The ZimFun Racing Club Ltd is gathering steam so who are these people behind this innovative venture? They need no introduction to regular attendees at Borrowdale Park but are hoping to cast the net far wider than that. Those investing some hard-earned cash need to see some credentials.

 Regular columnist and economic and political analyst,The Centaurian, aka C. John Smith MBE, came up with the idea and he will serve as Chairman of the unpaid Board of Directors. Spencer Murray is the Director of Purses, and Sandra Mehlomakhulu the Director of Celebrations.

John Smith is a successful businessman with farming (and extensive racing) interests both in the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. He has a B.Sc. in agriculture and an M.Sc. Marketing. He is a citizen of Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom and currently on an extended assignment in Zimbabwe.

From Yorkshire farming stock he worked for the Agricultural Marketing Authority years ago, was a Director of Zimplugs (Pvt) Ltd – a horticultural company in Zimbabwe from 1997 to 2001 when the farm was taken over, and was Financial Director of the Mushroom Bureau UK  for 13 years.

During the 1980’s Mr Smith was General Manager of Metal Box Central Africa Ltd, and Managing Director of Chubb Union Security Ltd, based in Harare.  He set up two companies in the UK – Greyfriars (UK) Ltd in 1989 and Northern Produce Ltd the following year. These supplied fresh produce to major supermarket groups across Europe – growing into a multi-million-pound corporation. In 2006 he was awarded Fresh Produce Packer of the Year at the Industry Oscars – then sold out his interest in 2012.

He was awarded an MBE in the 1995 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for work and contributions to the Disability Discrimination Act promulgated in that year. A polio victim, John survived a bad car accident in 1981 which left him “with a gammy leg”.

Finally, we come to John’s racing interests.  A former Chairman of the Mashonaland Owners & Trainers Association, he has raced in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Zimbabwe and had about 170 winners – some people have all the luck. He is a Founder Member and Chairman of the Centaur Syndicate which has existed for 40 years.  Initially Earl Of Surrey raced in John’s colours when this great horse made his name, winning the Group 1 Golden Horse Casino, RSA, carrying top weight.

John Smith describes himself as “outspoken, opinionated, driven, professional, a grafter, pain in the arse, fearless, a jester and general piss taker”. That apart I would say he is reliable and very efficient.

Lisa Harris has known John since way back when and says “I met John many years ago when I used to accompany my parents to the races as a schoolgirl.  John used to be the “gate guard” at the Members Bar and we used to sit and study the form together as I was not permitted into the bar! So, my friendship with him has spanned many, many years. 

“He joined my stable when Noelene left for Durban and the Centaur horses came to me for training. I was soon to learn that John was one of the owners that every trainer sought! Aside from his success as a businessman, he is a genuine, extremely kind and honest person, amusing, strong in times of adversity, but above all a loyal and trustworthy friend who always remains true to his word”.  

(For the latest update from THE CENTAURIAN on the ZimFun Racing Club go to https://zimracing.wordpress.com/the-centaurian-takes-aim/ )

Photograph: C John Smith with the late Dubbles Draper at the National Yearling Sales in Harare, back in the day

There will be no racing at Borrowdale Park on Friday. Maybe next week.

The Mashonaland Turf Club have issued the following Press Release:

The MTC has been working closely with the Ministry for Youth, Sports, Art and Recreation in their efforts to safely allow the resumption of Sport in Zimbabwe during this COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to thank the Minister for taking the initiative and categorizing the various sports into risk categories which at least manages the expectations of the various sporting organisations as to when their respective sports may recommence.

The MTC fully supports the Minister and her team to bring clarity to this process where none existed before and whilst we are of course disappointed that we are unable to race at the moment we are confident the Minister has heard our case and arguments for as early resumption as is possible.

During this time of National Crisis, we urge other sports, whether they are professionally based such as Horse racing or for purely recreational purposes to support our Minister in her efforts to convince her colleagues in Government to allow sports and recreation to open up in a safe and time-appropriate manner. We can do this by following the guidance that the Ministry and SRC may publish and to not try to circumnavigate such guidance for their own parochial self-interest. Such circumnavigation will only be seized upon by other interest groups as proof that Sports cannot be trusted with an early release from the ‘lockdown’ and we believe that will be counter-productive for all sports in the medium term.

Gary Carter
Chairman Mashonaland Turf Club

This morning I feel sick to the bottom of my soul. I don’t want to hear about past champions, the good old days, or anything else about racing or Covid-19 for that matter.

