Racing on - PARADE MAGAZINE

ContributorsMichael ClowerEditor’s NoteOne of the most significant developments in thoroughbred horse racingin South Africa over the past year has been the decision by theCompetitions Tribunal to allow the “demerger” of Gold Circle, pavingthe way for KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape to go separate ways.Since the JSE listing of Phumelela, that came into being with the amalgamation of the assetsof the racing clubs of Gauteng, Free State, Northern and Eastern Cape into one entity, and themerger of KwaZulu-Natal racing and Western Cape under the umbrella of Gold Circle, thelatter has always been an uneasy relationship.Given the financial woes suffered by Gold Circle Western Cape, the Gold Circle union developedinto a toxic mix – a marriage fractured by the division of finances. Given circumstance,the demerger came as a relief, not only to both Gold Circle entities, but to racing as a whole.Ada van der BentLiesl KingHopefully the Western Cape’s new association with the <strong>Racing</strong> Trust is a prosperous one andthat Gold Circle KZN can now focus on going forward in their own area.On the racing front, Wagner caused something of an upset in the Sansui Summer Cup butwas just reward for trainer Joey Soma who has been through some trying personal times oflate.The Avis Coach Hire Jockeys’ International proved an outstanding success with the internationalscaptained by UK champion Richard Hughes retaining the title that they won lastyear.The Western Cape Sizzling Summer season will be in full swing by the time you read this butthe L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the J & B Met will be highlights of the current season withthe likes of Variety Club and Jackson likely to cross swords in both events.Henk SteenkampDecember also marks the inaugural Cape Premier Yearling Sales Ready To Run sale. Giventhe huge success of the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run equivalent there is little wonder thatthis concept, while far from new, is now taking root.Backed by some seriously big stake money reserved exclusively for graduates of these sales,it is little wonder that they are becoming more and more popular as the odds of a big paydayfor prospective owners are cut dramatically in their favour.Sarah WhitelawFinally, we welcome back on board <strong>Racing</strong> Association members and I hope that Paradeonce again provides a good read for all.Andrew HarrisonDurban, South AfricaSOUTH AFRICAN RACECOURSE GPS CO-ORDINATESDavid ThiseltonRobyn LouwKENILWORTH S 33 59.808 E 18 28.7238km from centre of Cape Town and 12 km from Cape Town InternationalairportDURBANVILLE S 33 50.446 E 18 38.30820 km from centre of Cape Town and 14 km from Cape TownInternational airportCLAIRWOOD S 29 56.360 E 30 58.12444 km from from King Shaka International AirportGREYVILLE S 29 50.833 E 31 00.96535 km from from King Shaka International AirportSCOTTSVILLE S 29 36.618 E 30 24.0472km from centre of Pietermaritzburg and 75 km from centre of DurbanTURFFONTEIN S 26 14.386 E 28 03.1854km from centre of Johannesburg and 25 km from OR TamboInternational airportVAAL S 26 44.601 E 27 54.2838 km from Vereeniging, 60km from Johannesburg and 75km fromOR Tambo international airportARLINGTON S34 00.047 E 25 33.6806 km from centre of Port Elizabeth and 4km from Port Elizabeth airportFAIRVIEW S 33 56.008 E 25 22.86526km from centre of Port Elizabeth and 22km from Port Elizabeth airportKIMBERLEY S 28 43.677 E 24 50.3467km from centre of Kimberley and 10 km from Kimberley airport