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Mike Moon

The first gold diggers were resourceful big-time gamblers

Beholding the vista, one can't help but reflect on the origins of this strange city, on its days as a tent camp of desperadoes in the 1886 gold rush. Horse racing was a big part of the place from its very beginning.

The Sansui Summer Cup, to be run at the Big T tomorrow, dates from those earliest times.

The first gold diggers arrived in June 1886, and in six months built a thriving town, set up three newspapers and held a race meeting. They were resourceful, big-time gamblers, risking everything in a wild, dangerous place in fevered hopes of making a killing.

With horses abounding, racing and betting was inevitable. The first meeting was in December 1886, on a track near present-day Joubert Park.

What historians reckon to be the first running of tomorrow's big race took place in June 1887. The Johannesburg Handicap, worth £250 (R3000), was won by a five-year-old called Second. The same event was staged again in the summer, this time won by outsider Haco. An early tote was available to crowds of 3000-plus and "lotteries" on the races were available all over town.

The Johannesburg Handicap became the Summer Handicap, a "Big 3" contest along with the July and Met. In the 1970s, it was the Holiday Inns, then the Sun International, then other sponsors' names, and eventually a much-diminished event run in April.

Happily, the "Summer" has been restored to a place of prestige on the racing calendar - and, remarkably in these times, has secured a new sponsor to racing in electronics brand Sansui.

The recently improved marketing efforts of racing operator Phumelela will ensure a good turn-out tomorrow to see a new name etched below those of past Summer greats, like Java and Elevation.

This year there'll be lots of live contemporary music, with DJ Jazzy D - thoroughbred owner and racing nut - given rein for a sound extravaganza. Just don't frighten the horses.

And the venue's new floodlights will be switched on for the last few evening races - illuminating the truth that there's always something new in old Jo'burg.

The Cup itself has its strongest field in years. Hot favourite is Oracy, a Kiwi-bred four-year-old from the yard of champion trainer Charles Laird which is unbeaten in six outings.

The rational person cannot oppose this colt to win - but, being gamblers and old-style Joburg dreamers, we will inevitably look for something at longer odds to land us a bonanza.

Apart from the big race, there are several other features on the 12-race card, including another historic and storied race in The Dingaans. (Now there's a name to conjure with.)

SELECTIONS:

Summer Cup - 2 Oracy, 8 Captain Scott, 5 Senor Versace, 9 Magical

Dingaans - 3 Galileo's Galaxy, 1 Exhilaration, 13 Nyakatho, 2 Bulsara