The newly laid Durbanville track will be given a searching test when racing resumes at the country course tomorrow. There are races from 1000m to the 2400m Settlers Trophy so every aspect of the newly laid turf will be tested.

All who took part in a series of trial gallops earlier this month were full of praise for the new surface but it was decided to delay a return to the track for a further fortnight to ensure that the racing surface was in tip-top shape.

That said, it won’t make finding winners any easier as punters are faced with a tricky card, no less the Settlers Trophy.

Durbanville race track

Although it is still early days, Justin Snaith is well ahead on the national trainer’s log as far as the number of winners goes and he has set his sights on a second national trainer’s championship. Snaith has three runners in the line-up, best of which may be One Direction, the mount of Richard Fourie. The Silvano gelding has some excellent form to his credit and did not contest Champions Season during the winter, rather taking his chances in his home town. With a string of second placings to his credit it was it was probably a worthwhile exercise but he really came into his own when stretched to 2400m last time out. He made all the running under Fourie and never looked like losing.

He faces a tougher task this time around but appears to have found his optimum trip and can follow up.

Our Emperor was a late starter to his career but has come into his own at recent outings, shedding his maiden and following up with a cracking victory in his first start in handicap company. He has a handy weight and he should handle the extra ground.

The mare Forbidden Duel has her first outing for Glen Kotzen after a consistent career under Duncan Howells in KZN. With few races over ground for fillies, she most often found herself up against males. She finds herself in a similar predicament again tomorrow but she does have a light weight and definitely stays the trip.

Snaith appears to have another good chance of adding to this season’s CV with Overshadow in the Play Soccer handicap where he again has three runners in contention. Bernard Fayd’Herbe does duty in the saddle and the five-year-old has his third run after a break and looks primed for this event after finishing a close-up third to Catkin last time out.

Snaith has a second arrow in his quiver with Star Chestnut who does not know how to run a bad race. It has been over a year since his last win and although the handicappers have been reluctant to drop his merit rating by any significant margin in a hurry he has come down a further kilo since his last race and should be competitive off his new mark.

By Andrew Harrison

The two headliners for the nine race meeting on the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow are both Novice Handicaps where there is the hard task of separating classy young three-year-olds with high merit ratings from toughened lowly merit rated older horses.

In the first of these events over 1200m Wellspring took eleven runs to win his Maiden Plate, but he faced some good sorts like So Var and Snow Boarding and finished close to them. He is the selection as he has been accorded a reasonable merit rating after his maiden win and this is a suitable course and distance. He has a fair draw and has had a couple of runs this season so should be race fit. Flying Free proved his class in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. He was bumped at the top of the straight in that race which caused him to lose his good position but he then lived up to his name by running on strongly for a 1,35 length fourth.

Sean Tarry

However, he has not raced since and has been accorded a merit rating of 96, meaning he has to carry 62,5kg and give Wellspring 9,5kg. He has won easily over course and distance before and is drawn in pole, so his class could still pull him through, but history does show that young three-year-olds with merit ratings this high do battle in early season handicaps against older horses, no matter how good they are destined to become. Cedrus Libani is an older horse who has won well over the course and distance before and he makes most appeal of the rest although he will have to bounce back to best after a disappointing run over course and distance last time, where the jockey did not persevere.

In the second of the Novice Handicaps over 1600m the three-year-olds are sided with. The Sean Tarry-trained Yamoto made a sparkling debut when showing pace under the hands over 1160m and then kicking clear when challenged. This Dynasty colt looks full of class and from running style and pedigree he will relish the step up to 1600m. He is drawn two and Anthony Delpech is aboard. His stablemate Aurora Australis also won impressively on debut, over 1400m, but has not raced since that race in March and has a tricky draw here. The older horse who makes most appeal is Boling Point as he has plenty of ability, but appears to have a few problems. From a plum draw over a suitable trip he could surprise running fresh.

The best bet could be Diva Faustina in race three over 1450m. She is an effective front-running to handy sort and from a good draw can get it right if ridden more conservatively than she was the last time she attempted this sort of trip. On that occasion she opened up a big lead and tired late, whereas she stayed on well in her only subsequent event when held up off the pace over 1600m.

