11 Apr 2022

Horse owners in Maun  and its environs are preparing to battle it out in the upcoming Mascom Derby billed for Easter Holidays at Shashe tracks.

They revealed in an interview that they expect a bigger and improved competition following a two-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

They argued that they had invested resources and efforts preparing for the event, hence they expect the competition to be better than the 2019 one.

Horse owners noted that they had long called for improvement of the race track and roads as well as the debushing of space surrounding the track field and fencing of the track, and hoped that organisers had an opportunity to attend to such issues.

Mekgwa Moalosi pointed out that they had long requested organisers to debush the field track and grade it to create more space so that spectators could see racing horses from all angles.

He cited that in the last race in 2019, they experienced unfortunate incidents where some horses sustained injuries because of limited space. “We believe this time organisers have addressed our concerns and we are looking forward to a glamorous, accidents free event. 

We have also invested a lot into the preparations with the hope to see some changes and gain more out of the race,” he added.

Moalosi, who participated in the Mascom derby since inception in 2007 and the only Motswana who brought a thoroughbred to the competition, said horse racing was an interesting sport and that it took patience, skill and intensive training to win such competitions. 

This time he is bringing four horses to participate in the 800m, 1 300m, 1 600m and 2 000m races and is optimistic that he will conquer all races, considering efforts he invested in preparations.

In 2019, he participated with two horses and the Tswana breed scooped position three in 800m race while the Thoroughbred failed to finish the 1 000m race as it bumped into another horse and broke a leg. Gopolang Gobonatsela also concurred that they were hoping to see some changes at the race track, more so that the event attracted participants and spectators locally and internationally.

He said they had long wanted the space surrounding the race track to be cleared so that spectators could enjoy the race from the start to the finishing line, adding that people’s intereat in horse racing has increased significantly, hence organisers should ensure the race track was up to standard.

“There is nothing more exciting than watching horses on the race track from all angles until they reach the finishing line”. 

In terms of preparations, Gabonatsela said he was ready, adding that he was bringing two horses to partake in 800m and 1 200m categories. 

He noted that he had recently participated in some horse races at Ghanzi and Gogomoga in the outskirts of Maun, where his horses scooped position one. 

Since the races, he stated that he had been keeping the horses in stables to keep them fit.

He concurred that taking care of horses was costly as they had to train and feed them. 

Othata Masedi also vowed to win the Mascom derby, adding that Maun horses had not been performing up to the expectations in the previous races.

“This time we are ready to fight and win majority of the races. 

Our horses have been underper forming in the previous races and this time around we are promising to give spectators a fun-filled event,” he added.

Meanwhile, a member of the local organising team, Tshepo Tshotlako reiterated that everything was on track, citing debushing of the farm to create more space surrounding the track so that spectators could see racing horses from all angles.

He also announced that eight horse owners from Maun had shown interest to battle it out in the race while other horses would come from as far as Kareng, Sehithwa, Ghanzi, Charleshill and other areas. A total of 120 horses are expected to participate in the two categories of Tswana and Thoroughbred and all the racers will be competing for the total price money of P500 000. Ends