Tears flow as winning jockeys get emotional at Equus Awards

HORSE racing fans know that the sport of kings can drive anyone to tears at times.

There were plenty of tears on Tuesday night at the Equus Awards at Emperors Palace when national champions jockey Anthony Delpech and trainer Sean Tarry delivered their winning speeches.

Delpech acknowledged it was difficult to speak straight after champion apprentice jockey Lyle Hewitson gave a speech that any headmaster would be proud of.

It was a real battle for Delpech to get through his speech and he produced some strange noises every time he thanked someone who played a part in him winning the championship.

Tarry followed in the same manner but without the strange noises. It is great that the Tarry speeches are getting shorter now that he is winning more titles.

The first time he won we had to sit through him thanking everyone in his stable – from the cat to the pot plant – but he has since realised it is not worth wasting drinking time at such a glamorous occasion.

It was good to see the emotions of the winners. It shows that guys like Delpech and Tarry are passionate about their sport.

Legal Eagle was crowned horse of the year for the second consecutive year and Carry On Alice was the other big winner as the champion sprinter and champion older mare.

It will be much more difficult to pick the Eastern Cape horse of the year. This awards evening take place on September 2 at Fairview and the race for the big prize looks wide open.

What is certain is that the winning trainers’ speech will be shorter than that of Tarry.

Alan Greeff will reflect on his 11th title and will stick to the tradition that we don’t waste any drinking time in the Eastern Cape.

Hewitson will be giving another headboy type speech (nogal from his cellphone without any irritating pieces of paper) as he is the champion apprentice jockey in the province.

Last week, we were spot on with the Place Accumulator, but play carefully with the wet weather around.

The meeting has been switched from the turf to the polytrack with more rain expected.

Punters’ Pal tips:

Fairview:

PA R192 1-2-3/2-7/3-10/1-5/2/1-2-3-7/2-5

PICK 6 R2 000 2-7/3-5-8-10-11/1-5/1-2-5-6-9/1-2-3-7/1-2-5-7-10