Women take centre stage at Royal Race Day

Danie Toerien

Women, of the human and equine species, will once again take centre stage at the Royal Race Day Saturday at Turffontein, with the headline event the R1,25-million Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m.

Interestingly, six of the 13 runners, including the two favourites, Princess Calla and Zarina, are trained by women.

For women spectators, there will again be a host of prizes on offer in the Best Dressed competition.

While the focus on the day will be on the women, a number of local charities will again be the biggest beneficiaries of the annual event.

“Once again I’m honoured to announce that we are supporting the Hamlet Foundation, the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Southern Africa as well as a new beneficiary called EARTH Centre,” said Natalie Turner, CEO of the Racehorse Owners Association.

“This organisation provides equine therapy to various disadvantaged communities around the country. We are very honoured to be part of them.

“I’d like to thank His Serene Highness Prince Albert, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene as well as the South African Sport of Kings Monaco Group. Their generous and loyal support has made this race a success year after year, and they continue to support us.

“It is through all our loyal supporters that we are able to show what racing can do, not only for the stakeholders involved, but also the communities in which we find ourselves,” said Turner.

Mike Wittstock, father of HSH Princess Charlene, has from the outset been an enthusiastic supporter of this event and remains committed to the Royal Race Day.

“This race is very dear to my heart and I’m very pleased to say that it’s definitely a ladies’ day,” said Wittstock.

“We are very privileged to have four lady trainers participating which I think is fantastic.

“This race, I feel, is a classic example as small as it is that setting your sights on one goal will be much better for racing than complaining about 40 other things. But that’s my personal opinion.”

Wittstock also announced that a magnum of champagne from his daughter’s wedding to Prince Albert will be on auction on Saturday to help raise further funds for the chosen beneficiaries.

The Hamlet Foundation, founded in 1954, hosts a school for 270 intellectually disabled children, a residential center for 54 intellectually disabled adults and a protective workshop for 200 intellectually disabled adult workers.

Their focus is on development and empowerment of the individual towards achieving their maximum potential, enabling them to lead as normal a life as possible. A support system is provided to siblings and parents and to the broader community.

EARTH Centre specialises in the field of Equine Facilitated Therapies. The Therapy Riding Programmes cater for people with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Autism, ADD/ADHD and the deaf.

They also provide Equine Facilitated Learning sessions for groups, individuals and corporate clients looking to enhance leadership skills or pursue personal growth and development goals.