Crayford racing manager Danny Rayment has responded to Bob Rowe’s letter yesterday concerning one of the industry’s showpiece events – the Cesarewitch, and given hope that the famous event might return.
The former GRA senior racing manager was bemoaning the temporary mislaying of the Trafalgar Cup and Cesarewitch Trophies, both of which were subsequently recovered.
(Previously, we had suggested in an Editors Chair feature that the Kent Cesarewitch might lose the ‘Kent’ and return as one of the industry’s original classics alongside: the English and Scottish Derbys, the Oaks, Laurels, St.Leger, Scurry Gold Cup, Gold Collar and Grand National. They were later joined by the Grand Prix, and for a time, the Welsh Derby)
Danny wrote: “Further to Bob Rowes comments regarding the Cesarewitch trophy, I was in consultation with Ian Smyth and Amanda Duplock from the GBGB before the Covid 19 lockdown about the possibility of returning the Cesarewitch to category 1 status and making use of the historic trophy which the GBGB now have in their possession.
“You had mentioned it in a piece published on Golden Jacket day with the suggestion of taking the ‘Kent’ part off the race we had run in recent years. I actually took the ‘Kent’ off last years competition name and the final was arguably the best marathon race seen in recent times. Slippy Maggie, Stardom, Aayamzabreeze, Savana Winner, Goldies Hotspur and the outsider Burgess Honey who ended up landing the spoils at 16/1, some field assembled there!
“The current situation has put a hold on our plans but hopefully we can revisit them when things return to some level of normality.
“It would be ideal for me really, I brought back the Gold Collar because of my love of Catford so it would be perfect to bring back the Cesarewitch to former glories because of my love of West Ham (FC!).
“Always nice to hear from Bob Rowe as he had a lot of advice for me as a wet behind the ears 22 year old in the Catford racing office in 1996-7!”
