10 Aug 2015

Delta Horse Race August Rush Sebele attracted  finest horses from renowned stables around the country.

However, Jwaneng Chinka stable dominated the Saturday (August 8) race. 

Highly skilled pint-sized jockeys, Joey Roman, Debe Xwii and Danny Simon had spectators eating from the palm of their hands.

They dominated the races that were grouped into six categories of 800m, 1 000, 1 200, 1 400, 1 600 and 2 400. 

Roman, who was the crowd favourite, scooped top positions in most races. However, he lost the grand race of the Thoroughbred (2 400m) race on the back of War Admirable.

Desert Dupes stable jockey, David Sesibi, shined in all races including in the Tswanabred (1600m) where he scored a pole with his horse, Cobra, which showed impressive sprinter bolts towards the finishing line.

His jockey tact and drive decisiveness was tested in a stiff competition while on the back of Come Back during the grand race in which he fell on third place. 

Renowned Thoroughbred horse, Jonny Douglas, and perhaps the fastest horse in the country did not do so well on Saturday.

The horse scooped the second spot after an equally gifted horse, True Arrogance, which was under able hands of Xuei Xoma.

True Arrogance, just like any Thoroughbred, proved its track prowess scooping position two under the Thoroughbred (1600m) race. Having participated in only two races, the horse, which belongedto Mathews Chibamo’s stable, proved to be a force to reckon with. 

Competitions hopefuls under the maiden category did not get chance to compete as some horses were disqualified.

“Some people want to cheat in this category and bring in horses which have a track record but a maiden is a horse which has not attained positions one, two, and three locally,” said Chinka stable owner, Philip Dichabeng.

Thoroughbred (800m) race was also a conflict hotbed because of ‘blanket finish’ as it was not clear who had finished on the third position, which led to BOPA photographer Felicity Male having to show still pictures of the race and Botswana Television (BTV) camera person having to show footage of the race but the problem was not solved due to positioning of camera persons which could not give the exact winners.

Another challenge was the thick hoar dust on the track apron which impeded supporters from clear view particularly during the grand finale race. “The dust is a challenge because it gets into our eyes and the horses and can affect vision,” said jockey, Bruce Eyman.

In an interview Dichabeng said there was need to set standards in horse races to ensure that competitions were run professionally, adding that a Horse Race Association should be put into place as a yardstick to develop the lucrative sporting code.

Sponsors and organisers of the event, Delta Horse Race representative, Kebonyebatho Moaneng who was working in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture had financed the prizes to the tune of P150, 000. He said he sponsored out of his passion for horse racing, adding his desire was to see the sport grow and reach professional levels. ENDS