First Horse i backed

The first winner I backed was a horse called Everton at Clairwood over 2400m.

Hopefully Chook doesn't read this, he won't stop ragging me.

Frodo wrote: First 'winner' that springs to mind, Ding Dong winning the July (I think) - I was at school and for some reason took a liking to James Maree (listed in the papers those days a C Maree) - thought he would win with every horse he sat on :ohmy:

Frodo James was a great rider, do you perhaps remember his ride on Two Cities when he got up to win The Bull Brand International ? (James won the Met in '67 on Ding Dong) pic attached

Remember Two Cities well sure it was trained by Meyer Sheftz. Had an unbelievable turn of foot. That run was spectacular.

Pirhobeta wrote:

Titch wrote: Mettle trained by Tony Furness and ridden by Vic Curtis

Great memory Titch...I used to like Vic Curtis because he invariably rode the number 1 horse...only later I realised it was because of his weight...by the same token...in those days...you could play the jackpot and PA...and take number 1 in each race...because of the race figure...

Peri Peri and a pick up ride on Mazarin are two of his wins that spring to mind

MissT wrote: Remember Two Cities well sure it was trained by Meyer Sheftz. Had an unbelievable turn of foot. That run was spectacular.

Correct for owner Len Oates, was mentioned twice in the race once when turning for home last and again when getting up in the last stride to beat (I think) Bahadur

.....not too sure now....was early 70's.....I remember my mother asking me to pick from the news paper a horse ....because she was invited to the race course.....she said she would put my pocket money on it ....I picked a horse called Prof Hewmo in a minor feature no 6..... I think....trained by a very young James Goodman....my Mom said he was a hansom dapper chap.....she came home with over a R100 and put it in my Unitied Building society savings account.....this horse won plenty races but this win must have been as a baby....because I think it predated my 1973 July bet on Yataghan.....

Titch wrote:

Frodo wrote: First 'winner' that springs to mind, Ding Dong winning the July (I think) - I was at school and for some reason took a liking to James Maree (listed in the papers those days a C Maree) - thought he would win with every horse he sat on :ohmy:

Frodo James was a great rider, do you perhaps remember his ride on Two Cities when he got up to win The Bull Brand International ? (James won the Met in '67 on Ding Dong) pic attached

Thanks Titch, I was only 7 in '67, so probably got confused between the Met and the July :huh: Never really followed KZN racing those days (some would say not much have changed ), so Two Cities is not a name that I'm familiar with; did James not also win a major race (Republican ?) on Court Day ?

Muhtiman wrote: .....not too sure now....was early 70's.....I remember my mother asking me to pick from the news paper a horse ....because she was invited to the race course.....she said she would put my pocket money on it ....I picked a horse called Prof Hewmo in a minor feature no 6..... I think....trained by a very young James Goodman....my Mom said he was a hansom dapper chap.....she came home with over a R100 and put it in my Unitied Building society savings account.....this horse won plenty races but this win must have been as a baby....because I think it predated my 1973 July bet on Yataghan.....

Do you still have the R100

Frodo wrote:
Thanks Titch, I was only 7 in '67, so probably got confused between the Met and the July :huh: Never really followed KZN racing those days (some would say not much have changed ), so Two Cities is not a name that I'm familiar with; did James not also win a major race (Republican ?) on Court Day ?

He won the July in 1970 on Court Day, I had my case money on Naval Escort (Not sighted)

Titch wrote:

Frodo wrote:
Thanks Titch, I was only 7 in '67, so probably got confused between the Met and the July :huh: Never really followed KZN racing those days (some would say not much have changed ), so Two Cities is not a name that I'm familiar with; did James not also win a major race (Republican ?) on Court Day ?

He won the July in 1970 on Court Day, I had my case money on Naval Escort (Not sighted)

Clearly well before my time but legend has it that magaret court won the ladies wimbledon on centre court the same day that court day won the july and centre court ran third ...anyone recall that ?

I recall that Margaret Court was a top woman tennis player - not sure if it was in the same period though; some names in that July picture .... was Home Guard not one of those horses that had winning streak of 9 in a row, or something like that - trained by Mr Henry Eatwell I think

pirates wrote:

Titch wrote:

Frodo wrote:
Thanks Titch, I was only 7 in '67, so probably got confused between the Met and the July :huh: Never really followed KZN racing those days (some would say not much have changed ), so Two Cities is not a name that I'm familiar with; did James not also win a major race (Republican ?) on Court Day ?

He won the July in 1970 on Court Day, I had my case money on Naval Escort (Not sighted)

Clearly well before my time but legend has it that magaret court won the ladies wimbledon on centre court the same day that court day won the july and centre court ran third ...anyone recall that ?

pirates I remember it well.... . Court Day was owned by Mickey Livanos , a massive punter. I think its his Son who still races to-day(?). Legend has it that Mickey was so confident of a win that he organized a plane to leave Jan Smuts airport (now Tambo) for all his friends to fly to Durban. When the all clear was posted they all flew to Durban and had an all night party at the Edward Hotel... :ohmy: . I knew a lawyer who backed it heavily as well, as she said she spends all day in court. She was also a very big owner and I suspect got the correct info at the time. :huh:

Margaret Court was the top womens tennis player at the time, who won 24 grand slam single titles. I think this record still stands to-day.