Much like most countries around the world, horse racing is one of the leading sports in South Africa. The stories that are told by the equine animals mesmerises spectators throughout the years, but only a few of them go down as a legend in the sport.
The country has three classic races that shape the reputation of the horses, and these races are held in each of the principal cities. The Summer Cup is held in Johannesburg, where the winner receives R1.2 million. Meanwhile, Cape Town plays host to The J&B Met and The Durban July being competed, as said, in Durban; with the latter of the two having been a regular part of the racing calendar in the country since 1897.
However, to be spoken about within the legends of the sport, the SA Triple Crown and the SA Fillies Triple Crown are the two significant honours. So far, there have only been five horses that have attained that achievement.
Chestnut
This horse is largely considered as one of the best horses to ever grace the tracks in South Africa and comes from the line that includes Sadler’s Wells and Fort Wood. The Harry Oppenheimer bred horse was only able to race on ten occasions, but he more than made his mark on South African sport despite having such a short career.
He won nine of these races. How he won the South African Derby was astounding; as he held off the competition and won by ten lengths; an achievement that saw him crowned the horse of the year. The other significant race that he won while racing in South Africa was the Triple Crown before he was sent to the USA. When in the States he continued to blow away the opposition, winning the Grade III Broward Handicap, in Florida. However, injury signalled an early retirement for him, before he fatally died from a heart-failure in 2015.
Louis The King
Another winner of the illustrious South African Triple Crown, as the Geoff Wudruff trained horse claimed the title in 2014. Remarkably he was sent off at 14/1 in the Gauteng Guineas despite winning three of his four races. He made a mockery of this price as he won by 5 and a quarter lengths.
The bookmakers certainly learnt their lesson, and he was always placed among the favourites in the horse racing betting odds from that point on. Following his Guineas success, he went on to win the South African Classic and the Derby in his next two runs. Unfortunately, the magnitude of his efforts took their toll, and he won only once in his next eight races before retiring from racing. Even so, he will still go down as one of the greatest of all time.
Igugu
This 2011 Fillies Triple Crown Winner was set off for the Fillies Guineas at a remarkably low price of 7/5; however, these odds were justified as she won by four lengths. This win only encourages bookies