Borrowdale Park Racecourse

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FINCHATTON – 2021 OK GRAND CHALLENGE (GR2) CHAMPION

For the two Gokhan Terzi yards Saturday’s OK Grand Challenge race meeting was an unforgettable experience.

Apart from saddling the winner of the OK Grand Challenge – Finchatton – Terzi also sent out the winners of seven of the eight races on the Borrowdale Park card. Has that been equalled at a local race meeting before?

Finchatton is a nine-year-old gelding by Right Approach (GB) out of a Fort Wood (USA) mare. This was his third outing at Borrowdale and in his previous start he was a close second to Daffiq in the 1600m Independence Trophy. Finchatton has now won 8 races and was bred by Wilgersbosdrift.

Congratulations to the owner Gengiz Goksel and winning jockey Diego de Gouveia, as well as to Gokhan and Wilgersbosdrift. The minor places went to Peggson, Holy Land and Fareeq – and Terzi trains Holy Land and Fareeq. Winning margins 0.50 lengths, 0.50 lengths, 1.50 Lengths. TIME: 106.11sec.

The Bridget Stidolph-trained Peggson also rates special mention having lost about three lengths at the start but managing to finish within half a length of the winner who was receiving 3.5 kgs. I still don’t know how he did this.

OK Zimbabwe sponsor this prestigious 1800m event and must also be congratulated for pressing ahead, regardless, in these difficult times.

Photograph by Laurent Viguie

News from Ex-Zim Apprentice 🇿🇼

***Announcement***

After a lot of thought and extensive conversations with both the Academy and my mentors, I have decided to bid farewell to my pursuit to become a professional jockey!

I have tried really hard, in fact I’ve given my absolute best and it’s become increasingly obvious that I will not be able to get enough rides to qualify as a professional jockey!

I have been offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to complete an internship at the World class facility that is Drakenstein Stud Farm in the Cape, and I have taken the opportunity with both hands!

I’m so excited to be able to continue working in this super industry and I am so grateful to all the people who have helped get me to where I am now!

When one door closes, another door opens 💖

I have moved in, settled down and have already started work in this most gorgeous place!

I’ll keep you up to date with how things are going.

O'Meara

Photo Credit:CandieseLenferna

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More from Taps 🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼

Nice to see Taps getting some airtime 🥳🤗😆

Lily Blue does it again!!!

Watch racing Live 🎉

Horse Racing - Clocking the Gallop Live Stream

Stidolph Racing comes home with four horses after the sale!!
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Come and support National Tree Planting Day at Borrowdale Racecourse this year!!
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Equestrian Performance in partnership with will be predigging around 200 holes for National Tree Planting Day!

Come along with your friends and family and plant your own tree!

Trees on sale at Old Stables Market

Individual: x1 Tree $5
Family: x5 Trees $20
Corporate: x50 Trees planted for you - contact us for more info

Please bring your own shovel*
Hope to see you there!

Weights and Draws...

WEIGHTS & DRAWS BORROWDALE – Saturday 14 November 2020 Race-1(Turf) US$ 1,800 1600mBREEDERS FILLIES MILE (L)For all 3 year old Fillies. Listed Race 2 TRUE BEAUTY (3F) 57.0 83 S Kirk Swanson 4 WILL…

An unbelievable win for Zim Trainer Gokhan Terzi and Zimbabwean Owner G. Goksel

Congrats team!!
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Racing Guru on Twitter “What a great ride and finish! ANEKSI took off late, to win the 2nd at the on Thursday Congrats 👏 Owner - Mr G Goksel Breeder - Prof I M Sanne Trainer - Gokhan Terzi Rider - Breeding - Var x Egyptian Reign https://t.co/XJRo1C866P”

Race card for tomorrow’s race day!!!

LATEST BORROWDALE PARK CARD Please follow the link below to view and download the card for FRIDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2020

Great Piece!! Couldn’t agree more, Sandown Stud bred current Zimbabwe racing stalwarts Three to Tango and Lily Blue 💖

THE CENTAURIAN TAKES AIM...with advice on how to choose a racehorse at the National Two-Year-Old Sale in November https://zimracing.com/the-centaurian-takes-aim/ via

Nominations for next meeting are up!!!

https://zimracing.com/nominations/?fbclid=IwAR2a_UWTbL6HyfdLg6-rMXFxl0DDXttQK-MF373g9-gY6WFl7szI14564rY

NOMINATIONS BORROWDALE – Friday 30 October 2020 Event-1 $ 1,800 1600m (Turf)ZIMBABWE CHALLENGE 0 ARMSTRONG Gokhan Terzi 90 0 BUTCHIE BOY Bridget Stidolph 81 0 FAREEQ (AUS) Gokhan Terzi 94 0 H…

