HISTORY OF SCOTTSVILLE RACECOURSE

Scottsville Racecourse is situated in Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, which lies 80kms north of Durban. The company that controls racing at Scottsville is Gold Circle.

The track is tight and has a circumference of 2300m, a run-in of 550m and a straight course of 1200m. It also has a separate starting chute for races run over 1800m. Scottsville is one of the more challenging tracks around the country with a steep climb for the horses approaching the final 500m. There is also an inside course for races around the bend. For races run over sprint distances there is a downhill section for the first 400m before hitting the incline towards the end, making it a true test for all horses. The ability for horses to race from off the pace is a major advantage at the track, but also if you are too far back, you will find yourself in trouble.

There is very little in terms of advantage with regard to the barrier draw at the track, although when there has been rain outside draws are favourable down the straight.

Scottsville is unique in being the only course in Africa with a casino on the premises. The Golden Horse Casino provides plenty of entertainment after the races and will accommodate you if you’ve had a little too much to drink. Rockafellas is a very smart restaurant looking over the finish that you can attend and enjoy a brilliant 3-course meal and enjoy the racing.

Scottsville has a knack of providing a big upset. The term “horses for courses” applies here, as there are specialists who run much better at Scottsville than anywhere else, while others completely fail to handle the undulating straight.

On the last Saturday in May the track stages its festival of speed, which is by far the biggest day at the track with the headliner being the Group 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint. There are three other Group 1 races - the Allan Robertson Fillies Sprint for two-year-old fillies, the Gold Medallion for two-year-olds and the SA Fillies Sprint. All the races are run over 1200m.

Some of the famous horses to have run and won at Scottsville are Musir, Sledgehammer and the famous Model Man and more recently JJ The Jet Plane, who won the Golden Horse Casino sprint in 2008 and then, after a stint in Dubai and Britain, came back to South Africa to win it again in 2010.

Race Preview

Scottsville, 11.09.2019, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R105.000, 7:00PM

Race Summary: Wide open race with some having decent form and others having trialed well. Follow the betting moves very closely. ODE is a well bred Oratorio filly that showed potential in her trial. PRINCESS PLATINUM is a Dynasty filly also showing lots of speed. Both try the track. MYSTIC DREAMER, KATIE'S TREASURE, ASTUTE VISION and DUNE DANCE have shown enough. Good quartet.

Scottsville, 11.09.2019, Race 2, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R105.000, 7:30PM

Race Summary: AUGUST RED and DUKE OF YORK both showed talent in their respective trials. AUGUST RED is a strongly priced What A Winter that should relish the straight sprint. DUKE OF YORK has since run and run well at this venue so has that advantage. WE LIGHT THE FIRE has bags of experience-could get away. INTERSTATE and MURPHY'S STATION can show more.

Scottsville, 11.09.2019, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R105.000, 8:00PM

Race Summary: BROOKLYN came on in his second learning experience and race debut. He is going about it the right way but has drawn wide on his turf debut. LIGHTNING PARCADOR was right there throughout in his trial and is bred for this and more. He can only improve but he too hasn't drawn well. DUTCH ALLEY had excuses last time. TWICE GOLDEN and SWAGGER JAGGER can get into the money.

Scottsville, 11.09.2019, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R70.000, 8:30PM

Race Summary: CALL ME TONIGHT should have every chance on current form but needs to show on the turf at Scottsville. She could improve on her record here in this field. KILVINGTON is ready to win after having run seconds the last twice. Has a wide draw now. WELAKAPELA is a youngster that improved last time and could relish the trip but has drawn worst. SUCH A RUSH has been flying up. Open.

Scottsville, 11.09.2019, Race 5, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R130.000, 9:00PM

Race Summary: GOLIATH HERON has run two nice races out of his last three and needed the run in the other. He has the ability to win good events and this could be the start. Stable mate SAND AND SEA is a past Grade 1 winner here and has also run well in the West Cape. This could be a bit short though. ISCA was most unlucky last and could get his way here. ON THAT BOULEVARD has a say.

Scottsville, 11.09.2019, Race 6, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R70.000, 9:35PM

Race Summary: Another tough race. SPRING BREEZE looked dangerous against the boys here last time. She can improve on that and go on to win this one. STARLIGHT has been doing well over the minimum trip and should go even better back over the 1200 meter trip. ANGEL BOUQUET has improved with each race before rest. She may have matured and improved and has a 4kg claim.

Scottsville, 11.09.2019, Race 7, Gallops, 1750m, Turf, R88.000, 10:10PM

Race Summary: DANCING FEATHER impressed last time and could be on the up. If she can bring the poly form to turf against her elders she will be hard to beat. SILVER PRANCER caught the eye in her last race. It was after rest and she can improve further. ARIZONA SUNSET ran a nice race here recently and rates a big danger. More can get into it.

Scottsville, 11.09.2019, Race 8, Gallops, 1750m, Turf, R105.000, 10:40PM

Race Summary: MIGHTY SMART ran a cracker here last time and the horse that beat him has run very well since. He looks to be going about things the right way and can score. WILLIAM HENLEY tries the track. He has run well in this province and in the Highveld and would be deserving. ICE BARON could be anything this trip. FIRE ISLAND and MANA SANTANA have claims.

Races to be simulcasted are as follows:
Race 1 at 7:00pm
Race 2 at 7:30pm
Race 3 at 8:00pm
Race 4 at 8:30pm
Race 5 at 9:00pm
Race 6 at 9:35pm
Race 7 at 10:10pm
Race 8 at 10:40pm

Starter(South Africa)