Old traditional horse racing rivals reversed fortunes in the main contest of the Harry Gwala Summer Cup Traditional Horse Racing Festival in Emakhuzeni near Underberg on Saturday, 27 November.
The event which is also referred to as the southern chapter of the traditional horse-riding competition, went off successfully despite the morning inclement weather compounded by the thick fog over the racetrack, which has become a recognisable feature of this late-summer contest. Local fashion designers also upped their craft, showcasing their latest fashion trends in line with the growth of the event. The champion horse of the Dundee July race, Troublemaker from Amajuba District, was outwitted by hometown old-time adversary, Nxakanxaka, for the top spot. Traditional horse racing’s most famous contestant Sgwebo Sentambo, from the uThukela District, demonstrated a slow return to winning days, coming third. This was a major achievement as the horse disappointingly did not make it to the podium in the Dundee July.
Meanwhile, another race highlight was the ladies’ race which was won by Inkinga, followed by Qhathinzipho and Imfene Emhlophe who came third. The annual traditional horse racing event was making a welcome return for 2021 after an absence in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and hard lockdowns. MEC Hlengiwe Mavimbela welcomed the hosting of the event. “We are happy that our events are slowly returning following a very stressful period that our province and country are recovering from due to the Covid-19 outbreak. This event has impacted positively the people of Emakhuzeni and surrounding areas who have been starved of such action. Sport is contributing to uplifting the mood of the people, providing economic growth and opportunities for young people to participate,” said MEC Mavimbela.
The newly-elected Harry Gwala District Municipality Mayor, Zamo Nxumalo, said the Harry Gwala Summer Cup is a huge boost to the local economy and tourism in the area. “People in this area love and enjoy horse racing. What I can mention is that from Wednesday people from different areas including Eastern Cape, Dundee and others arrived here and are accommodated in the area. They brought their horses and food was provided for them. This means the locals will get some financial incentives and boost the tourism sector in this area,” said Mayor Nxumalo. The Summer Cup is another flagship event by the Department of Sport and Recreation in KwaZulu-Natal, which is executed in partnership with the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality (NDZ), Harry Gwala District Municipality as well as the Traditional Horse Racing and Breeding Association.
Other important stakeholders include KZN Gaming and Betting Board, National Horse Racing Authority, Coastal Horse Care Unit as well as other government departments. Inkosi Bhekizani Dlamini of the Emakhuzeni expressed gratitude to the government for the manner in which the event has grown over its 11-year history. He highlighted its positive impact in alleviating economic hardships in the village by providing financial relief not only to the participants but to the local vendors and service providers as well.
