04 Sep 2014

The annual Letshego Financial Services powered Serowe Horse Spring Race is slated for September 6 at Farmers Brigade where about 30 horse riders are expected to compete.

About 14 of the horse riders will be from Golden Horse Racing Club of Topisi and the remaining competitors will be from Serowe, Letlhakane and other places in Serowe peripheries. A single horse is restricted to competing in only two races, according to the rules of the race.

In an interview, Serowe District Show committee secretary, Mr Otaathusa Maruping expressed gratitude to Letshego Financial Services for their continued support of the event. 

This year Letshego has increased their sponsorship prize from P50 000 to P60 000, according to Mr Maruping. The sponsorship will be used to take care of prize money for different race categories. He revealed that the race has experienced growth this year with many developments earmarked for the Saturday event.

Such developments include the introduction of two kilometer race to take the number of race categories to six. Previously there were only five categories that included 400m, 600m, 800m, 1000m and 1600m.

The committee has also introduced stalls for Botswana Tourism Organisation and local financial institutions for them to market their services in a move that has been deemed a ‘win-win’ situation since the business community will also be availed a platform to source funding from such institutions.

Further, there will be a fashion show whose prize money the secretary could not divulge until there was a winner. To add more flavors into the proceedings traditional cuisine will be served to suppress the taste buds of those with an insatiable appetite for local foods but, will be at a fee.

Touted as a route to reviving tourism which seemed to have been abandoned in the region, the race is not without challenges.

“Had we got the financial muscle, we would not struggle to stage this race,” Mr Maruping said adding an open bigger place would be ideal for the race. He revealed that horse racing experts have found the current location to be not good enough.

Prior to the main event, the show committee will stage a prelaunch party on September 5 where race tickets will be sold while revving up the engines for the following day. There will be very important persons’ tickets at P50 while adults part with P30 and kids P10. ENDS