Equestrian bridegrooms are finally in the spotlight, after centuries of being the forgotten, downtrodden of the royal sport.
No one demonstrated this change of heart, in South Africa’s reborn racing industry, better than Lucky Bubushi who collected a total winnings of R100,000 after the Royal Aussie fee won the R7.5 million WSB Gold Rush at the Cape Town Met on Saturday in Kenilworth. .
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World Sports Betting, the sponsor of course the richest race in the country – even if it is a subscription race – provides R50,000 to the winning groom, while the winning owner gives another R50,000 (so 10% of the winning share) .
On the winner’s podium, Bubushi, jacket, tie, chinos and straw hat, stuck a giant 50-grand check under his arm and ran away.
‘Lucky, Lucky…!’
“Lucky, Lucky…!” called presenter Vicky Minott, eager to gain insight into the world of the son of Royal Mo. But Lucky only had time to be proud and happy.
Trainer Justin Snaith said Bubushi had worked on his yard for 20 years and said there could be no more deserving recipient of what is sure to be South Africa’s biggest groom bonus.
Grooms are now getting more recognition in cash and post-race interviews than they did ten years ago, and several companies have groomer reward initiatives in different countries.
late
A groom called Maurice wowed the tens of thousands of Cape Town Met spectators as he explained his work and leadership to Dean Kannemeyer after the speedy Gimme A Prince stormed to claim the Class 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship.
It’s all far from the scene a few years ago, when stable workers staged strikes, racecourse sit-ins and even resorted to violence.
And it is, shamefully, too late. After all, grooms spend more time with individual horses than owners, trainers or jockeys – so their input into equine performance is very important.