Yesterday, to quote Sporting Post, the plight of horse racing in South Africa hit mainstream media. I saw the article in KZN’s Mercury yesterday morning and ran away from it. Impossible to do that forever, and today facing stark reality seems more than I can handle. This cannot be dismissed as fake news – this is where racing in Southern Africa is at present.

The prospect of euthanising 400 horses a month is a nightmare.  Is this how we deal with defenceless, innocent animals we profess to love? The trainers are not to blame – if owners walk away for whatever economic reasons – they have no option. It is not their fault race meetings are put on hold – usually for no good reason. Social distancing is all very well and is easily achieved on courses racing without spectators. How sad that the fate of an industry and sport, which has survived for hundreds of years, can be determined by the ill-informed.

Borrowdale Park is closely aligned with, but not really part of racing in South Africa. Racing in Zimbabwe has battled to hold on for years and continues to do so despite not being allowed to race since March 27. I have heard a whisper that the Mashonaland Turf Club is doing what it can to assist owners and trainers during this difficult period.  I hope this is true and, if it is, it is commendable.  We have had some locally based white knights over the years, but they are few and far between – and we have never been in line for any other bailouts.  

Perhaps next week will be better.  We can only hope.

The Mashonaland Turf Club Board this morning issued the following statement:

‘Please be advised that Borrowdale Park will not be racing on Friday the 8th of May due to government-issued instructions and limits imposed due to Covid 19.

‘The MTC would like to thank both the Ministry of Sport and the Honourable Minister herself, for her continued commitment, support and dedication to our industry.’

What a pity and so many disappointed people.

All going well Borrowdale Park will be racing on Friday – with the first race mid-morning I understand. There are seven races on the card featuring the 1600m Independence Trophy.

With racing in South Africa on hold for the time being Borrowdale Park should be centre stage – a distinction we don’t get very often – so here’s hoping.

At the final acceptance stage, the Independence field dropped to four – very disappointing under the circumstances – and only Fareeq, Three To Tango, What A Dandy and Pampas have picked up the gauntlet.

Last year the Independence Trophy was won by Amsterdam, followed across the line by Knuckleball, Roman Discent and Fareeq, Friday’s runner Pampas ran down the field then but is set to try and do better now.

The 2018 Independence trophy was won by Ashton Park and as a matter of interest Friday’s runner, What A Dandy, won the following race, a 1260m MR 55 Handicap. However, in his last outing on March 27 What A Dandy triumphed in a 1800m MR 75 Handicap, and he won over 1600m in September, beating Bugatti Blue. So, do not assume this successful sprinter cannot also stay.

Fareeq is another with winning form from 1260m to 1800m. His most recent victory was in a 1260m MR 88 Handicap on February 2, where he finished in front of stable companion Silver Coin. In October 2019 he beat Yarraman over 1800m by five lengths, but finished way back in the 1600m Ipi Tombe Stakes (L), won by Yarraman, on February 19. One should draw a line through that I would expect.

Three To Tango won the 2019 Zimbabwe Derby (2400m) thereby denying Sygone a Triple Crown, but earlier won the 1600m Tote Free Handicap. Although he may prefer further, Three To Tango is no slouch over a mile and In the 2020 Ipi Tombe he was 1.50 lengths off Yarraman at level weights. That day Fareeq, also carrying 60 kgs, ran 9 lengths behind Three To Tango.

Pampas returned to racing in March after almost a year’s layoff – and certainly didn’t distinguish himself on that occasion when finishing a distance behind Christofle over 1260m. However, he has previously won from 1600m to 2000m. He is trained by Bridget Stidolph and will be ridden by Morgen Nyamagwete – weighted to receive 3 kgs from the rest of the field.

Although training at Borrowdale Park has continued much the same as usual there has been no racing since March 27 so we must assume the horses will be fresh and ready to run. For old times’ sake, I fancy Three to Tango and What A Dandy, but Fareeq is sure to have plenty of support.

And…Apprentice Rodgers Satombo, who won on his mount, What A Dandy, last time out, can claim 4 kgs.

