29 Apr 2022

Champion horses, which graced Mascom Derby are lined up for yet another thrilling encounter at Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural Festival this weekend.

Speaking in an interview on Friday (today) at TT Horse Race stable in Khawa, Botswana Horse Riders Association president , Mr Tymon Kelebeng appreciated the move by government to include the horse race component in the festival, saying it would improve livelihoods. “We are at Khawa and it will be our first race at the event. We have horses which will be competing from all over the country, from as far as Kokotsha, Motokwe, Ghanzi, Takatokwane, Dutlwe, Jwaneng, Khawa. Tswana Bred competition category has been reserved for Khawa dwellers,” he said.

Mr Kelebeng promised a scintillating show for the reason that all horses which shall participate at the event and their jockeys had a wealth of experience.

“Some of the recent Mascom Derby champions who raced in Maun are all here,” he said.

The event, he said, would contribute tremendously towards developing horse racing sport in Botswana. He emphasised that keeping horses specifically for racing was expensive, “The thoroughbreds are stabled and that carries costs. Therefore more competitions add value to the stable owners, the jockeys, managers and all that is related to the sport. This is an opportunity that creates employment opportunities more especially when the jockeys win,” he said.

Mr Kelebeng highlighted that horse racing could help to diversify the economy. Majority of the jockeys were within the youth age bracket who needed employment hence the need support for the sport. ‘When we have such races it helps a lot,” he added. 

For his part, Kokotsha Community Horse Racing Association chairperson Mr Kabo Medupe promised a thrilling horse race. He said that the high caliber thoroughbred horses and the reigning Mascom Horse Race champions, ‘Top Notch’ and ‘Talk Talk’ were ready for the big races.

“This development is very important, especially after a long break of races due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic,” he said . ENDS