23rd January 2020
Own Correspondent
Running under the brand ‘Race, Fashion, win’ the inaugural Gabs July was officially announced today to take place on the 4th July 2020 at the Sebele Race Track to galvanise Batswana’s love for horse racing and deliver a carnival style event attracting more than 20,000 local and international spectators whilst showcasing the various disciplines of horsemanship.
The supreme horse and jockey at premier event will walk away with a winners cheque of P100,000.
‘’Over and above the horsemanship disciplines, true to its carnival style, Gabs July Derby will treat attendants to music performances at intervals. Even more exciting, Gabs July Derby will feature a beauty queen cat walk to demonstrate the race’s bias for fashion, ”said Ben Wiseman Ben, Gabs July Director launching the event against the backdrop of savannah grassland adjacent to the railway line and the towering skyline of the new Central Business District(CBD).
The Gabs July Derby pre-launch was supported by reigning pageant beauty queens including Miss Botswana, Miss Tourism World, Mrs Universe, Miss Glam Botswana, Miss Petite, Miss Independence Botswana, Miss Earth, Miss Princess of the World and Miss Diamond Pageantry.
Gaborone city dwellers were treated to an impromptu cat walk by the most beautiful ladies in the land along with a sample of horses at the Willie Seboni and Nelson Seboni intersection.
“The city of Gaborone and the Botswana economy needs iconic events that would not only lure spectators but attract consumers of Botswana’s goods and services. When horse lovers visit Gaborone, they will need accommodation, they will need transportation, they will shop and dine and they will visit other interesting places that Gaborone has to offer,” said Lotty Mnyapetsa, Deputy Mayor of Gaborone in official opening remarks today.
Gabs July Derby is fully endorsed by the horse racing sport governing bodies, Horse Society of Botswana(HSB) and Botswana Horse Racing Association(BNRA). The governing bodies will assist the organizers of Gabs July in critical elements of the success of the show including route development(endurance race), surface condition, racing rules, horse health, jockey health, participating horse eligibility and judging.
“We will be forming working sub committees to assist and we will be able to share our expertise on areas around the issue of horse welfare. We will be ensuring that the horses are healthy and they are the right ones to participate in the horse race,” said Benjamin Tjindu Maekopo, President of the Horse Society of Botswana(HSB).