Another fabulous event a Borrowdale Racecourse

Final Fields for Saturday's Racing...

https://zimracing.com/final-fields-2/?fbclid=IwAR3tlFZjjvKyZIlZXk7hFwmbUZcAYpWT1RfDw_Nm7VHF9e-kTNsxgoOoJDc

FINAL FIELDS SATURDAY. OCTOBER 17 , 2020 BORROWDALE – Saturday 17 October 2020 Race-1 (Turf) US$ 1,600 1100m 12:55 Ref-171st $800, 2nd $400, 3rd $240, 4th $160GRADUATION PLATEMaidens,1 & 2 time winner…

Plenty to see at the first meeting after the annual break!!! For the first time in a while, 6 trainers have nominated horses to run at Borrowdale Park :D

We will also see the first run of the new ZimFun Racing Club's first horse for The Swanson yard!!!

Isn't The Zimbabwe Horseracing Community just superb!!!!

WEIGHTS & DRAWS BORROWDALE – Saturday 17 October 2020 Race-1(Turf) US$ 1,800 1200mTOTE FREE HANDICAPFor all 3 year olds 6 WILLFULL PATH (3F) 60.0 82 S Bridget Stidolph 1 (3F) 58.0 78 S …

Kirk Swanson trains ZimFun’s first runner 🇿🇼

We love this piece on Horseracing... No it is not an elitist sport

ELITISTS AND EGALITARIANS

The Centaurian says: As we sat masked up on the balcony at Borrowdale Park on a recent race day, my new PA piped up, “and I was led to believe racing was an elitist – even racist sport – and it’s not is it?”

You could have knocked me down with a feather. “No, it’s not – what brain-dead bigot told you that?” I promptly replied. Read more at https://zimracing.com/the-centaurian-takes-aim/

Race card for tomorrow 🇿🇼

9 races on the card to end our somewhat turbulent season!! We’ll all enjoy the break, but until then.... one more day of racing 🇿🇼❤️

LATEST BORROWDALE PARK CARD Please follow the link below to view and download the card for FRIDAY, 28 AUGUST, 2020

Girl power 🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼

Congratulations to O'Meara Rusike on achieving the highest beep test score ever recorded at the Academy by a Female Apprentice 💪💪 Keep up the amazing work!!

Apprentice O'Meara Rusike
StrideFree Racing



The beep test is a maximal fitness test (running test) used to estimate an athlete's aerobic capacity (VO2 max).

Photo courtesy of Candiese Lenferna and Gold Circle.

Lovely to see a bunch of new horses running in Zimbabwe next Friday! 🔥

WEIGHTS & DRAWS BORROWDALE – Friday 28 August 2020 Race-1(Turf) RTGS$ 105,000 1260mSABLE FLYERS (LR)Fillies and MaresWFA: 3yrs-8.5kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs3 MILFORD SOUND (4F) 62.0 79 A Gokhan Terzi 10 WHIT…

Nominations for next Friday’s Racing!

NOMINATIONS FRIDAY 28 AUGUST 2020 Event-1 RTGS$ 105,000 1260m (Turf)SABLE FLYERS (LR)0 BAM BAM PEBBLES Gokhan Terzi 69 0 DOUBLE DAB Gokhan Terzi 51 0 DUNAS DOURADAS Kirk Swanson 60 0 IN GOOD TIME G…

Interested in owning some racehorses for a minimal cost??

For $100 for the first year you can be a member of the Zim racing club!!

AT THE STARTING STALLS
Update From The Centaurian

Well, it’s been a bit more of a mission than I had anticipated but ZimFun is now at the starting stalls and ready for the gates to fly open, and let its first horse thunder over the hallowed turf that is Borrowdale Park.

Key elements are effectively in place:

(1) Zimfun Racing Club (Pvt) Ltd is now a registered company – though because of COVID-19 we still need to be issued with a proper registration number.

(2) In order to keep the admin simple there will only be two formal directors, Spencer Murray and myself – but to demonstrate complete transparency there will be a panel of other directors on a Fun Board.

(3) Excitingly our colours were approved by the NHRA – giving the lie to claims that this body is a stuffy old-fashioned stick in the mud. NHRA could not have been more helpful and I would like to publicly thank Hazel Kayiya, Arnold Hyde and Leigh Bockel for their constructive contributions to getting our club and its colours across the line.

(4) The actual racing silks have arrived at the stables and very impressive they are too – ideal for putting a smile on Zimbabwean faces.

(5) We have had a steady flow of revenue from the sale of shares and the pot is now running to a number of thousands of dollars – but still way off the target of $150,000 – and that is where you, my readers, come in. We need your bucks!

Remember you can e-mail [email protected] with a firm pledge of how many shares you might like to buy at US$100 each – or you can drop round and hand over your spondoolies at Virgin Management Services, 7 Normandy Road, Alex Park.

