Off The Record
OFF THE RECORD #111
Jeffrey Syster: A Breakthrough Built The Hard Way Above: Kingsmead wins: “It was going to be easy after this, but it wasn’t!” (image: Candiese Lenferna) Jeffrey Syster’s first ride as an apprentice ended in…
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Steady Hands in Strong Yards Black horsemen are rising through the ranks In the major stable yards of Gauteng, several black grooms and handlers have moved beyond routine duties to positions of quiet authority.…
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OFF THE RECORD #109
Bold Runs, Birthdays And Big-Season Intent The Championships begin with colour and class Guineas Day at Turffontein ushered in the start of the 2026 The Championships on the Highveld. It unfolded with a blend…
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OFF THE RECORD #108
See It Again’s Second Chance At The GatesMalan du Toit And The Patient Art Of Rebuilding Trust Above: Malan du Toit with See It Again (image: supplied). Last Saturday, when Justin Snaith’s See It Again…
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OFF THE RECORD #107
Road To The CrownsA Century of History Behind South Africa’s Championship Paths Above: Horse Chestnut storms to victory at Turffontein (image: JC Photographics) With the 2026 Highveld Feature Season just a week away,…
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OFF THE RECORD #106
Legends of the Cape Town Met:Stories Through the Ages A race that has been run for 164 years is bound to become more than just a list of winners. The Cape Metropolitan Stakes, now…
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OFF THE RECORD #105
Andrew Fortune: A Comeback Measured in Kilograms and Grit Above: Andrew Fortune salutes on Gimme What I Want after the 2026 Cartier Sceptre Stakes (image: Chase Liebenberg) Andrew Fortune’s extraordinary career is well documented,…
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OFF THE RECORD #104
Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You!Bizarre Predictions for SA Racing in 2026 No crystal balls were consulted in the making of this forecast, only experience, institutional memory, and a healthy disregard for probability. Here…
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