2020 INDEPENDENCE TROPHY 1600m

1 (2) FAREEQ (AUS) 57.0 (MR91) A B McNaughton – Gokhan Terzi
Nadeem (AUS) – Azwa (AUS) by Haafhd (IRE)

2 (1) THREE TO TANGO 57.0 (MR85) A N Takawira – Kirk Swanson
Greys Inn (USA) – Danseuse by Joshua Dancer (USA)

3 (3) WHAT A DANDY 57.0 (MR83) S *R Satombo (4.0) – Kirk Swanson
Just As Well (USA) – Leba (IRE) by King’s Best (USA)

4 (4) PAMPAS 54.0 (MR77) A M Nyamagwete – Bridget Stidolph
Silvano (GER) – Peru (SNL) by Candy Stripes (USA)

WHO DO YOU REMEMBER?

Thanks to Murray Smith for supplying this very welcome flashback to the late 1980’s when we were all so young.

BACK ROW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Gordon Whyte. Noel Riddle. Eddie De Klerk. Reid Paterson. Robert Moore. Tony Araujo. Roddy England. Stanley Eyden. Paul Marrin. Kevin Wright.

BOTTOM ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Doug Whitehead. Rael Zieve. Cuthbert Takawira. Glen French. Glen Naude. John Kiersten. Shaun Payne. Martin Malosi. Raymond Dorans. Ebriam Abdul (Roots).

Those were the days.

The Borrowdale Park race meeting scheduled for Friday 24th April has been postponed to a date to be advised, due to the extension of the lockdown in Zimbabwe until May 3.

The Mashonaland Turf Club today issued the following statement:

“In light of the Presidential announcement on Sunday the 19th April extending the Lockdown, the race meeting (Independence Trophy) scheduled to be held on Friday the 24th will, unfortunately, be postponed.

“All race meetings will be chronologically postponed so that no meeting is lost, in effect.

“The Board of Stewards are currently in deliberation on our racing schedule, our three graded race dates, as well as the new date for the Independence Trophy, and these will be released to trainers tomorrow Wednesday the 22nd April to allow them to prepare accordingly.”

How’s that for a positive headline?

The Weights & Draws for a race meeting at Borrowdale Park on Friday, 24 April, are out but we have been here before – for a meeting on April 3 – and got no further.

So far attempts to get some encouraging comments from the Mashonaland Turf Club have failed but hopefully we will race – we need to – but can probably assume it won’t be owner -friendly.  On March 27 owners had to watch their horses perform from home. 

However, there is something to be said for TV in isolation.  No need to be a good sport because cats and dogs don’t mind if you start chewing the carpet – and if you win, they will join in an uninhibited victory dance, without deciding you are insane.

Borrowdale is not alone in this on again, off again, situation as race meetings worldwide are few and far between, which is good reason to hope this meeting will go ahead.

The good news is that training locally has not been overly affected.  It has been business as usual without breaking any lockdown rules.

Thomas Mason of Tomcat Racing (above) reports the horses have enjoyed extended spells in the paddock, and he and his grooms have never washed their hands as much as they do now – it has become part of their daily routine.

In addition, Tom says, “The lockdown has given us a chance to get to know our two new Continue reading →

asks THE CENTAURIAN

I am on a great WhatsApp group of racing aficionados – meaning persons who are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about a subject, activity or pastime. Collectively these “WhAppers” know everything there is to know! But when the subject of which might have been the best horse in Zimbabwe since 1892 – debate ensued.

For a viral afternoon of diversion, I suggested a decision could be derived on a points-based system….. more debate!

Despite protestations, I have decided to have a go – and have developed the following matrix. It’s not supposed to be gospel or exhaustive – it’s supposed to be a bit of fun and something we can populate whilst we are locked down and running low on beer, wine and spirits. Continue reading →

…says it’s all about pace..

As news came in this morning about the booze ban, my first reaction, and I don’t know why, was to make a B Line to the wine cellar – my basement is proving invaluable after all. I am pleased to report I have adequate stocks to last me three weeks if I ration myself to two bottles per day. If I can’t then I must call upon my reserves of gin, scotch and vodka. So I plan to pace myself just in case the ban goes on for a bit longer. We can all do it and it will be so good for our livers.

VIRAL HORSE TAILS

Then came the news from Lisa Harris that a WhatsApp group is going to write a book during the lockdown – brilliant plan – anecdotes and illustrations of happy racing moments at Borrowdale Park and Ascot (Bulawayo if you have forgotten!). I have even found pics of two different wives looking happy leading a winner in.

Lisa and I will edit this book – so contributors do not need to fear poor grammar or spelling or foul language. You are invited to submit your contributions by email to lisaharrisracing@gmail.com. Ideally, these stories should be at least 500 words or be Continue reading →

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.