23 Mar 2016

Maun jockeys wait in excitement and determination for the annual Mascom horse race slated for March 26. 

Horse riders are readying themselves and their horses for the extravagance, which is anticipated to attract multitudes of spectators from Botswana and neighboring countries.

In an interview during a recent training session, one jockey Richard Martin, said he and his horses were prepared for the Mascom Derby.

Martin said he scooped position four in the 1 400 metre Tswana breed race last year before his performance was halted by an injury in the 800 metre race.

However, Martin said he was ready to outdo himself this year in the 1 200 and 1 000 metre Tswana breed races as well as the 800, 1 000, 1 200 and 1 400 metres thorough breed races.

He said local jockeys tended to lose hope since the prize money was mostly pocketed by foreign jockeys.

He pointed out that foreign horsemen had competitive edge over locals since they had good breed and frequented competitions unlike the local ones.

“We only have the Mascom Derby in Easter holidays and Ghanzi horse race in July,” he said.

Another jockey, Bernard Van Der Westhuizen, said he anticipated a triumph in the grand race of 2 400 metres.

Van Der Westhuizen also said his favourite races were the 800 and 1 000 metres with a horse named Desert Rose.

The jovial jockey, who is a part of a stable Benrich Racing Stable, said he had been participating in the Mascom Derby for about 10 years since its inception.

He said their stable offered services to horse owners through training and up keeping of horses with the aim to take horse racing to another level.

Van Der Westhuizen said the preparation for the upcoming Mascom Derby was going well.

The Mascom Derby is an annual event held during the Easter Holidays which attracts over 10 000 spectators to the cosmopolitan Maun.

The National Mascom Derby also provided a cuisine, fashion and horse racing fun according to a statement from Mascom.

“Second only to the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000Km Desert race in turnout, the Mascom National Derby is the biggest Easter Holidays sports event in Botswana, bringing thousands of visitors to Maun.”

It further stated that the race brought together more than 70 Tswana and Thorough breed horses and 60 Jockeys hosted on a horse track of over 1350 metres.

“The competition is focused on the 800m, 1000m, 1200m, 1400m, 1600m and 2400m races. Namibia is represented for the third year in a row and Lesotho made its debut in the 2014 race.”Ends