SOUTH AFRICAN COURSES AND COURSE RECORDS

SOUTH AFRICAN horse racing is at present controlled by two racing bodies. In brief, Gold Circle and Phumelela are the two bodies that control South African racing in their respective centres. The courses below are split into these two regions.

 GOLD CIRCLE COURSES

REGION: KWA-ZULU NATAL

Clairwood Racecourse

A flat, left-handed track with a circumference of approximately 2500m with a run-in of 600m. A straight course of 1200m is used for all sprints and joins the round course at the 600m mark. Despite being quite flat, the 1200m course is a very testing one, especially when a south-westerly headwind is blowing. The 1450m start has replaced the 1400m distance due to the closeness to the first bend and the early scramble for position. The Clairwood 1400m has been the downfall of numerous horses racing there for the first time. The 1450m start now gives equal opportunity for all runners. For the rest, the Clairwood round course is very fair and over distances of 1600m and up the barrier draw is of little importance. Horses who race from off the pace usually have every chance, assuming it’s a true run race. The effect of the draw in sprint races can be unpredictable, but high numbers often hold an advantage when the going is soft or heavy.

Greyville Racecourse

A pear-shaped, right handed track with a circumference of about 2900m, Greyville has a run-in of 400m and no straight course for sprints. Horses racing handy frequently do well at Greyville and many a front runner has stolen a march on the opposition, especially when there is a strong south-westerly following wind. Horses who race from off the pace also do well at Greyville, but ability to quicken is essential in such cases. Inside draws are generally favoured over most distances up to 1900m, but more so than most over 1600m as the start is effected right on the top bend. The effect of a wide draw can be negated to some extent by the siting of the false rail, though, and horses making their run on the outside of the course often hold an advantage when the going is soft.

Scottsville Racecourse

A right-handed course with a circumference of 2300m and a separate starting chute for 1800m races, Scottsville has a run-in of 600m, all of it up a fairly steady incline. Despite that, however, horses racing handy have every chance of success. There is a 1200m straight course which joins the round course at the 600m mark. The Scottsville 1200m is a testingone and ability to see out the distance is essential in true-run races. With a downhill run to the about the 600m mark and a climb to the finish, 1200m races at Scottsville are usually run at a true pace from the start and horses who go too fast early almost invariably are found out by the climb to the finish. Horses racing from off the pace usually do well in sprints at this track. The effects of barrier draws in sprints is unpredictable, but high numbers are favoured when the going is soft. Barrier draws seem of little importance when racing over 1600m and upwards.

REGION: WESTERN CAPE

Kenilworth Racecourse

Kenilworth is a left handed track and is unique amongst South African racecourses in that it consists of three separate tracks. There is a “new” track with a circumference of 2800m and a run-in of about 600m which is used primarily in summer, and an “old” track with a circumference of 2700m and a run-in of about 450m which is normally used for winter racing. There is also a separate 1200m straight course which bisects the infield at a diagonal, the three courses only coming together in the pull-up area. The “new” course particularly is one ofthe fairest in South Africa and gives every horse a winning chance, but ability to race handy is of greater importance on the “old” course. The 1200m straight is the stiffest in the country, though. A climb for the first 200m and another rise over the final 200m make this a real test of ability to stay1200m and horses who go fast early on almost invariably get caught wanting at the finish. Horses who seem best over middle distances often do well in 1200m races at Kenilworth, especially when the winter going is soft or heavy. Low number draws are generally favoured in sprints, but fields tend to split into two distinct groups when the going is heavy and outside barriers then enjoy a slight advantage. Draws are of little importance around the turn,especially on the “new” course.

Durbanville Racecourse

A left-handed course with a circumference of about 2200m,Durbanville has a run-in of about 600m and no straight course. Durbanville’s excellent drainage makes it an ideal winter racing venue and that is when almost all meetings there take place. With the home straight on a downward slope until just before the finish and ability to at least race handy is important over almost any distance, but the track’s reputation in this regard can also lead to pacemakers going much too fast early on. Horses who race from off the pace need a good turn of acceleration to give of their best at this course. Low number draws are a marked advantage over almost any distance and Durbanville has a tendency to produce course “specialists.”

 PHUMELELA COURSES

REGION: EASTERN CAPE

Arlington Racecourse

A sharp, undulating right-handed course with a circumference of approximately 2000m and a run-in of 600m. There is a 1000m straight course which joins the round course at about the 600m mark. The sharp uneven nature of the course has made Arlington notorious as a fast track and there is almost always a fast pace from the jump, over virtually any distance. Horses racing from the front frequently prove hard to catch even when a strong headwind blows and long striding horses who run well off the pace usually find it difficult to win here. The 1000m straight course is mostly downhill and is ideal for free-running horses. Barrier draws are of little importance over most distances as there is a 400m stretch to the first turn even when racing over 1400m. Races between 1800m and 2000m start from a chute extending from the back straight and horses therefore enjoy a long straight to the first turn . Arlington enjoys excellent drainage and the going is good to firm almost all year round.

Fairview Racecourse

A right-handed course with a circumference of approximately 2700m and a run-in of 800m, Fairview has a straight course of 1200m which joins the round course at the 800m mark. The straight course (and therefore the run-in) is mostly downhill, which means that most races are run at a true pace. Horses who race from well off the pace have every chance to give of their best. High number draws hold a marked advantage in races run over the straight course, but barriers seem of little significance in races around the turn. Fairview tends to be a slow-draining course and the going frequently remains soft or heavy for some time after a wet spell.

REGION: GAUTENG (HIGHVELD)

Turffontein Racecourse

A right-handed track with a circumference of approximately 2600m, with a 1200m straight course joining the round course at about the 800m mark. Turffontein is widely considered to be one of the stiffest tracks in the country, because of a steady climb from about the 1200m to the final turn. Accordingly, horses racing from well off the pace usually hold every chance. The straight course is flat, though, and the Turffontein 1200m is probably one of the most undemanding in South Africa. The draw appears to be of little significance in sprints, but low barriers are favoured in races run over 1400m and 1600m.

REGION: FREE STATE

Vaal Turf Club Racecourse (Grass Track)

A right handed course with a circumference of about 2900m, the Vaal consists of two 1000m straights connected by fairly sharp bends. The run-in of 1000m is the longest in the country, and the Vaal also has South Africa’s only 1600m straight course. All races of up to a mile are run down the straight, which can be a real test both of a horse’s stamina and of a jockey’s judgement of pace. Generally, outside draws hold an advantage on the straight course, especially when the going is soft, but in the winter months the two extremes appear equally favourable and fields tend to split into two distinct groups on either side of the course. Draws are of little significance in races run around the turn. Despite the length of the run-in, horses racing handy or in front frequently do well at the Vaal.

 Vaal Turf Club Racecourse (SAND TRACK)

A right handed course with a 1000m straight course, with the 1000m start taking place at the top of the straight. Races over 1200m start in the middle of the bend, those over 1400m right at the entrance of the bend. Starting stalls for races over 1400m are positioned at an angle, to compensate for wide draws - as a result those drawn on the very inside could be cut off unless they jump very quickly. The sand track appears to put a premium on stamina, although making up ground from behind seems more difficult than it is on grass. Horses racing handy or with the pace may have an advantage. The sand track at the Vaal was inaugurated in August 2001. It is still too early to determine whether the track is biased towards the inside or outside, and whether there is an advantage to the draw.

NOTE: THIS IS A NEW TRACK AND COURSE RECORDS ARE IN THEIR INFANCY.