveia in the irons, will be aiming for back-to-back wins when he races in the 1600m Pinnacle Plate 98 at Borrowdale Park tomorrow (Saturday).

Amy Parham’s charge won the 1600m Sunshine Cup on 14 October carrying 60 kgs. Wantage and Only Him also raced then – Wantage (60 kgs) was 2.15 lengths back, and Only Him (60 kgs) was 3.40 lengths off the winner. Saturday’s runners, Citrusdal and SunBird, were not in the Sunshine Cup.

This time Only Him (59 kgs) and Wantage (58 kgs) take on Holy Land on better terms, but the Sunshine Cup winner has to give both Citrusdal and Sun Bird 5.5 kgs. They have won over the distance and should be racing fit. 

This will be interesting, and the Pinnacle Plate is due off at 15:40.  The first race on Saturday’s card is at 12:45.

Please follow this link to download the online card – https://mcusercontent.com/2a1c7dfa1eb4e4b185607f5a6/files/8808aabe-04fe-fa10-4a7e-377b93b20a45/18_NOVEMBER_2023.pdf

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News. Holy Land and Wantage (nearest camera) in the 2023 Ipi Tombe Stakes won by Holy Land. Both carried 60 kgs and Wantage went down by 0.10 lengths.

There are murmurs – and not for the first time – about moving back to the Ipi Tombe Room better known as the O’s & T’s.

Let’s make this happen because regular Borrowdale Park fans need a place of their own, with easy access to everything that matters.  The actual Mashonaland Owners & Trainers Association has fallen away so it would be up to volunteers to get things up and running again.

I am sure there would be volunteers. There are lots of golden oldies still around and if the parents are missing some of the sons and daughters are not.  I know who most of you are.  

Without a doubt the actual venue needs work – and it will take time to locate some of ‘’our’” possessions that have moved elsewhere – but to get started all we need is something to sit on – a well-stocked, well-managed bar, and adequate snacks. Fancy lunches and glamorous events – as in the good old days – can come later.

Let us begin thinking out of the box – and I suggest…

1. The Board of Stewards has never been involved in running the O’s & T’s and let’s keep it that way.  All we need is for them to accept that the venue is rent-free as in the past.  It is surely the stewards’ duty to provide racing enthusiasts with basic facilities.

• Forget about annual subscriptions and keep the entrance fee as low as possible – $5 at the most. Appreciation boxes could collect more than doormen when patrons are enjoying themselves.

• Wear what you like as long as it’s decent, because during “racing hours” this is not a four-ale bar or a brothel.

That will do for a start – and now you can tell me I have finally lost it,  and then  say what needs to happen.

First and foremost, this is about bringing people back to the course. A supportive on-course bookmaker is essential, and hopefully, some genius will soon come up with a solution to that.

By the way, there is racing at Borrowdale on Saturday …first race off at 12:45.                                                          

Borrowdale dogs were barking before Buster Barnes ran in the 1200m Novice Plate on Sunday, and they were right.

The Centaur Syndicate’s three-year-old Érupt (USA) gelding won well, as expected, and it seems Zimbabwe’s oldest syndicate has another good one. Craig Danckwerts is the Centaur nominee.

Debra Swanson’s charge won a 1000m Maiden Plate in July, on his racing debut, and resting 113 days did him no harm.  Jeffery Syster rode on Sunday, and Buster Barnes was bred by Millstream Farm.

Congratulations everyone.

Photograph: Zimbabwe Equine News.

Jet Mirage, winner of the Borrowdale Sprint on Sunday. Congratulations to the winning connections.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Jet Mirage won the 1200m Borrowdale Sprint this afternoon – capping a sizzling afternoon for trainer Debra Swanson and Jeffrey Syster.

The son of Visionaire (USA) has now won 5 races and he is owned by “CJ” Smith, Grant Littleford, Spencer Murray and Paul Rugg. The five-year-old gelding was bred by Lammerskraal Stud. Jubilee came second, followed by Brianna and Emerald Floe.

Congratulations to the winning connections!

Earlier Debra had saddled three other winners. Well done Buster Barnes (Syster), Zazu (Marwing), and Star Aglow (Syster).

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Please remember to come racing at Borrowdale Park this afternoon – the action starts at 12 45.

Brianna and Jet Mirage are expected to clash in the 1200m Borrowdale Sprint. We shall see – there are others in this race which is due off at 15 40. If you are unable to be at the course watch the Borrowdale Livestream on uTube, courtesy of Formgrids.

There is a link to the race card on this site and card changes will be published when available.

Enjoy your day.

The main race at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, which is due off at 15:40, is the 1200m Borrowdale Sprint.

So far this season Gavin Macleod has been doing very well with two runners, Brianna and Raining Again, and going by the way Brianna won at the last meeting she could be hard to beat again. However, the other Borrowdale Sprint contestants, Jet Mirage, Jubilee and Emerald Floe, can’t be written off.

On Sunday Brianna will be giving weight to the field, and Emerald Floe will be receiving 6 kgs. In the recent 1260m Sable Flyers Emerald Floe was 10 lengths off Brianna, receiving 3 kgs.

The first race on Sunday is at 12:45, and earlier in the afternoon Macleod will introduce two new additions to his string.

Il Combattante, a four-year-old by William Longsword out of a National Assembly (CAN) mare, runs in the 1200m Maiden Plate. The lightly raced gelding’s last race was at Fairview on the 24th of February, and Morgen Nyamagwete rides him here.

The other newcomer, Jusrite, makes his appearance in the 1200m Novice Plate and he is a 4-year-old colt by Curved Ball (AUS).

Jusrite won a 1200m Maiden Plate at the Vaal in April and his last race was at the end of September where he did not shine. That said, his previous races were encouraging but he faces some stiff competition on Sunday – such as Buster Barnes.

Pics: Zimbabwe Equine News – Gavin and Brianna.

Who would have thought? Three years after being initiated, ZimFun Racing Club is still going strong and into its fourth season of fun.

For a full update read THE CENTAURIAN TAKES AIM… a column which is listed in the Menu above.

Kaidan Brewer, riding for the first time at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, rode two winners!

Both were trained by Thomas Mason and owned by Craig Danckwerts. Prince of Kimberly, with Brewer up, won the 1800m MR 70 Handicap, and later Battle Of Seattle (above) came to the party.

Kaidan is based in Johannesburg as stable jockey for Alec Laird. He finished his time in August, having previously come second in the 2021 Apprentice Championship. He is a natural light weight and can ride 50 kgs.

Congratulations everyone.

Photograph: Zimbabwe Equine News

…after the races at Borrowdale Park last Sunday. Jill Bruss and commentator Adrian Nydam, exchanging pleasantries…

Photograph: Zimbabwe Equine News.

Morgen Nyamagwete was at the top of his game at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, booting home three winners.

This jockey needs no introduction to local racing fans, but he does take off from time to time for stints at racing centres in other countries.  I sincerely hope he intends to stay at Borrowdale for the rest of this season.

Red Orchid from the Amy Parham yard won the 1200m Maiden Plate with Morgen in charge, and he also scored on Raining Again in the 1600m Progress Plate, for Gavin Macleod.

Brianna won the 1260 Sable Flyers (L), easily, with Nyamagwete in the irons, and once again riding for trainer Gavin Macleod. Both Brianna and Raining Again are owned by Robyn Macleod.

So well done, everyone.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News: BELOW – Brianna – winner of the 2023 Sable Flyers (L)