The expected influx of Stellenbosch students at the St Patrick’s Day meeting at Durbanville on Saturday failed to materialise because the university put the mockers on the promotional project.

According to a Racing It’s A Rush press release it did so as a result of the “Students’ Representative Council being concerned that students will be influenced with the gambling aspect of our sport.”

Fortunately for racing such a puritanical attitude (if it existed at all in those days) failed to deter the likes of Mike Bass, Charles Faull, Andrew Harrison, Liesl King and – dare I say it – Markus Jooste who in his own way proved to be the biggest gambler of all.

Despite the snub Kenilworth Racing is determined to try again after getting the SRC on side. “The racing and betting industries are huge employers in this country and we want the students to hear about the broad spectrum of professionally qualified people that are needed,” said Donna Bernhardi who had arranged to take various groups on tour throughout the afternoon.

Significantly the SRC viewpoint was in marked contrast to that of the students when Luella Robinson visited the university earlier to distribute some 500 leaflets. Mrs Robinson, who came up with the original idea and did much of the groundwork, said that the general reaction was “Sounds like a great day-out. We’ll be there.”

By Michael Clower