18 Jul 2023

Gotlhophamang Alone’s Silver Sky led the pack in Thoroughbred 2 400m category to bag P30 000 grand prize during the Segwaragwara Horse Race event organised by Dikoloti Classics over the weekend.

High Way Star owned by Othata Masedi finished on second position and got P20 000, while Alone pocketed P15 000 through his horse, Brave Warrior in third place.  

Secretariat owned by Timon Kelebeng finished on fourth position and got P7 500 and Kabo Medupi’s horse Compressor settled for fifth position and won P1 000.

The second edition of the race, which attracted a number of participants and spectators, had 13 horse and eight dog race categories.

In Tswana breed 2 000m race, position one to five also won prize monies ranging from P6 000 to P1 000, while in other categories, only position one to three won money.

Dog race lovers also had the opportunity to watch a fierce battle made up of eight categories, where prize monies ranged from P3 100 to P1 000.

In all the eight categories, position one to three got prize monies.

In an interview, founder of the event, Mmathethe-Molapowabojang MP, who is also Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said the horse race stimulated the local economy and that it also promoted sports tourism. He said participants also benefitted from the prize monies and was hopeful that in the future,  the event would be of international standard and that locals would be able to compete in other countries.

Dr Dikoloti said he was happy with the tremendous growth of the event.

“I am very happy with the numbers of spectators and participants who came from all around the country,” he said.

He explained that the event had presented Batswana with an opportunity to make a living as they now have an understanding that dogs and horses could be used in sport to bring an income.

Dr Dikoloti appreciated efforts made by competitors, spectators, sponsors and other relevant stakeholders to grow the sport, noting that with continued support the event would grow to greater heights.

Dikoloti Classics committee member, Kgomotso Segwe, who is also chairperson of Botswana Horse Race Association Southern region said they were happy with the overall delivery of the event.

“This is the second edition and it is much better than the previous one.

I therefore assure the nation that next year, we would deliver a bigger and better event as we learn from each competition,” he said.

He said the horse race was the biggest in Botswana in terms of prize monies.

Botswana Greyhound Association chairperson, Andre Van Zyl said the event had drastically grown, adding that he was happy to see excited crowds as well as increased competitors from all corners of the country.

He explained that there were a good number of people who were living off their dogs by breeding and racing saying the event presented them an opportunity to exploit the value chain of the sub-sector. Ends