July Handicap set to thrill

NAMIBIA’S premier horse racing championship, the July Handicap, returns to the Windhoek Turf Club on Saturday when explosive performances are expected from the competing horses.

The July Handicap is the biggest championship on the local horse-racing calendar and has over the years attracted considerable interest from the public who flock to the Windhoek Turf Club in numbers. The competition officially starts at 12h00, but the July Handicap race is taking place later in the day.The President of the Namibia Horse Racing Association (NHRA), Henry Feris, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the July Handicap is the icon of the racing season in Namibia.”This race is a replica of the Durban July in South Africa and the excitement among the fans and the performances given by the horses make it the best race in Namibia,” he said.He said he was happy that the sport of horse racing is making progress in Namibia, judging from the interest that the public has shown by attending the races.The Windhoek Turf Club is the biggest racetrack in the country and the NHRA has installed starting gates from which the horses start the race.This year, two horses from South Africa will make their appearance along with 11 local horses in the main race of the day.The two South African horses are Royal Secret and Ta-Jil.The biggest drawcard on the day is without a doubt Miss American Pie, owned by Nicky Angermund.The horse won the 1 600-metre distance two weeks ago and was in exceptional condition.This time, Miss American Pie stands a chance to scoop the July Handicap, as she shook off most of the horses in the last race.Miss American Pie is described by Feris as a sensational horse capable of great comebacks, even after trailing for a distance.He also described Porto Vinere, owned by Henrico Junius, as a speedy horse with tremendous endurance.Porto Vinere is expected to compete in the 1000m race before running in the main race.He said other horses such as Wealdstone and London Herald are also great prospects and can cause an upset on the day.The July Handicap will have 13 horses competing this year and the winner walks away with N$3 000, with the runner-up taking home N$1 800.The owner of the third-placed horse will pocket N$1 200.For the first time in the competition, the fourth-placed horse will win N$600 for its owner.The draw for the main race was conducted at the premises of Namibia Breweries, the main sponsors, this week.The horses lining up in the gates are, from number one: Royal Secret, Golden Damascus, London Herald, Lady and the Tramp, Porto Vinere, Wealdstone, Crofter, American Star, Kings Lodge, Miss American Pie, Nicolas Day, Fencing Master and Ta-Jil.The races taking place on the day are the Maiden race over 1 600m, Graduation (1 600m), D Division (1 600m), C Division (1 800m) and the July Handicap (1 600m).The competition officially starts at 12h00, but the July Handicap race is taking place later in the day.The President of the Namibia Horse Racing Association (NHRA), Henry Feris, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the July Handicap is the icon of the racing season in Namibia.”This race is a replica of the Durban July in South Africa and the excitement among the fans and the performances given by the horses make it the best race in Namibia,” he said.He said he was happy that the sport of horse racing is making progress in Namibia, judging from the interest that the public has shown by attending the races.The Windhoek Turf Club is the biggest racetrack in the country and the NHRA has installed starting gates from which the horses start the race.This year, two horses from South Africa will make their appearance along with 11 local horses in the main race of the day.The two South African horses are Royal Secret and Ta-Jil.The biggest drawcard on the day is without a doubt Miss American Pie, owned by Nicky Angermund.The horse won the 1 600-metre distance two weeks ago and was in exceptional condition.This time, Miss American Pie stands a chance to scoop the July Handicap, as she shook off most of the horses in the last race.Miss American Pie is described by Feris as a sensational horse capable of great comebacks, even after trailing for a distance.He also described Porto Vinere, owned by Henrico Junius, as a speedy horse with tremendous endurance.Porto Vinere is expected to compete in the 1000m race before running in the main race.He said other horses such as Wealdstone and London Herald are also great prospects and can cause an upset on the day.The July Handicap will have 13 horses competing this year and the winner walks away with N$3 000, with the runner-up taking home N$1 800.The owner of the third-placed horse will pocket N$1 200.For the first time in the competition, the fourth-placed horse will win N$600 for its owner.The draw for the main race was conducted at the premises of Namibia Breweries, the main sponsors, this week.The horses lining up in the gates are, from number one: Royal Secret, Golden Damascus, London Herald, Lady and the Tramp, Porto Vinere, Wealdstone, Crofter, American Star, Kings Lodge, Miss American Pie, Nicolas Day, Fencing Master and Ta-Jil.The races taking place on the day are the Maiden race over 1 600m, Graduation (1 600m), D Division (1 600m), C Division (1 800m) and the July Handicap (1 600m).