Champions of the past

Hi all, the clip of Sea Cottage takes one back to when racing caught the imagination for the entire public, not just punters. I read a lot about the great Sea Cottage as he was just before my time. Does anyone have any clips or general history on some of the big names of get past. I will name some that stood out for me.

Politician, Breyani, Bodrum, The Rutland Arms, Sea Warrior, Shooting High, Sealegs, Petrava, Potomac, Fools Home, Occult, Enchanted Garden, Devon Air, Voodoo Charm, Mauritzfontein, Beldale Lustre, Main Man, Model Man, Bush Telegraph, Clean Break, Wild West, Gondolier, Another Treat, Turncoat and off course Spanish Pool.

A race that stands out what then called the Schweppes Challenge with a tight battle between Spanish Pool, Mauritzfonetein and Beldale Lustre. Spanish Pool prevailed that day. The great Terrance Millard was at his prime with some of the best horse in the land. David Payne also raced some champions and he was fond of his imports. Petrava was super impressive. Ricky Maingard trained some top class champions, Bodrum was Spanish Pool's arch rival. I also recall the race whereby Another Treat from the Payne yard put his unbeaten record on the line against Shooting High from the then Jean Hemming yard (Barnard). Sea Warrior I think from the Marshall yard set the pace and nearly upstage both he fancied runners until Another Treat got him close to the line.

Another runner that stands out was Clean Break from the Ralph Rixon yard, an almost all white front runner that could gallop and only stopped very late in races. A few times kept going to the line. Gondolier from the Pat Antelme yard was one of the earliest July winners tipped at the time. After running a decent race in the met and with the regular rider I think Pat Siege having lost his life in an accident, Billy Harvey took over and said Gondolier will win the July. A low key prep into the Juky and eventually starting at about 6/1, delivered the goods. Bully picked up a fine for saluting just before the post.

Great memories from those years when horse racing caught the imagination of everyone. The media played their part then. I'm not sure what got more exposure in the 80's, the Falklands war or South African racing. Sadly, these days it's all too brief and filtered. Write ups lack any real form of substance and there's nothing in the printed media that captures the interest of people. There's just not enough hype created but I suppose we are in a different era where the priorities of the operators are not what they use to be. Kudos to the Citizen, they lead the way in terms of what they do. If anyone has any clips, newspaper articles, etc to share on this era of racing, please share with us.
Happy Punting

"Boxer" Goolum the legendary punter/tipster of the '60's a racing great that everyone in the racing game new and respected, even this 12yo "lighty"

We should also remember Foveros

wolf power and prince florimund

The Real Deal Lester Piggot (Found this on Sporting Post's FB Page)

Wolf Power, Ricky Maingards pride and joy, a super horse. Prince if not mistaken was ridden by David Payne and some years later he won with In Full Flight. One of the select to win the July as both jockey and trainer. Both Prince and In Full Flight were just before my time but people raved about these champs. Spanish Galliard comes to mind for Denis Drier and the Oppenheimers.

A sprinter miler that comes to mind outside of these champs but great handicapper was Forest King trained by Oom Nic Claassen- loved the Vaal mile but I think also raced and win in Kzn.

For those who remember Cardinal Fury, sold for R1000 as a horse in training and toppled the mighty Empress Club in a GR1. Never won another raced but then again, didn't need to

I think Prince Florimund was trained by David Payne but definitely started his racing career with the Amos stable in Cape Town..He was a really top class horse and beat Wolf Power on numerous occasions before being sent to USA...

yes prince florimund was the same year as arctic cove and im sure he raced in neon green colours..will always recall the derby at clairwood sponsored by oceanair which was funnily enough partly owned by martin Sternberg who im sure had a share in Spanish pool..it was a 2 horse race judging by the betting arctic cove and prince florimund and arctic coves stablemate SATURADO was there to ensure a hot pace but he didn't know this and he went start to finish under I stand to correction the late and great grant kotzen..the stake of the derby wait for it 750 000 ..great memories of the glory days of sa racing

Reading through this wonderful nostalgia reminded me of John Gorton. I know Rob F will remember him, anybody else?. Was he the first SA jockey to ride in the UK?. They also used to say the Gorton family have a unique record in THE JULY. Apparently the family Owned , Bred, Trained and Rode a July winner?. Obviously different horses over many years. ( help Titch Pirates or Rob F).

Pocket Power

Kwiktan - won the Derby by 22 lengths for Jean Hemming

Some great names coming up and yes very nostalgic. I've just remembered Ecurie and the brilliant Star Effort. I have a vague memory of John Gorton but I think shortly after his era came he likes of Robbie Sham and Bartie Leisher.
Titch perhaps you can confirm for us, Delpech back then as an apply rode his first stakes winner aboard a horse called Dawson's Trail for Eileen Bestel.
Herman Brown snr had many top horses in his time and with the best judge of pace at the time in Basil Marcus ride for him. Then there was Charles Fortune (the horse) that upstaged Spanish Pool in the Met to cause a huge upset. For those who remember Spanish Pool came closest to becoming the first equine millionaire but couldn't pull it off for either part or full owner Des Scott. Pat Lunn's Model Man did eventually become the first equine millionaire. Pat and co flew him down for the Met at a staggering R22000 in reported costs and he won a superb race. Arctic Cove was also a superb horse. I think racing had many champions during that era and many of them competed against each other over many years which made it that more exciting. These days they get shipped off abroad but with a great deal of success too. Our stake money can hardly compare. All the money spent on ready to run stakes would have been ideal if invested in more graded races.

Titch I couldn't help but notice of your sea cottage clip just how broad the Greyville track was back then. 20 horses with space for loads more.