HENNENMAN MEMORIAL RACE DAY 2026

Johannesburg, South Africa — Every year 4Racing commemorates the Henneman Air Disaster of 12 April 1988 and the 24 lives lost when a United Airways flight from Bloemfontein, carrying a number of prominent members of the racing community, crashed into a field near the town of Hennenman.

The lives lost were:

Jockeys:Warren Bailie, Keith Basel, Michael Coetzee, Bennie de Wet, Johannes “Rooies” Fourie, Greg Holme, Danny Lombard, John McMurtry, Mark Nel, Simon Rahilly, Lawrence Riley, Douglas Roper and Gordon Sterley.
Officials: Dave Bullock, Henry Havergal, Graham Kent, Ginger Masterton and Johannes van der Linden
Owners: Neville Blignaut and Jacobus Viljoen
Trainer: Hennie van Wyk
Air Crew: Jacob Kalt, Harold Whitehead and Jacqueline Henderson.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Headlining the day’s race card is the Betway Mythical Flight Sprint (NBT), named for the Sean Tarry-trained sprint champion.

Mythical Flight was a chestnut colt by Jet Master out of the Harry Hotspur matron, Mythical Bird and foaled at The Alchemy Stud in Robertson in 2003. Led through the ring of the 2005 Equimark Vintage Sale, he was knocked down for R340,000 and would race in the interests of Chris van Niekerk and Markus Jooste.

Mythical Flight debuted over 1000m at Clairwood Park on 10 June 2006, storming home by an emphatic 4.25 lengths under Brett Smith. He would string together 7 straight wins, including the Gr3 Lebelo Sprint at Newmarket and the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship, culminating with a command performance in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein, where he led from start to finish to shatter Cataloochee’s record, stopping the clock in a new South African track record time of 54.96 seconds.

Narrowly pipped out of the Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint by Kildonan, Mythical Flight closed his 3yo campaign with a 0.9 length 3rd in the 2007 Gr1 Mercury Sprint and Equus Sprint Award honours.

At 4, he registered a second consecutive Lebelo Sprint win, was 2nd to O Caesour in the 2008 Cape Flying Championship and drew a blank in the 2008 Computaform Sprint before setting sail for abroad.

He was tried in the 2008 Gr1 Hong Kong Sprint, finishing just 2 lengths off Inspiration, then shipped to the UK for the 2009 Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York, but turned in lacklustre performances and returned to South Africa.

He managed a solid third to Noble Heir in the 2010 Computaform Sprint and earned a place cheque in a 1000m Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein, but never quite regained his earlier brilliance and was retired in early 2011. He enjoyed a long and happy retirement as a yearling nanny at Klawervlei Stud, passing away in 2023.

Explosive growth in the use of black market bookmakers means illegal operators now control nine per cent of Britain’s online betting market, according to a report published this week. The report by gambling intelligence platform Yield Sec found that illegal operators earned £379 million in the first half of 2025, with 531 black market sports betting and casino operators actively targeting British customers.That represents a more than tripling in market share since 2022, when just two per cent of betting revenues were attributed by Yield Sec to the black market.

From The Brink and Back Again – My ICU Odyssey

By Scotia

If you’re reading this, then I’ve made it – just about. Still not entirely sure how, but the fact I’m able to type this out (well, slowly, and with the occasional moan) is nothing short of miraculous.

A few weeks ago, I was cruising through life – a seasoned 74-year-old with a few hospital stints under the belt, but nothing to really write home about. Then along came The Virus – name still unknown – that decided to throw me into a 30-day, all-inclusive stay in ICU with some truly horrific extras: panic, tubes, nappies, and a heart machine soundtrack worthy of a Marvel villain.

A Hellish Start
It all kicked off innocently enough: legs turned to jelly, body shook like I was auditioning for Strictly Come Delirious, and off I went to Pretoria East High Care. I was burning up, shaking uncontrollably, and my body felt like it had checked out before I did. Several blood tests, failed stabs at diagnosis, and suddenly I’m in ICU, facing the very real prospect that I might not be making it to the wedding in the UK (sorry, family!).

The first weekend, I came frighteningly close twice to not making it. Then came three more near calls after that. Apparently, I don’t do things in half measures.

Humility, Machines, and Becoming a Baby Again
Here’s something they don’t put in the brochures: 30 days in ICU and you basically regress into a human baby. I’m talking full nappies, daily sponge baths, and an almost complete loss of dignity. Humiliation? Hectic. But necessary.

I had three straight days on a breathing mask – the kind that looks like something from a NASA documentary – and bounced between diarrhoea and constipation, which I can now confirm are both equally hellish in a hospital gown.

Machines beeped nonstop. Lights blinked. I often wondered whether I’d woken up in a casino or a spaceship. And when you're that deep in pain and panic, your mind goes somewhere else – somewhere dark, surreal, and disorientating.

But Then, the Angels
Despite all of it – the tubes, the terror, and the smell of hospital disinfectant – what kept me going were the people.

The nurses and doctors at Pretoria East are not just staff – they’re guardian angels in scrubs. They washed me, soothed me, dealt with my grumpy moments, and treated me with dignity when I felt I had none left.

And then there’s Sue, my wife, partner, and saint-in-residence. Watching her sit beside me, day after day, through tears and monitors and false alarms – it was equal parts heart-breaking and life-saving. If love could heal, I’d have walked out on day one.

To Everyone Who Reached Out – Thank You
To all the friends, family, and kind souls who messaged, prayed, called, or just thought of me – thank you. When your mind is 24/7 in a weird ICU purgatory, knowing you're not alone makes a bigger difference than you’ll ever know.

A New Perspective
I'm still in pain. Recovery isn’t fast, and I’m still trying to get my strength (and sense of humour) back. But I have a second shot – and I intend to take it.

Old age really isn’t for sissies. But if this whole journey’s taught me anything, it’s this: no matter how far gone you feel, hope, humour, and love are the strongest medicines of all.

Oh, and never underestimate the power of a clean nappy and a decent cup of tea.

🎶 My song of choice? Still The Who – My Generation.
“I hope I die before I get old…”
Well, I clearly missed that bit. But no regrets.




With love,
Scotia

Harmonising betting taxes “would be a nightmare for horseracing” and risk severely undermining a culturally and economically significant industry, MPs cautioned the government on Thursday.Labour and Conservative politicians added their weight to a call in the Racing Post this week by Dan Carden MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for racing and bloodstock, for the sport to receive greater government support, with the consequences of affordability checks and a lack of progress on levy reform already having a major impact.The Treasury launched a consultation last month on proposals to harmonise the duties levied on remote gambling which has caused huge alarm within the sport.General betting duty (GBD), which covers wagering on horseracing, is currently set at 15 per cent of gross profits, while remote gaming duty (RGD), which is levied on products such as online casino and bingo, is levied at 21 per cent.There are major concerns that harmonising the different taxes will result in GBD rising, prompting acting BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea to describe the proposals as “an existential risk for the future of racing”.

Morning all 
We have arrived safely in PE.

George and myself had time for a quick Chardonnay before the flight.

We got an Uber in seconds to take us to hotel, the driver was hilarious and had a dashboard of note and will try and post a picture. 
He never stopped talking about his new life after giving up drink and gambling 😢
In addition he took as to the wrong hotel 🏨 🤣

When we ended up in the correct accommodation it was over from a fantastic pub called Barney's. 
Weather conditions and food including live band was superb 👌 

We did consider the Casino but Mrs S has a tracking device on my ankle with one hell of a pulse, so an early night was on the cards after a brilliant build up to the big day 

If we use the same uber we look forward to a day at Arlington. 🤣

Good Punting 👍