Durban July - Memorable Moments by Jimmy Lithgow

Jimmy Lithgow's Most Memorable Durban July Moments

After noticing an error in one of our facts on our Durban July Facts and Trivia post, we sent an email to Tellytrack presenter Jimmy Lithgow thanking him for spotting it out.  The error he had spotted was where we had said that Karl Neisus had got his first and only July winner in 1991 on board Spanish Gaillard. This of course was incorrect as the horse Karl had won on was Flaming Rock! Jimmy explains how he knew we were wrong, "I was at both of the July’s in question, when Flaming Rock won, and when Spanish Galliard won (1992). As a matter of fact, my son, Aidan, subsequently took over Spanish Galliard, when he retired, to train him up as a lead horse at Greyville." Jimmy went on to provide us with his best memories of the Durban July, providing great nostalgia for all racing lovers.


"My most memorable July? Wow!!"

23 Years Ago

It was probably in 1989, the year I started working as Marketing Manager for the Durban Turf Club. The heavens opened on the morning of that July and the race almost had to be postponed till the next week, but the Stewards decided to try and let the track dry out and stage the July as the first race of the day. Half way through the day, the Chairman, Hugh “Jerkie” Johnston, decided to undertake a walking tour of the main straight, to personally test the underfoot conditions. It was as soggy as hell and I can remember my rather zootie blue shoes, chosen to go with a hideous blue suit – very fashionable at the time – began to steadily disintegrate as we neared the finishing post.

Jimmy interviewing champion jockey Franki Dettori

The winner was a horse trained by Terrance Millard, a three-year-old grey called Right Prerogative, who was killed en route back to the Cape, at the end of the season, when a float containing Millard’s horses overturned somewhere in the Karoo. The great Olympic Duel was one of the few survivors, but quite a few really good horses were killed.

Another Near Casualty

Another near casualty that year was co-owner, Brian Silvester, who had had more than a few “toots” prior to the running of the July and who, in a moment of misguided exultation, decided to wrap Right Prerogative’s reins around his neck as he was leading the horse in with co-owner Lindy Taberer. Right Prerogative only had to get spook when the crowds applauded and he would have had his neck snapped. Fortunately, the horse behaved impeccably, but it was a hairy moment.

Flaming Rock

Another memory was of that 1991 July, when, Flaming Rock had just got up to defeat Al Mufti and Rakeen, the horse almost collapsed from exhaustion in the unsaddling ring and couldn’t even be led in. It was the first time in the history of the race that there wasn’t a victory canter, with the sash, after the race.

Shirley Pfeiffer, Flaming Rock’s owner, was one of the first women to be invited to the all-male Chairman’s Dinner, on the Monday after the race, and she turned up in an outfit closely resembling a gentleman’s tuxedo. She also had a few too many celebratory drinks that night and, at the end of the evening, came up with one of the most classic put-downs I have ever heard. The late Laurie Jaffee was waxing on, rather pompously, about how he had helped Shirley’s late brother, Stanley Methven, with finance, to set up Rainbow Chickens, the organisation which ultimately provided Shirley Pfeiffer with her fortune. Sensing that he was taking more than a fair amount of the credit due to him for her brother’s success, Shirley turned to Laurie and said, “Yes, Laurie, but you were always an old chicken f*c*#r!”. It shut him up on the spot!

2012 Durban July Verdict

As far as my bet is concerned, I think JACKSON will win, despite the weight and the draw, as he looks like Usain Bolt, against the best that a local high school can muster, when it comes to physical stature, but if there is to be an upset then I think that Sage Throne might provide it. Perhaps you might like to place R100 each/way on SAGE THRONE.

If one looks beyond Jackson this year, then anything can win. I’ve been viewing a lot of July footage in scripting four inserts I’m making and I think the class acts are Beach Beauty, a really good filly, with good finishing speed, who’s been very unlucky in some of her races (she should have won last year’s Garden Province and the Paddock Stakes, which was run at a very slow pace); Pierre Jourdan, who has been given three months in KZN, as a sort of holiday, and who has never been fitter or more relaxed; English Garden, who looks tremendous, right now, and was very impressive the way he cantered home in that Pinnacle Plate at Greyville (Robert Fay’dHerbe reckons he’s over his problems); Ilha Bela, who is looking smashing, but who is a rather frail filly, though she doesn’t lack for stamina or finishing speed; and possibly Gorongosa, who is workmanlike rather than flashy, but will be running on at the end.

All things being equal, Vettel can have no chance of reversing the form of the Daily News 2000, with Jackson, but he could still place.

Jackson is looking good, in my book, and the way he accelerated past Variety Show in the Cape Derby stamped him as the type of horse to win the July. He has a tremendous action and if he finds a bit of luck in the July and Teetan doesn’t let him get too far out of his ground, he could stroll home, the 57 kg notwithstanding. I think he’s a real superstar, based on the footage I’ve been watching, and could be another Mazarin (1971 winner).

Jimmy's each-way chance in this year's July - Sage Throne

Sage Throne had a period in the Wilderness after he lost the KZN Derby on an objection, and my worry is that the race will be too short for him. He was running on in the big race at Turffontein, but seemed to become slightly unbalanced when something got in his way. He was really motoring when he got up to grab second in the Lonsdale, but there were too many moderate horses close up to him, in a blanket finish, to inspire much confidence.

Nevertheless I think he might be improving sufficiently to fetch the fourth place, so I am going to ask you to give me the 34/10 offered for him to run in the first four.

Right now, my selection is :
1. Jackson
2. English Garden
3. Pierre Jourdan
4. Beach Beauty

Thanks
Jimmy

More Great Durban July Posts:
Durban July 15% Bonus at Hollywoodbets.net

Durban July Facts and Trivia

Durban July Most Memorable Moments

Durban July Final Field and Trainer Comments
Durban July A Bookmakers Perspective

Durban July Preview Party at Hollywood Park
Durban July Memories by Jimmy Lithgow

Durban July Tipping Competition with GoodfortheGame

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