The winner of the main events, the 40km Thoroughbred (TB) and Endurance races will pocket the five-figure prize money each, the highest in local horse racing. The runners up will take home P15,000 while third and fourth positions will be rewarded with P10,000 and P5,000 prize money respectively. The winner of both disciplines will take home an enormous P50,000 prize. The one-day event has thus far attracted 21 participants in seven disciplines. Amongst the disciplines at the event is the show jumping with a P15,000 prize money and a unique dressage show. The category will be making its debut in the local equestrian sport event, as the best-dressed horse will take home the P10,000 prize.
There are also the donkey ride and cart races and each carries a P1,500 winning prize. The category is, however, reserved for Sefhophe residents only. Speaking to Mmegi Sport, the event director, Wiseman Ben said the event will help sensitise people in the central parts of the country on equestrian sport. The sport has traditionally been popular in Kgalagadi and Northwest parts of the country. “Now that we have set up a race course in Sefhophe, what we are doing next is that we are partnering other race organisers from Kgalagadi.
We are to meet a number of participants who have registered for our race at the weekend’s race in Motokwe. We have proposed to the horse racing industry, so that a day after the race, the participants can sell their horses to people interested. So our locals in Sefhophe will have access to the horses, so in that we will be developing the industry further in our area where it is not popular,” he said.
Ben further said in an effort to make the equestrian sport a mainstream sport in the country, the SHC organisers will host seminars to equip aspiring riders on the care of horses and racing techniques among other things. He added the event will allow betting as spectators are also in line to make earnings on the day. “Our stakes are indeed best in the country this year. If you look at the TB race, it is possible because horse racing is also betting. People are to make top returns from the betting, they will predict on what horse will take which positions, so there is a lot of money to make as the prize can go up to P33,000. So the betting is the main highlight of the race at Sefhophe race,” he said.
