Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Andre Kirsten passes on

POPULAR Vaal trainer Andre Kirsten died in a Klerksdorp hospital on Sunday night after a severe heart attack at the weekend.
Kirsten (52) was diagnosed with swine flu last week which brought him down with such a force that doctors in a Potchefstroom clinic, where he was first admitted, had to fight for his life on Friday.
They managed to break his fever and things were looking up, but the heart attack followed and he was transferred to a facility in Klerksdorp, where his situation deteriorated.
Kirsten’s good friend and fellow-trainer Wallace Tolmay said, “Andre had moved his entire yard to Bette Haze's old establishment near the Vaal recently and he was stressed about the move. He was physically and emotionally exhausted. He had the flu, on and off, for the last few weeks so we told him last Tuesday after the Kimberley meeting to have himself tested for swine flu. The test came back positive and on Wednesday he felt so bad he asked his wife to take him to hospital, where he fell deeply ill with a high fever.’’
Kirsten trained at the Vaal for roughly 15 years and had several top horses including Hidcote Ridge, dual Jubilee Handicap winner E-Fuel, CT Brand Handicap winning sprinter Pure Hokum and the stalwart Catmandu. Tributes and sympathies are pouring in for a quiet man who left his mark on the industry.
He was a progressive trainer, enjoyed raiding Durban’s tracks and the stable’s owners liked to have the occassional flutter. They included Dave Raper, Kenny Mansoor and Kiep van der Westhuizen. Kirsten will be sorely missed and leaves his wife Cecile.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later. - Racingweb

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