And for the sake of clarity and making no apology for repetition, when you buy one share that is it for the year…. No further calls for cash. You are a shareholder in every horse Zimfun has in its string for 12 months, and can attend every race meeting for free, enter the parade ring (once COVID rules allow), shout our runners home from the members stand for free, and lead our winners in when we hit the jackpot.

You can also apply to become a member of the Owners and Trainers and then use their facilities on the third floor.

I can report that we are now looking to find our first horse to bring north, likely to be a c**t or gelding, 3 or 4-year-old, middle distance type of runner with an index above 65, sound but maybe in its place in South Africa rankings. So, if any South African trainers or owners are reading this – and have a suitable candidate for us – please ping details to [email protected].

Horse number one for ZimFun will be trained by Kirk Swanson who drew the highest card at the order draw.

Let us hope we can unlock the ZimFun in a tangible way in the very near future – believe me it’s gonna happen and it’s gonna be great Fun – especially for all those who have already bought shares and will have their first leg in a racehorse. Let’s hope we can sell many more and line up an exciting group of runners for what must become famous silks.

HOOFNOTE ONE

In my piece about the Greatest Ever Racehorses, published a few months ago – using The Centaurian assessment system – I had by pure chance gotten c**t Frankel and race mare Enable on exactly the same score of 117.

Since that time, Enable has raced on as a six-year-old running second in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown over ten furlongs, but then creaming the Group 1 King George at Ascot over a mile and a half.

For those runs, Enable earns herself 11 further points and this takes her to a score of 128 and closes on my all-time great, Brigadier Gerard (146 points)

It was disappointing to see only three runners in the King George but let me remind you that Enable won the race in a time which was faster than her two previous wins of the race. The way she pulled clear of the two Galileo c**ts, Sovereign and Japan, raised the hair on my neck.

If she goes on to win the Irish Champion Stakes and then the Arc, she will pick up a further 21 points and match the Brigadier’s number of Group 1 wins – 13 – in one less number of outings, and will earn a total of 149 points to make her my best racehorse ever.

Not bad for a filly - and we are all around to witness this greatness.

Apprentice O'Meara Rusike pairs up with 4yo Magari for the Garth Puller Racing stable on Sunday to have her first start in South Africa in a 1200m maiden plate!!

O'meara was the first woman to win a race at Borrowdale Park and we wish her all the very best under the South African Jockey Academy...

Women In Racing Sporting Post Thoroughbred Daily News BBC Sport

Had to try on my race gear because....... Garth Puller Racing have given me a ride on Sunday!!!

I pair up with Magari in a 1200m Maiden Plate!! I’m so looking forward to it 🥳

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me until now!! A huge thanks to South African Jockey Academy for the guidance and Mr Puller for the opportunity!!

Equestrian Performance StrideFree Racing Peter Horobin Saddlery El Shepherd

Ex-Zim Jockey and first female apprentice to win at Borrowdale Park gets the green light, signs racing papers and is ready to go!! ✅
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Congratulations to Kaiden Brewer and Apprentice O'Meara Rusike on signing their racing papers!!

This allows them to take on race rides with immediate effect. We wish you two all the success in your new race riding careers!

Apprentice O'Meara Rusike getting some fine care in South Africa!! She returns to work tomorrow 💖

It is a privilege to work with Dr. Marshall from Prime Human Performance Centre. He assesses the Apprentices from the South African Jockey Academy before clearing them to return to riding.

One of the tests conducted by Dr. Marshall was the Comprehensive Neurological Examination. During this test O'Meara was required to touch her nose and than his finger. This is one of the numerous tests conducted during her appointment.

We are delighted that O'Meara passed all her tests and has been given the green light to return to riding!!

Final fields!

FINAL FIELDS SUNDAY. AUGUST 9 , 2020 BORROWDALE – Sunday 9 August 2020 Race-1 (Turf) RTGS$ 95,000 1000m 11:40 Ref-11st $47,500, 2nd $23,750, 3rd $14,250, 4th $9,500MAIDEN PLATEMaiden Plate Colts & Gel…

WEIGHTS & DRAWS BORROWDALE – Sunday 9 August 2020 Race-1(Turf) RTGS$ 105,000 1000mBORROWDALE HANDICAPOpenWFA: 3yrs-7.0kgs 4yrs-0.0kgs6 TANDAVA (ZIM) (8G) 61.5 103 BA Gokhan Terzi 2 DAFFIQ (7G) 58.…

showing off some love for Zim Racing with this shot of 🥳

Norbert Takawira wins Champion Jockey at Borrowdale Park!! 🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼

NORBERT TAKAWIRA – CHAMPION JOCKEY 2019/2020

Congratulations to Norbert Takawira – Zimbabwe’s Champion Jockey for the 2019/20 racing season.

