Shortly after 2 o’clock on the afternoon of 5th July, 1958 a horse called Tower Bridge galloped past the winning post of this great race course to win a juvenile sprint race.
There was nothing very special about the horse. . . .and the race was a routine event. But Tower Bridge earned a minor niche in Zimbabwean sporting history as it was the first horse to win a race at Borrowdale Park.
The following year in August 1959 the Owners and Trainers Association wrote to the Stewards of the Mashonaland Turf Club suggesting the introduction of sponsored races, and whilst this concept was flourishing in England, there were no sponsored races in Southern Africa.
At that time a horse named My King was running in then Rhodesia and had being carrying all before him. In 1960 he had won 7 of his 10 starts impressively, but nobody knew how good he was because the regulations of the Jockey Club of South Africa prohibited imported horses from racing in South Africa. But there was nothing to stop a South African trained horse competing at Borrowdale Park.
To give the race international status, entries from Kenya were also invited. As a result two Kenyan runners were nominated whilst from South Africa came a nomination from owner Howard Ginsberg for the 8 year old horse named Riza, who was already the winner of 21 races and being a twice winner of the Johannesburg Merchants Handicap and the Durban Stewards Cup.
The presence of Riza frightened away other entrants from South Africa, with one telegraphic reply saying . . .
“Unable to participate in invitation race as have no animal which can compete with Riza weight for age basis”.
In February 1960, the then Rhodesian Breweries offered to sponsor the race, for a stake of £2,100.00. Thus on Easter Monday, 18th April, 1960, the Castle Tankard . . . the continent’s oldest sponsored Grade 1 horse race . . . was born under its first name The Castle Brewery Invitation Stakes.
A field of seven runners lined up, and the result fully bore out the South African opinion of Riza, who beat local horse My King by 4 ¾ lengths.
The Castle Tankard, as the race is now known, has undergone changes over the years…..but it remains the most coveted race to win in the Zimbabwe calendar.
Many famous racing names have been associated with the Tankard over the years….. trainer Jackie Booth trained two Tankard winners, Ralph Halkett won three Tankards, Roy Magner who trained both Strike It Rich in 1980 and The Toff in1981, Sharon Paterson who won three Tankards, trainer Freddie Maisch trained three winners, The Muscutt family as both jockeys and trainers, Tommy Ruck from Bulawayo who raided Borrowdale Park with success and won the Tankard in 1988 and
89………..and jockeys Robert Moore, Sherman Brown and Dewi Williams who all have had a hat trick of wins. Trainer Kirk Swanson is the only trainer to win four consecutive Tankards during the period 2005 to 2008.
With national sporting events being in lock down during 2020 and 2021 the Tankard returned to the racing calendar in 2022 with Thomas Mason training the winner, True Beauty.
Saturday 11th May this year will witness the running of the 2024 Castle Tankard being the most prestigious and sought-after title by horse owners, trainers and jockeys in Zimbabwe…. whilst also commanding the interest and participation of those from in the region. 14 entries have been submitted for this year’s race including last years winner, Ideal View from the Debbie Swanson yard.
Today we are here to record the final acceptances and extend to Delta Beverages the thanks and gratitude of the Board of Stewards, MTC members, owners and trainers for their continuing sponsorship and support of the Tankard on it’s 62nd running.
Special thanks are due to Lucky Nkunzane, Head of Lagers, and as always Kundayi Mawema, and Irimayi Muzorewa and your whole team. Thank you for your unfailing support and generosity.
Let’s move on to the acceptances . . . and may the best horse win.
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