A Smooth Voice and A Steady Hand
Cecil Mthembu reflects on his career in racing
Above: The inimitable Cecil Mthembu (photo: JC Photos)
Cecil Mthembu’s popularity and respected position in the racing community were evident in the warm way he was welcomed by trainers and jockeys upon his return to on-course presenting in 2024. Their on-air support almost knocked the wind from his sails, and he felt humbled.
Cecil (65) officially retired last week in accordance with the terms of his contract with 4Racing. However, the man with the smooth voice and the gentlemanly demeanour will remain available for stand-in presenting and hosting roles. He is also eager to mentor incoming presenters and to help them polish their skills—something he’s done recently, in his typically unobtrusive and professional manner, with Johnny Geroudis, Shalandra Bunseelal and Vikki Lerena.
Early last year, following the departure of Alistair Cohen and Brandon Bailey and the health issues experienced by Clyde Basel and Lyall Cooper, Cecil was moved from his regular studio shifts at Racing 240 to the racecourse. He commented: “I’ve always preferred the relative safety of the studio above the unpredictability of the on-course interactions. Things can happen fast and unexpected in racing, emotions can overflow and sometimes presenters are caught in the middle. I don’t like that.
“The last 12 months have flown by. I was fortunate to host a number of high-profile meetings alongside my fellow-presenters, thankfully without hiccups. One tends to forget the unique charm and excitement of the track when you don’t attend race meetings. I enjoyed my time back out under the Highveld sun!”
Cecil’s mellifluous tones and unconfrontational approach to life stem from foundations laid when he was schooled in Birmingham, UK. In his formative years, he lived in a small Somerset village called Wells, where he admired the iconic Anglican Cathedral in the town square. He still attends church services on a Sunday and subscribes to the motto, ‘live and let live.’
In line with his philosophy of life, Cecil said that his advice to young incoming presenters will always be twofold. He explained: “Presenters who are entrusted with sharing information and advice with the public should never allow their live platforms to become a vehicle for personal agendas. They must report factually and accurately to the benefit of the punters. That is what they are there for. They should guard against acting in their own interest at the expense of others. The sport of racing is bigger than any individual.
“Secondly, they must realise that viewers are intelligent. They pick up little things in everything that you say, and they judge you by that. There is always room for individualism, but it’s wise to stick to the basics. The public will call you out on every slip of the tongue, and perception is important.”
Another piece of advice, he noted, was for presenters to limit their involvement with social media. “Many years ago, I discussed the potential harm of social media with Julie Alexander. I suggested that she stay away from it. We were at the Durban July a few years later and talking to former racing editor Chad Cooke about this matter, when Julie said ‘I wish I had listened to Cecil!’”
Cecil has followed his own counsel closely over the last 30 years, perhaps one of the reasons for his longevity as a racing presenter. He’s always stayed humble and neutral, and reckons that, up to now, only KZN’S Paul Lafferty has more hours on the clock.
He started as an assistant working in the general video library at M-Net’s TV studios in Randburg, where the door to racing opened. “The old Tellytrack studio was in the M-Net building and, as a racing fan, I often walked over and watched them on race days. I met some of their presenters, including the late Terrence Kirchner. I was invited to do a screen test and they liked me. Terrence asked me if I could describe Graham Beck’s racing silks and I told him it was brown, with a white V-bib and a spotted cap. They were impressed, and I was hired!”
He worked alongside the seasoned presenters at Tellytrack, some of whom had been with IGN and Supertrack from the early days. “I was fortunate to receive advice and guidance from Neil Andrews, who took me under his wing, as well as Graeme Hawkins, Robin Bruss, Jimmy Lithgow, Nico Kritsiotis, Neil Pretorius and Shaheen Shaw. Alistair Cohen arrived later. I have to say this: they were all true professionals who showed a genuine care for the brand. They were precise, diligent, and held themselves to the highest standards.”
Many years ago, Cecil and many of his mentioned colleagues attended a workshop for racing presenters hosted by broadcasting coaches Jeremy Maggs and Kate Turkington and he recalled: “Kate’s first guideline was, ‘Always treat your microphone as if it is on. Always assume it is live!”
