16 Dec 2025

TT Horse Racing Event staged a thrilling and exciting eighth edition of the Premiere Champion Cup horse racing at Masa Racing park in Samedupi, a few kilometres from Maun.

The event marked the first time the race was held in the North West district since its inception in 2018. The activity attracted quality top horses from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa to battle it out for the prize money.
The spectacular event also brought together thousands of spectators from all walks of life to experience and witness the excitement that comes with the competition, as well as the beauty of the fast-paced and majestic animals. Some fans took part in betting on the races, which added another layer of excitement and anticipation.
All eyes were on the famous thoroughbred horse, ‘Western Bypass’, which had achieved multiple victories in high-profile races this year, but it did not compete due to an injury.
Owned by Tymon Kelebeng from Motokwe, Western Bypass had consistently performed well in several races, including winning the grand race of 2 400 metres. It was crowned the champion of the second edition of the Masa Horse race as well as the Makgadikgadi Salt Pan Challenge this year, pocketing P30 000 in each race. The absence of the horse from the race left its fans disappointed.
However, Silver Sky, owned by Gotlhophemang Alone from Takatokwane, became the champion of the Premier Champion Cup grand race and walked away P32 000 richer. Super Jet and Aftershock horses, owned by Kelebeng and Piet Bruwer respectively, both from Motokwe, settled for position two and three and pocketed P20 000 and P10 000 respectively.
The speedy Silver Sky, also stole the show in a competitive opening race of the 1 600-metre category, claiming first position and a reward of P10 000, followed by Aftershock and Forever Young in second and third place, whose owners walked away with P7 000 and P5 000 respectively. Namibian horses also took turns dominating some of the races.
The event featured two categories: Tswana and Thoroughbreds, with races ranging from 1 000 to 2 400 metres.
In an interview, the joyful Alone thanked his fans, saying their support always motivated him, the horse trainer and the jockey to do their best in preparing the horse, hence its continued excellence in several races. Silver Sky also outclassed other horses in the just-ended Charles Hill Racing Cup.
“I deserved to win because I prepared my horses very well for the race with the aim of becoming champs in all races,” he added.
He encouraged fellow horse owners to exercise patience and take care of their horses despite the high maintenance, citing that if horses were in good condition, they could bring good results.
The event organiser, also the Botswana Horse Racing Association president, Kelebeng, commended horse owners for their commitment in taking care of the horses and ensuring that they participated in the race.
He said horse racing was a big industry that could diversify the economy, creating employment opportunities for young people, as most jockeys were youth from rural areas. He urged government and potential sponsors to continue supporting the sector to ensure development and growth.
“The majority of our jockeys are from disadvantaged families and through horse racing, we are trying to uplift their living conditions through the monies they win from various races. Horse racing is part of the local culture and also an economic opportunity,” he added.
To see the sector growing, Kelebeng said, was a strong indication that the sport was loved by many people and was here to stay, noting that the sport could also be seen as a way to bring people together from different backgrounds and cultures who shared a common interest in the sport.
While he appreciated that horse racing had become an important source of income for many people involved in the industry, from jockeys to trainers to owners, Kelebeng revealed that it also stimulated the local economy as small businesses bought stalls to earn better profits. ENDS