22 Apr 2019

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane has appreciated Mascom’s efforts towards developing and growing sport in the country.

The vice president was among multitudes who thronged this year’s Mascom Derby held at the Shashe Race Track on April 20 themed ‘All Things Safari’.

In an interview on the sidelines of the annual Mascom Derby, Tsogwane said the event was memorable and also brought people together to have fun and share ideas.

He said the event was ideal to be held in Maun, which was a tourism destination and would benefit the business community and contribute to the local economy and tourism industry.

Tsogwane assured Mascom of government’s support towards such event, noting that it also revived culture.

The Mascom Derby is part of the company’s efforts to support local tourism and give back to the communities within which it operated.

The event allows Mascom to also appreciate its customers that had ensured that the company remained number one.

Mascom acting chief executive officer, Dzene Makhwade-Seboni appreciated vice president’s presence, saying it showed that the event was appreciated.

She revealed that the government had supported the event as in the previous years the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development and other senior government officials graced the occasion.

She stated that the event had been in existence for the past 13 years and had grown tremendously, thanks to the organisers and horse owners for the role they played.

Makhwade-Seboni said the event had also benefited the local business community and contributed to the tourism industry hence their continued sponsorship.

“This is a massive investment and we are dedicated to continue supporting the event as we seen its benefit in the community, the horse race industry and the country’s economy,” she added.

Meanwhile, this year the derby showcased 87 horses registered from Botswana (50), Namibia (13), Lesotho (12) and South Africa (two) who raced at different categories comprising two Tswana breed and nine Thorough breed races.

Although the Thorough breed 1 200m race was disqualified, local horses however outclassed foreign horses as they scooped position one and two in other races.

Kokotsha horses from Kgalagadi district dominated the races as Keolebogile Rabokale and Bakang Babeile’s horses showed no mercy and won many races among others, Thorough breed 1 000m, 800m, 2 000m and 1 400m.

However, a horse from Ghanzi, Double Trouble owned by Oscar Moses won the grand finale (2 400m).

Startile Racing  from Namibia and Team Brave from Kokotsha got position two and three respectively.

In another interesting race, Tswana breed 1 000m category, jockey David Sesipe whose horse named Cobra from Kokotsha, took position one followed by jockey Solomon Ndura from Sweet Moment from Maun and jockey Rorisang Phadima, who rode Star horse also from Maun got position three.

Thorough breed 2 000m jockey Kisto Sesipi from Kokotsha scooped position one, Morena Lefa from Lesotho got position two while jockey One Ten from Charles Hill got position three. ENDS