03 Apr 2018

Atantic Call from Charleshill has done it again after defending the championship of the 2 400 metres and the 1.6 metres respectively during the famous Mascom Horse Race Derby held at Shashe horse grounds over the Easter Holidays.

The horse, owned by Joseph Kanangizi was crowned the champion after a tough and interesting 2 400 metres race where a Namibian horse named Over Achiever scooped position two followed by Double Action from Ghanzi.

Atantic Call also won the 1.6 metres race while Over Achiever again came second and a horse from Kokotsha in the Kgalagadi regions took position three under thorough breed category.

The event featured two categories of Tswana and Thorough breeds and races included 800 and 2 400 metres.

Under Tswana breed 800 metres race, Mack May from Middlepits came out tops while Whiskey from Maun and Mahempe got position two and three respectively.

This year, the derby hosted 66 horses compared to last year where 88 horses participated.

Participating horses were from Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa .

Local horses performed well in most of the races as they scooped positions which attracted monetary prices.

Speaking during the award ceremony, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo appreciated efforts by Mascom in supporting the derby noting that it had grown in terms of attendance as well as variety of participating horses.

He said their unwavering support was a clear indication that they were aimed to grow the derby which contributed enormously to the economy of Maun.

“You have accomplished your mission and we wish to see more in the coming years,” he added.

He also indicated the government was committed to ensuring sports development in the country and called for partnership between all stakeholders including horse owners and jockeys.

To the horse owners and jockeys, Kaboeamodimo called on them to support each other and contribute to the development of the derby noting that they should be seen playing their role as well if they wanted to see the derby developed like in other countries where the races were televised live.

Horse owners also appreciated support by Mascom noting that every year they saw improvement in the races.

They shared that this year they had  plenty of time to prepare for the race hence they managed to excel.

Meanwhile, the chief organiser, Charles Mabua highlighted in a recent interview that Mascom derby  had been sponsoring the races for 12 years now.

He said the race had attracted a lot of attention outside the borders and Maun had become a home for the derby. ENDS