Last out please turn off the lights
CLAIRWOOD racecourse hosts its final race meeting tomorrow featuring an international apprentice jockey challenge over four races with 12 riders from 10 countries aligned to the Asian Racing Association taking part.
But as Clairwood closes down it is the Asian Young Guns, the potential champion jockeys in years to come, that will take centre stage in the grand finale - the future bidding a farewell tribute to the past.
Gold Circle has planned a special day with a large crowd expected and the two South African apprentices, Craig Zackey and Franklin Maleking, will be up against leading young riders from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.
They have varying degrees of talent and experience, but what they will not be lacking is enthusiasm and a strong desire to win.
The competition, which has been staged in the southern hemisphere each year since 2009 in Australia, Singapore, Macau and New Zealand, comes to South Africa for the first time and there is no doubt that we are in for some spirited riding and exciting finishes.
There are no stars among the horses taking part on the day but in a way that levels the playing field to some degree. But it also sets the scene for some very good dividends in all races and a meeting that is well worth getting involved in.
Indeed, it will be an entertaining day for punters but there are a large number of people out there who will find it a sad day in South African racing with one of the country’s most famous and beautiful racing venues disappearing into the annuls of history. I know of a few for whom it will be a heartwrenching occasion.
Clairwood
Clairwood was built on land reclaimed from what had been a swamp and staged its first race meeting on Tuesday, 24 May, 1921. That was a long time ago - 93 years in fact - and one could safely say that over the years hundreds of thousands of thoroughbred hooves have pounded across its turf.
Before becoming part of Gold Circle, it was the independently-run Clairwood Turf Club managed by dedicated racing men to whom Clairwood was sacred ground. Prominent Durban businessmen gave their time as stewards with dedicated general managers including those that I can recall like Harry Taylor and Basil Thomas.
For many, including myself, it holds great memories of great, friends, great racing, great horses, great jockeys and great trainers. There have been some incredibly exciting clashes at the course and some sensational wins by horses like the legendary Sea Cottage that has been remembered with a race named in his honour.
However, as time marches on changes come about in the name of progress and with the government planning the new deep-water harbour for Durban in that region, the eventual demise of Clairwood as a racing and training centre was inevitable - it is just a pity that it had to come so soon.
The Last Race
Included in the plans for the farewell celebrations - or should I say wake - there will be plenty of “give-aways” tomorrow and, for the owner or owners of the winner of “The Last Race”, a special “Last Race” trophy has been prepared.
Yes, it’s going to be a special and historic meeting which the public should definitely try to attend. It will be an occasion of contrast with the excitement and entertainment of the Young Guns Challenge mixed with nostalgia and sadness of a great old lady taking her final curtsey. It is just a toss-up as to whether the exuberance of the exciting young riders will have a greater impact than the great sense of loss we will all feel at this very sad moment.
I guess many will remember that famous song, Ghost Riders in the Sky, of years gone by. Well, just maybe, in years to come on a clear and crisp winter’s night, the thunder of hooves, the crack of whips and the cheers of an excited crowd, might just echo softly across the southern Durban sky as those great champions of the past remember and relive their great moments on the green turf of Clairwood.