After a vibrant and crowded start to the 2023/24 season, Ngong Racecourse hosts the second race this Sunday.
This is a chance for crowds to bask in the stunning weather in Nairobi and enjoy the first of the middle and long-distance running.
Once again, princely multitudes, adorned in the finest local and international haute couture converge for an exciting day of racing, music, and entertainment, that has become the pulse of Nairobi’s Sunday vibe.
Former champion jockey and longtime crowd favourite, James Muhindi, was euphoric about the turnaround of horse racing and the return of spectators in big numbers.
“The crowds are amazing! It makes racing more fun and as a jockey, nothing is better than winning in front of a big crowd. People are excited to see racing back and in love with horses again, and there are new owners who’ve come into racing because the crowds are back .”
Kenya’s finest Irish import into racing, trainer Ollie Gray, echoed similar sentiments as Muhindi.
“People are loving their racing. The general feeling is that people love being by the track, it’s where the atmosphere is. And then the racing finishes by 4 PM and the party keeps going. It’s fantastic.”
On the track, most trainers will be using this meet to start looking towards the classics and measure the form of their three-year-olds.
The first race, the 12:55 House Martin Handicap over 2060m should belong to Vuvuzela Umilio, with Welcome Breeze being the punters' favourite.
The second race, the Bob Dewar Maiden at 1:30 PM is a 1800m middle distance race with seven runners and is a little tricky to call, but Joanna is the most-liked.
The Al Borak Handicap at 2:05 PM is the fullest race of the day with eight runners, and Maria looks the strongest in form. However, the rest of the field all have wins or places, which should make for exciting viewing.
Daytime Girl, who looks in fine form and untroubled by anything around her is tipped to rule 1600m Montgomery Bowl at 2:40 PM.
The 2060m Ultra Sharp Trophy at 3:15 is between Coffee Break and Bampton. The final race, The Alfa Romeo Trophy, is a 1000m sprint with The Gambler pitted against High Legislation for laurels.
Nairobi’s finest and most popular pop-up market is at the races, featuring 254 Brewing, Geco Tribe, Maurizio’s, Fabio’s Pizza, and Lekker, as well as an assortment of other food and drink vendors making it an unmissable event.