The value bet is awarded to Noceur in the last race. She represents the very much in form Alec Laird yard and won easily when stepped up to 2000m first time out the maidens. She has always struck as a solid horse with ability and as one who would improve as she got older, so she can follow up despite being accorded a maximum eight point raise.

In the first race over 1200m the first-timer Silver Maple will be of much interest as he is a full-brother to the dual Guineas winner Janoobi and jumps from pole position. If he has the same amount of pace and resolve as his courageous brother he will be hard to beat, although Over Easy and Combat Muster could give some cheek.

Another Alec Laird-trained horse who could win is Captain Chips in the seventh. He runs over an ideal 1450m course and distance and is well drawn, so as one who has become ultra consistent he could prove hard to peg back. Edisson, unlucky last time over 1800m, could appreciate the step back to his winning distance and looks the main danger along with Walker, who has plenty of ability and returns from a layoff with Delpech up from a good draw over an ideal trip.

By David Thiselton

Dennis Drier has hit the ground running this season with last Sunday’s five winners at Scottsville taking his winning tally to 15 for the season at a 19% winning strike rate. Only Justin Snaith is ahead of him in the winner’s column with 21.

Dennis Drier

After an absence of nearly two months while the pull-up area was extended by 100m, Friday night racing on the Greyville poly track returns this evening and Drier can start where he left off – with another winner.

The gelding Taranaki, after catching the eye on debut, was well fancied to win his next start over the Scottsville 1200m where he started favourite. However, he was caught flat-footed over the final 200 m and did well to finish in the money behind debutant Cumulus that gave Nathan Kotzen the first winner of his career as a fully licensed trainer.

Given that run, it is not surprising that Taranaki has been stepped up to 1600m and just to make sure the gelding’s mind stays on the job, he races in blinkers for the first time.

Drier has a chance of an early double as Al’s Bells will start among the fancied runners for the second, a fillies and mares maiden over 1600m. Al’s Bells made her debut on the poly track and then turned in two useful efforts on the Scottsville turf, the last over 1400m where she found Girl In Gold a touch too smart.

Drier has also stepped her up in trip from a good draw and with Mauritzfontein retained rider and reigning champion jockey Anthony Delpech in the irons, she has a lot going for her.

In opposition, Delpech will also know exactly what his is up against in Roy’s Riviera after piloting Frank Robinson’s Australian-bred filly into a close-up third behind Colour Your Dreams. She has no stamina doubts and has also drawn well but in an ironic twist, Drier’s stable jockey, Sean Veale, will be aboard Roy’s Riviera.

Dean Kannemeyer

The third has a tricky look about it with Dean Kannemeyer back in action with Lady Lisha and Miss Milanna. Most of the Kannemeyer runners are returning from a break after their compulsory African Horse Sickness vaccinations so one needs to be a little cautious in this regard.

Miss Milanna, ridden by Delpech, made the better debut but Delpech has switched to Lady Lisha which may be a story in its self. Song Of Mitu and Just One More have the best current form so it may prove prudent to keep a close eye on the betting.

What A Moon is another Kannemeyer runner that is likely to start near the top of the boards in the fourth after two promising efforts on the poly. However, he is another back from a break and with Drier in such mustard form and Captain Moss, much improved after gelding, having his second start after a lengthy break, one needs to be cautious.

Captains Moll takes on males in the Durban View Restaurant Handicap but is overdue her second win. James Goodman’s yard has come to hand of late and although the filly takes on a competitive field she was a close-up second last time out and looks good enough to have the measure of the likes of Kali’s Champ, Keep Your Light On and Rock Master.

By Andrew Harrison

Barrier trials – a burr under the saddle of many – is about to become a reality in KwaZulu-Natal. Sanctioned by racing operator Gold Circle, the trials are likely to start as soon as the first week of November this year.  The trials will be held at both Greyville and Scottsville, but mainly on the Greyville poly track, prior to the start of race meetings.

Paul Lafferty, Chairman of the KZN Trainers Association and a Gold Circle board director, was instrumental in seeing it through. “This has been my pet project. We need transparency in racing. We need to get punters to trust us.”

“We have tried getting first timer comments published but although the majority of trainers do not had a problem giving out info, there are the few that are unwilling to co-operate.”

Paul Lafferty

“We had an AGM yesterday (Tuesday) and barrier trials were approved by Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac. It was also unanimously supported by the trainers.”

