Dear MR SCOTT,
With a successful Guineas Day behind us, we look forward to Classic Day on March 28, and just one week thereafter yet another fantastic day's racing highlighted by the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1), the Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (Grade 2) and five other features.
It was disappointing to hear that both Dancer's Daughter and Oracy will not be the competing in our up coming feature days but the good news is that the brilliant miler Our Giant will be seen in action. We wish the popular Cape Town visitor Dancer's Daughter well for her Durban July and Breeders' Cup challenges ahead and cherish her memorable victory in the Group 1 Empress Club Stakes last month - proving that Cape Town horses can successfully raid the Highveld.
There are still many compelling clashes in prospect over the feature fortnight - not least in the SA Classic, where the horses fought out a blanket finish in the Guineas go head-to-head again.
We've brought forward the first RA raceday after-party of 2009 - from April 4 to Classic Day on March 28. Festivities will be in the Elevation Room. Book now to avoid disappointment.
If you'd like to receive SMS and/or e-mail runner notifications, please visit our website, click on "Membership and Benefits", complete the on-line form and send it to us. This service does a key part of trainer's job for him - you're notified timeously whenever your horses are carded to run.
The Highveld Awards function will be held on May 7 in the Aquanaut Room at Turffontein Racecourse, while the Equus Awards ceremony will be on August 13 in the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace. A limited number of tickets for these events will be available to the racing public. The very popular entertainer Ian von Memerty will perform on Equus evening.
It's that fateful time of the year again: the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale at Gosforth Park. The opening night is Friday April 3, and the auction continues on Sunday, April 5, and concludes on Monday, April 6. The Saturday sees the big raceday at Turffontein.
Please note that info on taxation - and specifically on ring fencing of secondary trades, which is of importance to owners and breeders - has been posted on the RA website "News" section.
Yours in racing,
Clyde Basel
Chief Executive Officer
The Racing Association
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