the great racing dynasty of the south african lebanese community in horse racing

He has been on a rigorous 3 month course which saw him drop from 76kg's to 58,5 and is fit as a fiddle

That's great titch andrew is one of the tue characters of the game and it will only be good for racing to have him back

Hello my Lebanese freiends

Firstly I am not Lebanese and I never realised that the Leb population in RSA was only about 20000, I thought it was a lot more, especially in Benoni alone. If this figure is correct then the Lebanese have really made a great contribution to Racing in the RSA Racing and especially in Gauteng where I originally from.

I concur with the sentiments of all the names mentioned and their achievements. The Lebanese are truely passionate about this sport as are money of us non Lebanese, so lets unit to save this game we love so dearly. I would also like to add the Zackey and Zaki families to the list.

All the best to all the players in this game, whether Lebanese or not.

Hi West Cigar

I see that you are a new Clanner. Welcome but what took so long to join us. Thanks for mentioning the old times which bring back very fond memories to me.

You mention the horse Honey Chunck in the Robbie Sage stable. Many years ago I was associated with the Sage stable. Firstly with the late Bertie and then continued with his son Robbie untill he gave up training for awhile. I am no longer directly invoved but still punt on a very small scale.

Now those were the 'good old days'. On the occasions that I could attend the early morning gallops we owners would be made to feel most welcome and special. After the first string galloped we would gather in Bertie/Robbie's office for coffee and banter. I was a smoker and still am and I recall a gentleman that always had a cigar in his mouth, maybe that was ur uncle Joe, iI I recall correctly he was a BIG punter and in those days already. The Sage stable was deadly in those days and I had some decent punts at long odds as well. Even though I am not personaaly involved nowadays I still take note when money comes for a Robbie trained horse.

I want to share with you the ambiance that prevailed in the Sage stable in those days so please indulge me.

It was when Bertie was still traing and the first string had completed their gallops. It was a bitterly cold winters morning and we had all gathered in Bertie's office enjoying a hot cup of coffee. Besides Bertie, Robbie, the owners there were 3 Jocks including Raymond Rhodes, yes it was that long ago. Anyway Bertie chirped Raymond that after leaving the parade ring every Horse was either a filly or a mare. Of course the sprightly Raymond responded that this was a ridiculess statement. Bertie replied that as every Horse then had a C--t on them they had to be a female. Nobody took this personally and we all had a good laugh.

BTW Raymond gave me some very usefiull advice back in those days, which was if you back a horse then only put a max of 25% on a win and 75% on a place, better still put 100% on a place only. Through the years I must admit I have had a lot more places than wins so IMVHO this was sound advice.

Thanks for a great post fogwils, yes joe abraham was my great grandfather he had many horses with bertie sage one of his better ones was a horse called wee willy, the sage family are very good horseman and when they tell you to have a punt the horses usually arrive, thanks for the great stories good luck to you fogwills withh all your future investments in racing.

the geys may have the legacy, a dynasty you must be joking. i race for over 40 years, some of the best PUNTERS are lebs. one of the most fearless i dont know if you remember him, i wonder if he is still alive i no see him for years is DERRICK FLYNN. the people talk about zorro, he is the apprentice when i think of derrick even in the early 80's, derrick was punting hundreds of thousands. i remember a horse called BARLITE trained by i think tremaine thomas. it open 16/1 at turffontein, derrick back it to win millions and it arrive. i see with my own eyes him walking around handing out twenty rand notes to hundreds of punters. remember twenty rand was biggest note and in those days it was a lot of money for the maveros.

I know derrick flynn very well he was a master he was one of the first around to discover the gin strike and used to have guys in the parade ring with binoculars looking at the horses shoes, derrick was an astute form studier and loved the game and made a lot of money fronm it, derrick is still alive and well and his son christopher wants to go to the jockey academy, today derrick does not have a bet but still loves the game.

West cigar why does he not play anymore?

Ask him to tell us some of his punting stories,would be very cool

Well he stop gambling altogether because he felt he had enough of the game, things changed from those days, also when the man had a win he had a hundred okes asking him for a chop, think he just lost his passion for the sport and wanted to concentrate on his business, he was a punter by profession and think he wanted a change in lifestyle.

When I see him again I will ask him for some stories, thanks hibs

Great post guys. It's great hearing the old stories and the stories behind the stories.(tu)