“I think it’s a very good idea. I just hope that it can be carried out effectively,” said KZN Champion trainer Duncan Howells.

The trials will be held in six-horse heats over 1000m on the racetracks proper (at weight-for-age in case of mixed ages), with full control from stipendiary stewards, and with official race videos produced for every trial. All unraced horses from outside of the province but destined to make their debuts in KZN will also be subject to the trials in their racing silks before they can compete in a race.

Trial runners are expected to be fully punched out under hands-and-heels. All trial results with run-ons and times will be made available so that punters can have access to all the information they require. Barrier trials will also apply to horses that have been off the track for three months or more.

“There are many advantages to barrier trials and the most important of all is that it will go a long way to restoring public confidence in racing,” said Lafferty. “There is a perception that racing is crooked. Certain trainers refuse to talk about their unraced runners and when they win, punters believe they were placed at a disadvantage, that wool was pulled over their eyes or that vital info was withheld on purpose.”

“Perception is reality. We want to eliminate the perception of unfairness so that the people who wager money on races can be assured that they are on an equal footing, they have all the necessary information at hand before they put their cash down.”

“There are trainers who withhold information on their runners to plan so-called ‘betting coups’. This is tantamount to insider trading. It’s illegal on the stock exchange so why should it be allowed in horseracing? I said to them yesterday, ‘How many coups have any of you actually pulled off? I don’t see any helicopters parked at your stables. Forget the betting coups, those days are over. We need new owners in the game!

An added advantage is that young horses will be given experience such as going into a float and experiencing a race on a raceday. It is also an opportunity for trainers to have their horses pitted against other trainer’s horses, something not allowed under current National Horse Racing rules.

Lafferty conceded that there would be teething problems. “There will be incidents where actual race results won’t reflect the results of the trials, but the trials will establish form patterns for stables which punters will be able to follow with reliable results. They will be able to see which stables bring their horses to hand faster or slower compared to others, and so on.  The main issue, however, remains the aspect of public confidence. The betting public wishes to see that the operator is doing everything it can to help them win!”

By Andrew Harrison

Barrier trials will soon be a reality in KZN racing and all minor races in KZN will have stakes increases from November 1 this year.

The barrier trials will be welcomed by punters and will also provide an exciting platform from which racing enthusiasts can become racehorse owners.

The stakes increases will provide an incentive for potential owners.

Paul Lafferty

At the KZN Trainers AGM held on Tuesday there was unanimous agreement by the trainers to go ahead with the barrier trials initiative.

For all unraced horses or horses returning from long layoffs barrier trial will be compulsory. Such horses will otherwise not be allowed to line up in a race in KZN.

The barrier trials will be staged about half-an-hour before the first race or after the last race on the Polytrack at Greyville.

The weights the horses carry will be dictated by weight for age parameters and the distance of the trials will be 1000m. The horses will jump from the starting stalls. The stipendiary stewards will be in control of the trials and the horses must be extended but whips will not be necessary.

There will be full coverage of each trial and an official video will be made available.

Paul Lafferty, the Chairman of the KZN Trainers Association, was excited by this “breakthrough for transparency”, which himself and Gold Circle’s Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins had been advocating for some time.

Lafferty believes barrier trials will have a major impact on “consumer confidence”, or in other words the confidence of owners and punters to invest in the sport.

He spoke of the dwindling confidence of people to venture into ownership and believed this was related to transparency.

The barrier trials would now offer potential owners the chance to view a horse for themselves, either live or on video.

This will be of benefit for trainers who still have shares available in a horse.

What is particularly exciting for potential owners in this regard is that the trials will be carried out under race day conditions.

This could open a whole new perspective to the sport as there are many enthusiasts who have an eye for a horse’s racing style, but this skill has hitherto been of little benefit to them.

Lafferty also spoke of the additional benefits the trials would have for both trainers and current owners of horses, “It will provide an opportunity to show the horse the course and teach them to float (transport) and introduce them to the race pens.”

Lafferty pointed out trainers were often not a hundred percent sure of how good an unraced horse was, or how ready it was, until they had seen them running in a race.

He also spoke of the need from both an owner and punter perspective to eliminate the practice of “insider trading.”

The other important factor is that as the trials will be conducted on race day they will be of no extra cost to the industry.

