Royal Raceday serves up a day to remember

It was a Royal Raceday to remember for racing royalty Mary Slack as the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein-bred Desert Miracle claimed the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes main race at Turffontein today.

Trainer Mike de Kock and jockey Craig Zackey teamed up powerfully as Desert Miracle followed up her Grade 1 Majorca Stakes success in Cape Town with glory today at the Big T in the Royal Raceday, sponsored by HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Royal Raceday, the fourth leg of the World Sports Betting Championships season, left a lasting impression on everyone who attended the event, where sport, fashion, and charity combined to deliver a unique and exciting experience for racegoers at Turffontein.

This special day on the Highveld racing calendar was hosted by the Racehorse Owners’ Association and the Monaco Sport of Kings business alliance, in partnership with 4Racing.

This year, as is tradition on the Royal Raceday, the spirit of charity was a prominent feature amongst the fashion and racing enthusiasts. Three charities, dedicated to providing assistance to those in need and promoting social welfare in the communities in and around Turffontein, were selected to be beneficiaries of the Royal Raceday.

The Monaco Sport of Kings group of businessmen, and Princess Charlene’s father Mike Wittstock, presented this year’s major beneficiary, The Earth Centre, with a cheque for R100 000 to encourage them to continue their great work of providing equine therapy to the disabled, vulnerable and the disadvantaged.

The Hamlet School for intellectually disabled children and the United Cerebral Palsy Association of South Africa were also awarded R50 000 each to support their efforts.

The ladies did not disappoint in bringing to life the Great Gatsby Roaring 20’s glitz and glam theme and some were rewarded handsomely for doing so.

The Best Dressed racegoer won a whopping R7 000, the runner-up R5 000 and the second runner-up R3 000 as they shared the R15 000 prize pool for their fashion efforts.

“This has been one of the best Royal Racedays to date. From the fashion to the spectacular racing, and all topped off with the spirit of charity. We raised more funds for charity than expected this year and we would like to thank Mr Wittstock and the Monaco Sport of Kings group of businessmen who have been supporting us in making this special race day a success for over 10 years,” said Natalie Turner, CEO of the Racehorse Owners Association.

On the racing front Mrs Slack warmed up for the big one as Wilgerbosdrift’s Red Maple won the Listed World Sports Betting Spook Express Stakes.

The popular Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint was won by Silver Tudor for trainer Sean Tarry, with Richard Fourie victorious on a fruitful day for him up on the Highveld.

Darrell Hall, from the Monaco Sport of Kings group of businessmen, hailed the success of a fantastic Royal Raceday.

“We don’t have much horseracing in Monaco, but as a South African to come here and support horseracing and the charities and the underprivileged is fantastic. I loved the enthusiasm and camaraderie, the crowds, the horses, jockeys and meeting the most amazing people. We look forward to continuing our support from the Monaco Sport of Kings group,” said the group’s representative, Darrell Hall, who runs a yacht brokerage business in Monaco.

Race lovers all around the country got to watch the action live on Racing 240, DSTV Channel 240 as well as on SABC Sport.

Next up is the Championships Finale at Turffontein on Saturday 29 April, with seven major Graded races, to bring to a close what has been a rousing World Sports Betting Championships season.

Entry to the Turffontein Racecourse is will be free for Champions Day.