In the most recent Racing Blog, I wrote about how important race circumstances can be, and all the factors which influence race outcomes other than just pure ability. Two examples from the weekend illustrate the broad point. One of the world’s highest rated racehorses, Ka Ying Rising got capsized as the 1/5 favorite in
Gladatorian and Flower Island won the respective Joburg Spring Challenge races at Turffontein on Saturday. Both events were Grade 2’s staged on the inside track over 1450m. There is an art to compiling speed figures. The final time is important, but it must be placed in context with the class of race and prevailing
Adam Dobbin recently wrote an interesting piece in RaceNet. He provided evidence that the best jockeys have a major impact on betting turnover. Quality horses are also a factor, but it’s the high-profile hoops who really move the needle. When it comes to the Australasian jockey ranks, no one is smashed more in the
Gimme A Nother scored a fabulous victory under jockey Johny Velasquez in the Grade 1 EP Taylor at Woodbine on Saturday night to book a berth for herself in the Breeders Cup. She ran excellent speed scores in the range between 110 and 112 in South Africa, which seemed good enough to mix it
In addition to the short and sweet 6–10-minute podcast posted on the Interbet betting website on Cape race day mornings, I’m also currently appearing as a guest with vastly experienced and well-travelled racing man, Andrew Riddell on the Coastal Racing Boys Podcast. It is a more detailed presentation available on You Tube. If you’ve
That’s My Baby ran out a fluent winner at Greyville’s Friday night meeting. Esteemed was backed at odds on but never looked likely, coming off the bit around the turn and missing the frame. Instead, Sean Tarry’s mare accelerated powerfully down the inside to win convincingly, earning a fine speed score of 105. She
The 2026 KZN Racing Awards ceremony was staged last week. Here are the winners in each category, with their best speed figures: CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PALACE OF ARVERNIA s/s 88 ++ CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE ERIK DUBOIS s/s 100 CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD QUICKSTEPGAL s/s 108 CHAMPION SPRINTER ASIYE PHAMBILI s/s 108 CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE MOCHA BLEND
Many people engrossed in racing also so happen to love other sports. Though the technical, tactical and emotional aspects vary across different games, there is a commonality/cross-over appeal to all types of sporting endeavour. Punters, who are likely to follow and bet on multiple sports, and industry participants, such as trainers and jockeys, may,
Here are the five best speed figures of a horse currently racing in Cape Town: 97, 96, 96, 98 & 100, attained over sprints. Nothing remarkable about that – simply a consistent performer who runs in the band between 96 and 100. Those scores were recorded at Kenilworth and Durbanville on soft and good
Sunday racing was on the Polytrack at Greyville. The surface plays differently to regular turf racing where, most often, finishing speed carries the day. What works best on the Poly are stalk and pounce tactics. Obviously, there are variations, even occasional extremes to that style, but generally racing handy at a sustained gallop then