“We are in discussion with the NHA to implement Barrier Trials at Greyville and are hopeful to start this initiative in December”, said Raf Sheik, Gold Circle’s Racing Executive. “Once finalised the operational details and conditions will be published.”

By David Thiselton

Five times South African champion trainer Geoff Woodruff will likely be attempting a national record in this year’s Sansui Summer Cup, to be held on November 25.

Racing records are poorly kept in SA and in some other racing countries too and there is usually uncertainty surrounding them.

Geoff Woodruff

However, it was believed Woodruff became the second trainer in SA history to win a major race four years in a row last year when landing the Summer Cup with Master Sabina.

Therefore, he will be attempting to become the first trainer to win a major South African race five years in succession.

Fred Murray was believed to be the first to achieve four-in-a-row when training the Durban July winner every year from 1910 to 1913.

The three races in South Africa traditionally considered to be the “majors” are the Vodacom Durban July, the Sun Met and the Sansui Summer Cup.

If it is extended to include the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, which has risen rapidly in prestige in recent times and is considered South Africa’s most important weight for age event, then Mike Bass can be included alongside Murray and Woodruff. The great Bass-trained Pocket Power won the Queen’s Plate four times in succession from 2007 to 2010.

This year Master Sabina will also be attempting to emulate Java (1956-1958) and Elevation (1972-1974) by winning the Summer Cup three times in succession.

However, Master Sabina joined the Justin Snaith yard for the SA Champions Season and is currently with Highveld trainer Joe Soma.

Woodruff still has twelve Summer Cup entries and he said, “You never quite know who your best for the Summer Cup are going to be and some of them won’t qualify. You only narrow it down in the last fortnight.”

However, he did mention two horses, Deo Juvente and Pagoda. Deo Juvente was runner up in 2015 and this year won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over the same course and distance, although his merit rating was raised as a result to 115. Pagoda was an easy winner of the Listed Derby Trial over the course and distance and runner up in the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m and he is only merit rated 99.

Woodruff said, “Deo Juvente is a big strong horse, but will have a big weight to carry, Pagoda loves the track and trip and will be a lively runner with a low weight.”

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford’s Undercover Agent, well fancied for the Betting World Handicap at Kenilworth yesterday, stamped himself as a smart Cape Guineas candidate come the season with an emphatic victory – but so too, third-placed Hemmingway.

Undercover Agent hunted pacemaker Western Storm in the 1400m event but once Corne Orffer extracted him from the traffic the race was over in a matter of strides.

Aldo Domeyer

Aldo Domeyer aboard Hemmingway, tracked Undercover Agent throughout, but the son of Silvano took a little more time to find his stride and did well to snatch third behind a fast-finishing Triple Explosion. The Guineas trip looks ideal.

Crawford will have been well pleased with this showing after earlier upsetting the applecart with outsider One For One putting the skids under two well fancied debutantes November Storm and Sark. However, there was not much in it at the finish and both expensive yearling buys will be short-priced at their next starts.

Later Tap O’ Noth scribbled on his clean sheet when going down to the older Our Mate Art and Cot Campbell in the Play Soccer Graduation Plate, but as in the case of Hemmingway, there was cause for optimism. The year older Candice Bass-Robinson’s Australian-bred Our Mate Art had an exceptional record in last season’s Winter Series without winning but yesterday showed his versatility and stamping himself as a serious Cape Summer Season and Champions Season contender with a clinical demolition of two highly rated sophomores.

Effective from six furlongs and further, Our Mate Art was recording only his second victory in 11 starts but had earned in all but one. Cot Campbell finished his race off nicely in second and in spite of two prior victories, the penny still has to drop with Tap O’ Noth.

Mike Robinson’s Good Time Gal made short work of her opposition in the Interbet.co.za Pinnacle stakes in a superb performance under Bernard Fayd’Herbe. Apprentice Aksay Balloo was determined to make a race of it as he bulleted Mike Stewart’s It Is What It Is to the front off her light weight but Goodtime Gal, not far off the best of her generation that included Bela-Bela and Nightingale, proved far too classy and reeled in the pacemaker with ease.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein has an eight race meeting on the Standside track tomorrow and although Loyal Lieutenant is returning from a layoff in the second leg of the Pick 6 he looks to be a banker.

