Maurice Kambukwe
Mannes Hendricks, the newly-elected president of the Namibia Horse Racing Association (NHRA), yesterday revealed the association’s ambitious vision to host horse racing events throughout the country, with a particular focus on the northern regions.
Speaking in Windhoek yesterday at the launch of the MTC Winter Cup scheduled for Gobabis, Hendricks expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event, which marks the association’s sixth collaboration with MTC.
In an interview with this publication yesterday, Hendricks revealed that he assumed the presidency in March this year, succeeding Martinez de Waal. His term will come to an end in February 2025.
Hendricks passionately stated that his primary goal is to foster the development of horse racing in Namibia, aiming to engage individuals from every corner of the nation.
“Horse racing is a sport that is still in the early stages of development, and we are actively working to engage and involve everyone, particularly at the grassroots level. Our plans include the establishment of additional turf venues x the country, with a strong emphasis on ensuring widespread participation in all corners of our nation,” he said.
Turning his attention to the upcoming event, Hendricks highlighted that the competition will commence promptly at 10h00 this Saturday, anticipating a remarkable turnout.
He emphasised that the event will exclusively feature local horses, eagerly stating, “The horses are prepared, the jockeys are primed, and we anticipate an exhilarating and unforgettable contest on Saturday. We have engaged with all horse owners and their collective excitement promises to make this event truly remarkable. I firmly believe that this Saturday will be our most significant gathering yet, drawing an impressive number of spectators.”
The event will offer total prize money of N$200 000, attracting horse owners to compete across 17 races spanning various categories.
Fikameni Mathias, the communication practitioner at MTC, urged local horse racing enthusiasts to attend the event in large numbers, assuring them that all necessary preparations have been meticulously made to ensure its success.
“We call upon the communities and residents who share our passion for horse racing to join us in great numbers. With everything well-organised, we are confident that the event will be executed flawlessly over the weekend.”
- mkambukwe@nepc.com.na