Hennenman Memorial - Newmarket

The Hennenman Memorial fountain is still at Newmarket Racecourse, although the horse has been removed. We are currently in discussions with the developer to retain the Memorial fountain and incorporate this into the new shopping centre complex they have planned. They have already agreed on a "museum" for Newmarket in the complex with original signs, photos, etc.

We are fighting the cause to save this fountain and have the horse returned to the site as there are ashes scattered into this fountain and therefore it is a sacred burial. We would like to make contact with family members or friends or persons that were present at the unveiling of the Hennenman Memorial at Newmarket. I would highly appreciate if you could contact me with information, photos, details, articles, anything you might remember. We are doing this to honour the fallen and preserve a place of mourning for the families. I would highly appreciate your input.

Remembered are: jockeys Keith Basel, Lawrence Riley, Johannes "Rooies" Fourie, Warren Baillie, Bennie de Wet, Greg Holme, Douglas Roper, Danny Lombard, John McMurtry, Mark Nel, Michael Coetzee, Simon Rahilly and Gordon Sterley; officials Graham Kent, Dave Bullock, Henry Havergall, Ginger Masterton and Johannes van der Linden; owners Jacobus Viljoen and Neville Blignaut; trainer Hennie van Wyk, and air crew Jacob Kalt, Harold Whitehead and Jacqueline Henderson.

Congrats on this initiative i hope u are supported

All the best with this are you moving the horse back from the big T? Are you speaking to Clyde Basel?

Thank you for the replies. We are supported not only by the community but also the developer. We are planning on having the horse returned to the memorial fountain at Newmarket. The big idea is to have the fountain safe-guarded until construction and then to ensure the memorial is brought back to its original state (100%). This is the original spot of the horse and therefore it belongs there as it forms part of the fountain. We keep a close eye on the memorial fountain to monitor damages (besides the weeds and theft of the plaque there isn't alot of damages). Will definately keep you updated. Will get in touch with Clyde and see what we can come up with as this is a very emotional issue to all the families involved.

i thought this memorial was moved lock stock and barrel to the big t? if it was left behind at new market it is the disgarce

Flash Harry - unfortunately the bad news is that only the horse was removed and not the memorial fountain where the ashes are actually scattered in. We check on this fountain regularly to save it.

this should get move to the museum in the tba? i no think it get the respect it deserve in the shopping center. this surprise me a lot because clyde loose his brother in the disaster

We have considered the move to the TBA museum, but because ashes are scattered into the fountain, it is now a sacred burial site and therefore won't be viable to move it. Therefore, we request it be safeguarded and incorporated into the new shopping centre. To some of the families, the fountain is the valuable part of the memorial as it bears their loved ones' ashes. We are trying to get the entire memorial to what it was in the position it was originally erected for the victims of the fatal aircrash. I really appreciate your ideas and input and welcome any more.

Would be good if it could be moved to a racing center

I appreciate your input and idea. We could consider moving the horse statue to like the TBA museum with a plaque commemorating the fallen but as far as the fountain goes it will have to stay in the exact spot is it and have been all along due to it being a sacred burial site. This being said we can only do this if we can get in touch with family members of the victims for their statements, comments or requests as we are putting their interests first in our decisions. We need to act on this as demolition isn't far off for what is left of Newmarket. Any other ideas, comments and suggestions are more than welcome as we need the input.

Hi, do you perhaps have any idea how I can get in touch with Clyde Basel? His input and thoughts would be just what we need as he is directly related.