Cornell Collar Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a condition not uncommon in racehorses and causes upper airway obstruction and poor performance. It occurs when the soft palate (the rear roof of the mouth) moves up and over the airway and is similar to sleep apnoea (snoring) in people, where the palate billows…
Coldhardcash showing his mettle
Coldhardcash was an expensive yearling purchase who showed top potential on the home gallops early in his career. However, he developed a lot of problems as a young horse including breathing problems and as a result did not run up to early expectations. That said, Duncan has got to the bottom of the problem with…
Duncan ‘Aces’ them
The headline in the Sporting Post read “Ashburton Ace turns the corner” rang true at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. After a couple of years of trials and tribulations, the stable hit form with a treble. One of the allures of horse racing is buying a relatively cheap horse whose performance outdoes their purchase price but…
Ashburton Ace is turning the corner
The trainers lounge was like a morgue. Lips were hanging on the ground, the faces were glum and the vibe was in stark contrast to the laughter and banter emanating from the jockey room. Maybe jockeys have less stress than trainers, generally. But veteran Ashburton trainer Duncan Howells suggests its high time to make racing…
Flamingo could be flying again
Phumelela Gaming and Leisure is delighted to announce that it is in negotiation with Gold Circle and other interested stakeholders to extend racing at Flamingo Park Racecourse in Kimberley beyond December this year. Phumelela announced recently that it intended to cease holding race meetings at Flamingo Park after the 9 December fixture there, but potentially…
Flamingo has wings clipped
Flamingo Park Racecourse will stage its last meeting on Monday 9 December 2019. The decision is based purely on commercial factors, explained Phumelela Racing Executive Patrick Davis on Thursday. A financial analysis conducted on Kimberley Racing in isolation from the other racecourses, indicated it was losing around R23.5 million a year. It has the lowest…
All The Way Up finds top gear
Duncan has been around racehorses his entire life and there is no more astute reader of form or a race. He was fairly bullish of the chances of All The Way Up in the third race at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, his only runner on the day, and he has a good working relationship with Muzi…
Changes on the way
A public announcement notice on a significant stakeholder meeting on the South African horseracing industry was published on Thursday. On July 22, a meeting was held with various industry players and some significant stakeholders in the horseracing industry. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss, the challenges facing the industry, as well as the…
Muzi sets the record straight
In the light of the recent media attention following the post-race interview after my win on Coldhardcash for Duncan Howells at Greyville on 31 July, I wish to set the record straight and clarify the sentiment I was trying to express. I have been riding for 14 years. During this period, I have experienced a…
All hugs for Wildy In Love
Jockeys are not only there to win races but it is also incumbent on them to provide feedback to trainers after riding work and after a race. Nooresh Juglal has mountains of experience and after riding work for Duncan on the filly Wildly In Love suggested that he fits a tongue-tie to prevent her from…