06 Apr 2015

Botswana horses were outstanding at the Mascom Derby in Maun on Sunday (April 5). The event also featured participants from Lesotho and Namibia

The event attracted over 15 000 spectators and featured about 139 horses in the two categories of Tswana and Thorough Breeds (800 and 2 400 metres).

 Botswana emerged overall winners followed by Namibia while Lesotho came third.

In the grand race of 2 400 metres, ‘John Douglas’, a Thoroughbred horse from Charleshill that competed for the first time emerged the champion beating the Namibian horses which last year dominated the race.

Batswana were over the moon raising their flag high as John Douglas did it again by scooping position one in 1 600 metres race. John Douglas’s jockey, Isaac Simon said he was happy to have beaten all the horses in the grand race.

Simon attributed his performance to good preparations ahead of the event, adding “I was determined to lift Botswana’s flag high by beating our competitors from Lesotho and Namibia.”

The horse owner, Steven Monare said it was the first time his horse had participated in the Mascom Derby and was impressed with its performance. He said for a horse to be more profitable, it needed proper care, management and training.

Monare walked away with over P30 000 in prize money. Meanwhile, Namibian chief horse racing officer, Mpho Shobo gave credit to Batswana horse owners for dominating the race and having brought quality horses.

Shobo added that the locals showed their capability and competence in most races but maintained that their loss would not demoralise the Namibians as they would keep on competing in the race.

He also said Batswana were well prepared for the race and urged them to keep up the standard in future. “We did not anticipate that Botswana would emerge victorious but we are happy even though things did not go our way,” he added.

Shobo also revealed that the local horse owners had an upper hand as they were allowed to bring as many horses as they wanted while foreign participants were only allowed to bring three.

Thus, he challenged organisers to allow for an open competition so that all could equally benefit from it.Mascom public relations and communications manager, Barbara Tshipana said the event was thriller as it had been growing ever since inception and the number of horses to participate were evidence to the event’s growth.

The Mascom Derby had been in existence since 2006 and held over the Easter holidays and this year, it had attracted 115 local horse breeders from all over country and 24 from Lesotho and Namibia.

Tshipana said some other neighbouring countries had shown interest to take part in the race.That, she added, indeed also showed that the event had improved and growing fast while at the same time the locals were taking it seriously.

Despite the unfavourable weather conditions which delayed the race, Tshipana noted that spectators did not disappoint as they came in large numbers to Shashe Racing Track to watch live horses racing which was fun filled with musical entertainment and draws for various prizes.

She also pointed out that they were proud of the local horse owners for winning the race and commended them for a job well done. ENDS