Saturday saw me make a rare visit to a racecourse to attend the Queens Plate. This is my take on how I saw it:
It didn't start well. Approaching the racecourse from the Wynberg end at about 12:45 I noticed there was a raging fire adjacent to the racecourse. This prompted SAPS to arbitrarily close Wetton Road at the Wynberg end which effectively sealed off the biggest approach to the course. Fortunately I am familiar with the layout and manged to sneak in behind the freestanding tote after begging and pleading with the gate staff; who were blithely unaware that access had been cut off at the official entrance. The alternative would have been an (approximately) 7k detour which I am sure many others had to endure.
After parking my car I attempted, with varying degrees of success, to navigate the maze of cordoned off areas to the entrance. These sections were 'guarded' by a multitude of bored, disinterested security personnel whose sole instruction must have been 'They Shall Not Pass'. What they imagine they are securing is something of a mystery to me as, on any normal day, you probably could not get someone to go to a racecourse even if you paid them.
Once I had wormed my way into the action I was immediately struck by how much effort had gone into the preparations. And tastefully too.
Anyone contemplating experiencing a race meeting would be well advised to attend this meeting. Unlike the Met - where bizarre dress and behaviour is the norm - the Queens Plate comes across like a small slice of Eurocentric racing with South African weather. It is a long time since I last saw quite such a collection of breathtakingly beautiful women so elegantly attired. And just when I had reluctantly accepted that 'skinny cut' jeans was the only clothing one could get........
The blue & white theme is a winner as it does not require you to spend a fortune to comply and appears to eliminate the weird attempts at 'style' that the Met engenders. The crowd is also big enough to make it special without it being unpleasant or impossible to get a bet on or feed and water yourself.
The organisers have also been successful in pulling in some really heavyweight sponsors such as BMW & Cartier who contribute enormously to the event. I suspect L'Ormarins and partners have more to do with this than the operator although the Phumelela representatives were out in force on yet another junket enjoying the facilities and appearing to contribute no more or less than the racegoers themselves.
I felt the catering and service was well above the norm for an event such as this but, then again, quite a lot of this function has been outsourced to new blood in recent years. We had a particularly friendly and helpful waiter for the entire afternoon who was royally rewarded for his efforts over the 6+ hours that we were there.
The racing itself was quite curious if you examine it for a second time in the replays. The presence of out-of-town jockeys is always a pleasure and, in my opinion, they more than showed up the mediocrity of most of the local riders throughout the afternoon. I haven't had the opportunity to study times but purely on the visuals the 'Cape Crawl' was the first victim of their presence. Whereas they normally jump, strangle, meander and then sprint in Cape Town; yesterday seemed a lot different. Fields around the turn quickly extended into long trains from first-last and many of the riders appeared to display extremely 'uncomfortable body language' when straightening up and discovering they were way out of their ground.
This does not mean to say that you could not come from off the pace as Piere Strydom demonstrated with breathtaking skill on no less than two occasions during the afternoon. But I somehow suspect that some of the formlines might make curious reading later in the year when applied to lesser racing after normal service is resumed in Cape Town.
I remain a little concerned at the dominance of SA racing by a tiny sampling of individuals and stables. Not that I am suggesting any limits should be imposed. Heaven knows - horses tame tigers without any intervention being required. But you cannot help but reflect on the barriers to entry created by the expense and the entrenched forces confronting a less well heeled prospective owner should he/she wish to get a toe in. The 'game' really appears to have gone right back to an activity only for the very wealthy at the higher levels.
Replays also revealed the presence of an impressive band of 'celebrities'. Interestingly most of them appeared to have, at least, a passing interest in the actual sport. The only 'celebrity' I was happy to bump into was the delightful Robyn Louw.
The less we talk about our punting efforts the better. I had forgotten just how difficult it is to punt from anywhere other than at home with my technology aids. On course you really do tend to get cut off from effective information flows and market movements. The only advantage is that you get to see the horses close up. The downside is that you also get everyone's opinion which is more hindrance than help. I was reminded, yet again, to bookmark these 'big days' for socialising rather than betting.
The amusing postscript to the day was watching Ms Minott gabbling through the stipes report. Do they ever look at what they are filming? She was positioned perfectly in front of a hanging pot plant which merged perfectly with her hat. The nett effect was that she looked as if she had an entire floral arrangement growing out of her head!
Will I go again? Most definitely. And if forced to choose I would skip the Met in favour of this one.
Now - back to the poly and a mouth watering array of MR 66 races..........
Last edit: 9 years 5 months ago by Garrick.
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After another instance of racism, a woman employed for just two days with a Cape Town based advertising and recruitment agency has been fired.
Social media exploded yet again after Nicole de Klerk, who had just been hired by The Talent Boom, allegedly called guests at the Queen's Plate horseracing event “kaffirs”.
This allegedly took place during an altercation over a chair.
Those involved in the incident took to Twitter, sharing a picture of De Klerk and a narrative of what they allege to have transpired.
A statement released by The Talent Boom’s official Twitter account discussed the action taken against De Klerk in the wake of the incident.
“The Talent Boom is shocked to hear what has happened on Saturday 9th January at the Queens Plate. Nicole started at The Talent Boom on Wednesday and has been employed with us for two days,” they wrote.
“This behaviour is unacceptable and deeply upsetting. We do not condone or tolerate racist comments, behaviour or attitude in any form and with immediate effect, Nicole has been dismissed from the company.”
De Klerk had also since tweeted an apology which read, “I beyond sorry for this behaviour it is most certainly unacceptable and I am so embarrassed. [sic]”
This incident follows the social media furore of last week, sparked by comments made by KZN realtor Penny Sparrow who called black beachgoers monkeys.
Yes indeed there are many many racist people , not only here but world wide, I myself am perhaps guilty. If a black guy approached my vehicle at night I would immediately suspect him of being a criminal. Why? Because the overwhelming majority of criminals in Rsa are black. Fact.
My point is , of what benefit to anyone is publicising these isolated incidents like mentioned above. Yes it's wrong, but all it does is create more hatred and division between people.
Sealegs wrote: Yes indeed there are many many racist people , not only here but world wide, I myself am perhaps guilty. If a black guy approached my vehicle at night I would immediately suspect him of being a criminal. Why? Because the overwhelming majority of criminals in Rsa are black. Fact.
My point is , of what benefit to anyone is publicising these isolated incidents like mentioned above. Yes it's wrong, but all it does is create more hatred and division between people.
Punish the perpetrator and leave it that.
It could be argued that this public shaming is punishing the perpetrator.
I must agree with Garrick regarding the queens plate raceday experience,it was my first time at this event and it was the best raceday I have ever had and will definitely be returning to it if possible..top class in every single aspect
Sounds as if those who attended had a great time. The weather looked amazing and the track looked world class. Great write up Garrick , now please go to the Met and post another one of your legendary write ups. thanks
Not really wanting to go done the racial side of things as coming from Scotland I can't really comment, but did see a post in facebook from Louis Goosen saying that everyone needs to give their head a wobble or there is trouble ahead .. ( well said took guts goose )
Let's try and keep this site to horse racing and sports betting , let facebook deal with fannies that can't get on with each other
Topic Author
, now please go to the Met and post another one of your legendary write ups. 
