Johannesburg’s most meaningful and special race day, the R800 000 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile, takes place at Turffontein Racecourse this Saturday 29 October and the true winners will be the 16 charity beneficiaries of the race.
Each of the 16 runners competing in the Grade 2 race over 1600m on the Standside track at Turffontein on Saturday were paired at today’s official draw with a charity, who will each receive a payout based on where their horse finishes in the race.
As part of its sponsorship of this prestigious race, global steel manufacturer Allied Steelrode On A Mission have made R500,000 available to be shared by the 16 deserving Johannesburg charities.
This will range all the way from R200,000 for the charity whose horse wins the Charity Mile main race and a minimum of no less than R20,000 for the charity whose horse finishes in last position.
Each charity was present at the official draw today and a representative from that charity was allowed to draw for one of the runners in the race.
Speaking on behalf of sponsors Allied Steelrode, its CEO Arun Chadha said that as a company they have always been involved in supporting charity initiatives.
“What better way for us to do it than with a passion we have, which is horseracing. Good luck to all the charities, they are all going to be winners some way or another. So, let’s hope we can carry this Charity Mile on and maybe have more races and more charities involved in the future,” said Chadha.
“We are excited as 4Racing to see Allied Steelrode On A Mission back for the next running of the Charity Mile. It is fantastic to see the event returning to its charity tradition and to see Arun Chadha and Warne Rippon throwing their might behind the event, especially in terms of supporting the charities. We are looking forward to a wonderful day and the charities are all excited about their horse’s chances,” said 4Racing Chief Operating Officer, Colin Gordon.
Horses from the Mike de Kock yard dominate the race as he will saddle four runners which include Grade 1 Daily News 2000 winner Safe Passage and Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes champion MK’s Pride, who will be having the first run for his stable.
Also in the field is last year’s winner Bingwa, who has drawn in pole position and has Gavin Lerena in the irons.
Another special element of the event this year will be the Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene Starling Stakes Grade 3 being run on Saturday on the race card at Turffontein, with Princess Charlene of Monaco making a personal charitable contribution on the day.
“In the spirit of the race day and the Princess’s passion for charities, the Racehorse Owners Association is proud to announce that together with HSH Princess Charlene, donations of R50 000 each will be made to the following two charities; The Earth Centre and The United Cerebral Palsy Association of SA,” said Natalie Turner, Chief Executive at the Racehorse Owners Association.
The final field and charities for the R800,000 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 October:
1 – 10 ASTRIX (J J van Vuuren) R Simons 61.5 Little Rose Centre
2 – 2 MK’S PRIDE (M F De Kock) M Yeni 60.0 SARDA Centre
3 – 4 SAFE PASSAGE (M F De Kock) G van Niekerk 59.5 San Michele Home
4 – 19 PUERTO MANZANO (J J van Vuuren) K de Melo 59.0 Joburg Child Welfare
5 – 1 BINGWA (J J van Vuuren) G Lerena 58.0 Epworth Children’s Home
6 – 9 RED SAXON (J A Soma) S Khumalo 56.5 Door Of Hope
7 – 8 HOEDSPRUIT (J S Snaith) R Fourie 56.0 The Hamlet School
8 – 15 PYROMANIAC (S G Tarry) C Habib 53.5 TAG Foundation
9 – 11 HOMELY GIRL (J J van Vuuren) M V’Rensburg 52.5 Highveld Horsecare Unit
10 – 14 FOREVER MINE (M F De Kock) J P v’d Merwe 52.0 Angel Baby Sanctuary
11 – 12 AFTER THE RAIN (G van Zyl Jnr) D De Gouveia 52.0 St Francis Care Centre
12 – 3 HUMDINGER (M F De Kock) R Munger 52.0 Soweto Equestrian Centre
13 – 18 IRISH TRACTOR (B Crawford) K Matsunyane 52.0 Cotlands
14 – 5 WILLOW EXPRESS (S G Tarry) J Mariba 52.0 Thusanani Children’s Foundation
15 – 7 LITIGATION (S G Tarry) C Maujean 52.0 Tembisa Child Welfare
16 – 6 INDLAMU (S G Tarry) K A Brewer 52.0 Ekukhanyeni Childhood Development
Reserve Runners
17 – 17 CORNISH POMODORO (S G Tarry) Reserve 1 52.5
18 – 16 VANDERBILT (R Klaasen) Reserve 2 52.0
19 – 13 EXPRESSFROMTHEUS (W C Marwing) Reserve 3 52.0
Same Trainer: (1,4,5,9) (2,3,10,12) (8,14,15,16,17)
Caption details: Representatives from all 16 beneficiary charities participated in the official draw for the Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile at Turffontein today.
Picture: JC Photos / 4Racing