Muzi Yeni

Loyal Lieutenant is a long-striding three-year-old colt by Captain Al and started off by running a ten length third to the outstanding Mustaqeem over 1160m. He then bumped another useful horse in Warrior’s Rest over 1400m and finished a 3,25 length second. The winner franked the form by finishing third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m. Loyal Lieutenant then finished a decent 2,75 length third to Wonderous Climber and was only 0,25 lengths behind Alssakhra in that race. Loyal Lieutenant was staying on strongly after being hampered slightly and Alssakhra has since franked the form. Loyal Lieutenant jumps from draw three under Muzi Yeni and should have too much class for this field despite having not run since May 1. The rest of the field look to be moderate and Mister Lister, who has been seen to stay on well over 1700m before, is chosen to run second.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m is trickier and looks to be a three-corned contest. Saheera caught the eye on debut over 1160m as she is a scopey sort who was outpaced and then stayed on well. She looks likely to relish the step up in trip, although of concern is the respiratory noise she was reported to have made. Magical Charm was stepped up to this trip at Greyville on Champions Cup day and put in a fine effort from the front, only being run out of it late. The form of that race does not look bad and Gavin Lerena has kept the ride and she jumps from another good draw. Summer Sun has not raced since June 29 when catching the eye as a solid daughter of Ideal World who plugged on bravely against Tundra Taita, who is well regarded. The progeny of Ideal World improve continuously and she looks to have plenty of scope so would not be a surprise winner, although she does have a tricky draw of eight. For wider The Gardner Girl comes off a good run at Scottsville over this trip and is drawn well. Wings Of Charne was staying on over 1400m last time and has a fair draw, but the form of that race looks a touch suspect.

The third leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m also looks to be a three-cornered contest. Lebanese Tractor moved up with authority last time and stayed on to win over the course and distance so she can overcome a four point raise in the merit ratings from a similar draw. However, Emily Jay proved she has a touch of class last time when running the promising Guns And Roses to 0,25 lengths over 1800m here last time. She would prefer further, but could be quite fresh having not run for 67 days and has a plum draw of three so is sure to be running on well, as she did in that last race. However, one concern is that she made a respiratory noise. Goodytwoshoes has been rising up the merit ratings and claimed a hattrick in June and July. She was disappointing last time, but had a tricky draw and was slowly away. She doesn’t have the easiest draw here, but can do better than last time.

Danish Cross

In the next race Phillydelphia has developed into an imposing sort and never looked in danger of defeat last time over this 1000m course and distance when showing high cruising spoeed.  She won comfortably and can overcome the maximum eight point raise judging from that performance. However, Winter Watch looks to have class and can be a threat despite having to run off an 88 merit rating as a young three-year-old. There is not much between Winter Watch and Cal’s Crush on their meeting in the maidens.

In the next race over 1160m a three-year-old running first time out the maidens off a merit rating of 85, Riding Shotgun, is selected and this is due to him being a scopey horse who has impressed in his last two starts and he faces an uninspiring bunch of older horses. In his penultimate start Riding Shotgun finished just 0,25 lengths behind Broadway Trip and the latter went on to win a million rand sales race at Scottsville. Last time out Riding Shotgun showed good cruising speed over 1000m and a fine turn of foot to win easing up by three. He should be too good here. Torra Del Oro did well after a rest and gelding last time and is the chief threat along with Dragoon, who has won three times over the course and distance.

The last race is the trickiest leg and punters should consider going wide. Queen At War is in good form and has the Standside draw, which has been favourable in recent meetings over this 1160m course and distance. Catwalk Tease beat Queen At War by a shorthead last time and they meet at the same weights. She has Strydom up now too, but she does not have as favourable a draw as Queen at War. Danish Cross, the hattrick seeking Prosperity and Gateway To Heaven make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton

Love Supreme was friendless in the market when making her debut last month, but Brett Crawford’s runner was up with the pace throughout and only just found one too good for her.

She is likely to start at much shorter odds at Kenilworth this afternoon although victory is unlikely to be a given.

