All eyes on Flamingo Park as trainers head for Kimberley

KwaZulu-Natal-based trainer Kom Naidoo has found a happy hunting ground at Flamingo Park on their Race Day will be raiding Kimberley again on Saturday to cash in on their three big races.

Naidoo has a remarkable knack of knowing which horses perform well on the sand and this year he will be sending 11 runners to the Northern Cape to pick up some of the big stake money on offer.

There will be three feature races, the R200,000 RA Flamingo Mile, the R135,000 RA Sprint over 1000m and the R110,000 Department Of Economic Development and Tourism Diamond Stayers over 2200m. All three are Non-Black Type events.

Trainers have come from all over the country with runners for this 10-race programme, including Jacques Strydom from Port Elizabeth and the likes of Stephen Moffatt, Clinton Binda and Stanley Ferreira from Johannesburg.

The other “first” this year is the introduction of a race for work riders. These guys work for their respective trainers and ride most of the work on the horses. Most times all the jockey has to do is turn up and ride. He gets the public accolades if the horse wins while the work riders get little credit.

The Work Riders’ Programme is well supported by Phumelela Gaming and Leisure as well as the Racing Association and is particularly active on the Highveld and in the Western Cape. The first work riders’ races in the Eastern Cape started last year and it is a mission of all concerned to see the programme rolled out throughout the country over the next few years. The programme is aimed at providing previously disadvantaged people the opportunity to undergo training in the sport so they can ride at a level equivalent to that of a professional jockey.

The race will afford the riders to receive the same prize money as that of a qualified professional.

This Flamingo Park race meeting is aimed at introducing a new, high-quality experience to the Kimberley community and is an opportunity for Kimberley to raise its profile as a destination worth visiting.

Flamingo Park, which has the only authentic sand track in the country, will be aiming to make this a multi-cultural and inclusive event that caters for varying tastes of horseracing enthusiasts as well as the Kimberley community.

For those who have not attended a race meeting this is an ideal chance to experience the excitement of the sport and enjoy a day packed with entertainment that will provide for all age groups and varying tastes.

In addition, 10 local entrepreneurs have been invited to promote youth businesses in the city and province at large.