TURFFONTEIN PRESS RELEASE
18 MAY 2015
SHOW JUMPING RETURNS TO TURFFONTEIN
Sunday 24th May sees the return of graded show jumping to Johannesburg’s
premium racing centre after a hiatus of almost a decade. The day long event
will run in conjunction with a day’s thoroughbred race meeting at
Turffontein Racecourse.
Event organiser, Brett Webber, a licenced racehorse trainer and the
chairman of the FS Show Jumping Association takes up the story “the idea to
stage a jumping event in conjunction with a race meeting, was the result of
brainstorming with the Phumelela Gaming team. It made absolute sense to
combine the two disciplines for the betterment of both sports and thus
Racing To Jump was born”.
Many of the competing horses are ex-racehorses that found a new career in
show jumping and eventing. Athletes like Nacht Musiek, The Entertainer and
Los Colmos will take their place in graded events between 0.9m to 1.2m and
they are expecting between 160 to 200 entrants in the ten classes. Nacht
Musiek is an interesting entry. Mr M, as he is affectionately known, will
be ridden by his owner, Chantal Sturgeon – wife of jockey Ian.
Another interesting entrant is Gate House who will be partnered by Danielle
Mccreedy –Brown a former professional jockey and wife of Sherman Brown, a
competing jockey. Gate House was one of the last horses Mccreedy rode
before she hung up her boots to concentrate on motherhood, and it is
fitting that both return to Turffontein , four years after they last tasted
victory there.
Spectators will be treated to excellent jumping as well as an
eight-race-program featuring the Listed Syringa Handicap which will
showcase the thrill of thoroughbred horseracing. Phumelela’s National
Marketing Manager, Michael Varney commented “We are thrilled to be staging
this weekend’s show jumping at Turffontein as it is well aligned to horse
racing through the parallels that the two sports share including the fact
that many retired racehorses enjoy successful careers as show jumpers.
Entrance to the event is free and hospitality tables, including a
four-course-meal , can be purchased at R175 a head. Jumping starts at 9am
and will continue until 5pm. Table bookings can be made with Brett Webber
on 079-8300660 brettwebracing@gmail.com
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