Two new jockeys Marshall Bikausaru and Lovemore Haruzivi have joined the fray at Borrowdale race course, the home of Zimbabwean horse racing, increasing the number of jockeys battling for honours this season to 39.
By Michael Kariati
Bikausaru and Haruzivi are among the four apprentices including Norbert Takawira and Stallone Sawere who have taken to the course in a dangerous but highly rewarding field that for the past two years has been dominated by Quinton Riddle and Sherman Brown.
Mashonaland Turf Club spokesperson Bertina Gurajena said apart from the Borrowdale race course, the jockeys at the Zimbabwe Jockey Academy would also be offered the opportunity to race in South Africa where racing takes place on a regular basis. Racing at MTC comes after every two weeks.
The appearance of new jockeys at the Borrowdale race course offers competition as the same names Quinton Riddle, Sherman Brown, Lance Pagel, and Karl Zechner have been very dominant in the past years with the champion jockey title consecutively changing hands between Riddle and Brown.
Bikausaru and Haruzivi had a feel of the Borrowdale race course turf after Bikausaru rode though without victory in some races on the opening day of the Zimbabwe horse racing season on September 7.
Bikausaru rode in four races saddling Rocket Runner, Atso’s Girl, Felan and Stylish Runner while Haruzivi had a feel of Purple Turtle, and Veneficus, in two of the seven races which were carded for the day.
With the major races — the Castle Tankard, the OK Grand Challenge and the Republic Cup- — coming later in the season, it remains to be seen whether these apprentices will be offered the chance to ride in those highly competitive Grade One and Grade Two races.
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Last year, an apprentice, Donovan Dillon, rode Menacing in the Grade One Castle Tankard that attracted a strong field of 17 horses and won by the filly Equina which was ridden by Zechner.
The coming in of Bikausaru and Haruzivi also increases the number of black jockeys at Borrowdale race course. There is resistance from the community to take up horse riding as it is considered dangerous.
Some of the jockeys, though, like S’manga Khumalo, travel all the way from South Africa to compete at MTC. Khumalo, a regular at Borrowdale race course, last year won the Durban July, the biggest horse racing event in South Africa.
Riddle, the champion jockey after riding 30 winners, was placed second on 30 occasions and rode 28 horses that came in third place. He had 32 fourth placed horses for a 13%winning rate and 38%placing rate.
This is in comparison to Brown who had a 14%winning rate but fell out in the placings in which he recorded only 31%to come second in the jockeys standings.
With more jockeys at Borrowdale race course, the race for the champion jockey title this season is likely to be highly competitive.
Racing will continue at Borrowdale race course on September 21.