She does step out over a trip that should prove more to her liking but she also has a tricky 15 draw to contend with not to mention two much more experienced contenders in Fours A Crowd and Ostinato. Ostinato is way overdue for her first win, having finished runner-up in her last three starts, the last over course and distance. All three outings were in soft ground and from a plum draw and Green Street Bloodstock principal Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the irons, the daughter of Judpot has a lot going for her.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe

Morne Winaar, after a relatively unproductive stint in KZN, is back in the Cape and former boss Joey Ramsden is giving him chances. Fours A Crowd was doing her best work late under Winaar over course and distance last time out and this being her third run after a break, she cannot be left out of any calculations.

Two smart colts in Hemmingway and Undercover Agent look likely Classic contenders come the Western Cape season and their connections should be a little wiser as to their prospects when they do battling in the Betting World Handicap. It is a lowly MR 64 handicap and the two have only recently shed their maidens but both were winners at second time of asking and must have impressed the handicappers having garnered hefty merit ratings of 82 and 81 respectively.

Hemmingway failed narrowly on debut for Andre Nel but made amends at his next start and should enjoy the step up in trip.

Undercover Agent was allowed to ‘run loose’ at his second start – 12-1 the SP – but did well to beat the fancied Rommel. Crawford’s runner has the better draw and the benefit of having been around the turn but there should not be much between the two.

The unbeaten Langerman winner Tap O’ North appears to have scared away much of the opposition in the Graduation Plate where he is set to face only six others. A little worrying is that there has been plenty of time between outings but Vaughan Marshall’s runner appears to have plenty of scope.

Obvious dangers are Kampala Campari, just recently gelded, and Our Mate Art, both also returning from lay-offs so the market could prove your best guide as to the wellbeing of this trio.

With the breeding sheds open in the next week or two, the Interbet Pinnacle Stakes could be a chance for the two at the top of the weights, Captain’s Flame and Goodtime Gal to add to their records. However, both are returning from breaks so relaxing in a paddock could still be some way off for the two mares. Captain’s Flame has the more accomplished record and possibly better suit to the sprint trip. Justin Snaith’s filly Red Light Girl returns from a lengthy break and this looks a likely warm-up for the looming Cape season. However, her last two wins have come over the distance and the fact that she gets weight from most of the opposition could see her start her season on a winning note.

– After a long break and an extensive revamp of the track, Durbanville opens its doors this Saturday.

By Andrew Harrison

English racing has lost one of its legendary figures with the death of Derby-winning trainer Geoff Wragg. He was 87.

Newmarket-based Wragg won the 1983 Derby with Teenoso in his first season after taking over the licence at Abington Place from his father Harry, whom he had assisted for the previous 28 years.

Two years before his retirement in 2008 Wragg was just a short head away from capturing a second Derby with 66-1 chance Dragon Dancer.

In between there were several Group 1 successes, including in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Teenoso and Pentire – who both ran in the famous Mollers Racing colours – as well as big-race victories around the world in a career that spanned 26 years.

Helen ‘Penny’ Chenery (Supplied)

Sir Michael Stoute paid tribute to his former colleague on Sunday, saying: “Geoff Wragg was a good man and a very good trainer. His record at Royal Ascot and the Chester May meeting was phenomenal.

“The way he continually produced his champions like Teenoso, Pentire and Marling was exemplary.

Also at the weekend, the American racing community mourned the death of Helen ‘Penny’ Chenery, owner of the legendary Secretariat.

According to US reports, she passed away on Saturday at her home in Colorado from complications after a stroke. She was 95.

Renowned as the ‘first lady’ of US racing, Chenery earned lasting fame for her role in the story of the Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown in 1973 with a series of breathtaking performances.

Trained by Lucien Laurin and ridden by Ron Turcotte, the giant chestnut known as ‘Big Red’ set a track record in the Kentucky Derby and a stakes record in the Preakness before an unforgettable 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes in world-record time that has gone down as one of the greatest performances of all-time.

According to the Daily Racing Form, Chenery’s “influence on the sport spanned decades and [her] standing inspired generations of women in racing”.

As well as becoming a well-known figure during Secretariat’s Triple Crown campaign, in which she became popular for sharing her equine superstar with the public, Chenery left her mark on the sport in a variety of roles.

Awarded the Eclipse Award of Merit in 2006, she was the first female president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, she helped found the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and was one of the first women elected to the American Jockey Club.

More than anything else, however, Chenery was an ambassador for the sport over several decades from the 1970s onwards.

– thoroughbrednews.com.au