At today’s race meeting at Borrowdale Park he added yet another winner to his score when bringing home Hold The Biscuit for the Terzi stable in the 1800m Novice Plate.

Great stuff - and here's to many more winning rides, Norbert.

Photograph: Norbert Takawira steered Coachella to victory in June when Bridget Stidolph’s charge made his record-breaking run in a Pinnacle Plate.

Final Fields for Thursday’s Racing!

FINAL FIELDS THURSDAY. JULY 30 , 2020 BORROWDALE – Thursday 30 July 2020 Race-1 (Turf) RTGS$ 95,000 1100m 11:10 Ref-1381st RTGS$47,500, 2nd RTGS$23,750, 3rd RTGS$14,250, 4th RTGS$9,500MERIT RATED 65 HANDI…

Weights and draws are out and we are racing through August 🇿🇼

https://zimracing.com/weights-draws/

WEIGHTS & DRAWS BORROWDALE – Thursday 30 July 2020 Race-1(Turf) RTGS$ 105,000 1200mCHAMPION JUVENILE STAKES (Grade 3)2 year olds 4 MASTER (2C) 58.0 0 A Gokhan Terzi 6 (2F) 55.5 0 …

Lily Blue gets her Triple Crown... Pray tell, where to from here!

This superb filly was bred by ex-Zimbabwean James Armitage of Sandown Stud and is trained by Bridget Stidolph

LILY BLUE GETS HER TRIPLE TIARA

Congratulations Apprentice Rodgers!! It was a lovely win... Some great pictures here from Andrew Philip...

Today’s racing results!

RACING RESULTS Visit the post for more.

Borrowdale Park Racecourse updated their phone number.

If you’ve wanted to get involved in racing but are worried about the running costs... join this club for 100 dollars a year and have the opportunity to race multiple horses 🥳

Seems like a good way to get involved for new owners ☺️

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
asks THE CENTAURIAN

Every time we buy a lottery ticket or have a punt on a horse, or forecast who might score first for Liverpool, we are assessing the odds – that is gambling. Buying a share in a racehorse is pretty much the same – but in the case of ZimFun Racing Club Ltd it’s a bit more than a just a gamble.

The total losses or costs are clearly defined for each shareholder – at US$100 for a full year’s involvement – amounts to just $2 per week. There are no more calls for cash for 12 months.

In return, the upsides fall into four categories. Firstly are the purses which might be won at Borrowdale Park and returned to the company coffers. Then there is the information, inside track – provided by the ZimFun WhatsApp social media group – you will get to know better than anyone outside the group just what the chances are for each of our horses and thus help you make up your mind if you want a bet and if so how much.

Thirdly, if we do end up with an above-average performer, we retain the right to sell it and again return profits to the company account. Finally, and as important as anything else, there is the FUN – of participating in the whole Sport of Kings – going to the racecourse if you can, fun in the parade ring,
shouting from the balcony as the races are run and with a bit of luck, leading a winner in with old mates and the new ones you have yet to make. Priceless.

We have estimated that the total cost of keeping a horse in training, paying for the incidentals, jockeys, airfares as necessary, vets and farrier run to about $6,000 per annum – these are our variable costs and exclude the cost of procurement and transport north to Zim.

To get that back we need to win a few races and get a few places in ordinary races each year. Your guess is as good as mine as to the likelihood of that happening but in Zim, where horse numbers are low and we might have say 120 to 150 races to pop at, the chances are actually above average.

Of course, winning a feature race like the Tankard or the Ok or the Republic Cup improves the economics significantly – but don’t hold your breath too hard – though it’s not out of the question by any means.

My guess is that each horse will be ready to run when it arrives and so the ZimFun can begin from the first day’s racing.

All it needs is for the other 1470 of my 1500 readers of this column to get their hands in their pockets as the first 30 have done – and send $100 cash to Virgin Management Service at 7 Normandy Road, Alex Park in Harare or send a sincere e mail pledge to [email protected] – and ideally, do it now

News on colours next…..

Also I should have some payment options for RSA investors too – shortly….

Lily Blue made easy work of this field!
Congratulations Stidolph Racing!

HOW LILY BLUE TOOK CONTROL OF ZIMBABWE DERBY

Photographer Gavin MacLeod recorded the defining moment at Borrowdale Park yesterday afternoon when Lily Blue surged ahead to win the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby by 1.50 lengths.

By Black Minnaloushe (USA), Lily Blue passed this ultimate test of speed and stamina - once again beating the boys with consummate ease.

Congratulations to the owners, the Gin 'll Fix It Syndicate (nominee Kirsty Stidolph), Robin MacLeod and Betty Prosser; trainer Bridget Stidolph, jockey Morgan Nyamagwete and breeder Geoff Armitage.

Memories are made of this,.