Above: Grant Knowles (photo: supplied)
There's often lighthearted banter in the studio between presenters, camera crew, and producers during advert breaks or live crossings. One of Cecil's funniest memories was when presenter Grant Knowles accidentally let a swear word slip whilst live on air. Assuming his mic had been switched off by late Tellytrack producer, Binglar Mosaka, Knowles jokingly called Mosaka a ‘d**s’, ahead of one of the Equus Awards ceremonies.
Cecil added, “I almost got into trouble once while working a race day shift with the very same Binglar at the controls. He announced he was stepping out for a quick break to the loo and for a smoke, and must have been gone nearly 10 minutes. When he returned to his desk, he nearly collapsed and said, ‘Cecil, I left your microphone on, what have I done?!’ Fortunately, I hadn’t said a word while Binglar was away from his control panel. Normally, when the studio feed was switched to the racecourse, I’d crack a joke, chat about form with the crew, whistle a tune, or just ramble on. But that day, I was completely engrossed in the form guide and stayed silent. It was a lesson for both of us. We got away with it.”
Above: Dave Mollett (photo: Sporting Post)
Funny memories from his career are plentiful, and one that stands out involved veteran racing journalist, Dave Mollett. Cecil told: “Molly and I went to Scottsville for their big sprint festival one year. The late Colin Scott and Dominic Zaki also drove down for the occasion. We booked into a guest house close to the course and Molly started partying early. After races he disappeared and we went looking for him. We went down the Scottsville escalator, where we found a large, very angry Afrikaans man who was also looking for Molly.
He said, “Where is that Mollett? I’m going to f***ing take him down, he made a pass at my wife!” While Colin spoke calmly and tried to diffuse the situation with the muscle man, I went back upstairs to the Golden Horse Casino and found Molly having a drink by the roulette table, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding. After Molly disappeared again, Colin and I left for dinner at a restaurant near the racecourse. Just as we were about to leave, Dom Zaki came through the door and asked for help. Molly had stumbled outside and fallen into a flower bed. Having had a few too many drinks, he was unable to get back up!
“When we finally managed to drag Molly to the car, he woke up and insisted on driving me home. Since I don’t drive, I hesitantly agreed, but I started praying. Fortunately, there were no cops around, and we somehow made it to the guest house—alive!”
Cecil fondly remembers the late Shaheen Shaw for his endless jokes, quips, impersonations, and the way he'd scratch his pen through the pages of Computaform when the formless roughies arrived. “Shaheen, much like Neil Andrews, had this incredible ability to transform the moment the cameras were on. They’d often sidle into the studio just minutes before the start of their shifts, looking relaxed and almost disheveled. After a quick briefing, they’d throw on a jacket and instantly become some of the sharpest presenters you’d ever see, rattling off facts and figures with effortless precision.”
Shaheen, Cecil recalled, was always claiming that Tellytrack’s Rivonia studios were haunted. He’d sometimes see shadows or ghosts while working night shifts for UK race meetings. “At first, we thought he was just messing with us, but then others started reporting similar sightings. Alistair Cohen, curious about the reports of scratching sounds, things moving, and an eerie feeling, went into the tape library to investigate. As he opened the door, he saw a shadow, followed for a split second by the figure of a tall man with a red beard heading towards the door. Just then, the phone started ringing. Ali bolted out of there like his life depended on it. To this day, all the regulars from Rivonia swear it was a haunted house!”
Above: The late Jimmy Lithgow (photo: supplied)
Another colleague, sadly no longer with us, was Jimmy Lithgow, whose background as a stage performer brought both eloquence and class to his presenting roles. “Jimmy handled the voiceovers for grand occasions like Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. When he began his work as an on-course presenter, many trainers and jockeys were taken aback by his polished command of English. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on their faces. Jimmy was a remarkable man with immense respect for thoroughbreds and a deep knowledge of proper racing terminology.”
At his time of departure, Cecil remains optimistic about the future of South African racing. He concluded, “I want to be around to see what happens to the careers of Adam Azzie and Mathew de Kock, next-generation trainers whom I met when they were young boys. Adam made me feel special in an interview the other day.
“In racing, I hope we reach a point of unity. There are many talented and passionate individuals in the industry, including some bright and open-minded young people. To start, I think that a single, dedicated media contingent with someone like Alistair Cohen at the helm could be good for the industry. Even if there are two operators, I hope that one day, SA racing can speak with one voice.”