The life of a racehorse owner
Like other sport codes, horse racing has also felt the pinch of the coronavirus pandemic, with many events being postponed.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
WINDHOEK
Renowned racehorse owner Iritjiua Murangi ensures that his horses are well fed and maintained before and after a race.
This is something which requires commitment and passion, as it is never an easy job to own horses.
Murangi made his debut in the horse racing industry just a few years ago but rose to prominence with his darling horse Katjutju, hailing all the way from Epukiro.
The business is not only about making sure that the horses are well fed with the right supplements, but it also requires caring for those who look after the horses on a daily basis.
Courageous investment
“It is a courageous thing to do to own horses that compete in races because you have to invest much more than you eventually get out of the horse. “As a horse owner, I try my utmost best to make sure that the horses are in the best of conditions in order for me to win crowns.
“I am glad I chose this because horse racing is an industry that is growing and people love to watch these events,” Murangi, who is also a radio presenter at NBC Omurari Radio, said.
Treating the jockey well
Racehorses do not enter the track by themselves and require a jockey to ride and guide them.
This is why Murangi finds it important to ensure that his jockeys are treated well also get the remuneration they deserve.
“Looking after your jockey and making sure he gets all the medical treatment he needs when he is injured is very important.
“I have also registered those who look after and ride the horses to [the] Social Security [Commission].”
Tough times
While Namibian horse racing has seen a boom over the past two years, it also become a casualty of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic and the subsequent ban on sporting events and public gatherings has resulted in a pause on horse racing events, which began to bag big sponsorships of close to N$100 000 from companies. The fact that events are on halt does however not stop horse owners from taking care of their animals.
“The pandemic has touched all of us because we now have to make sure that these horses remain fit even if there is no income from the events we normally take part in. “We just hope that the government will soon allow us to commence with horse racing activities because the horses are stressed,” Murangi noted.
WINDHOEK
Renowned racehorse owner Iritjiua Murangi ensures that his horses are well fed and maintained before and after a race.
This is something which requires commitment and passion, as it is never an easy job to own horses.
Murangi made his debut in the horse racing industry just a few years ago but rose to prominence with his darling horse Katjutju, hailing all the way from Epukiro.
The business is not only about making sure that the horses are well fed with the right supplements, but it also requires caring for those who look after the horses on a daily basis.
Courageous investment
“It is a courageous thing to do to own horses that compete in races because you have to invest much more than you eventually get out of the horse. “As a horse owner, I try my utmost best to make sure that the horses are in the best of conditions in order for me to win crowns.
“I am glad I chose this because horse racing is an industry that is growing and people love to watch these events,” Murangi, who is also a radio presenter at NBC Omurari Radio, said.
Treating the jockey well
Racehorses do not enter the track by themselves and require a jockey to ride and guide them.
This is why Murangi finds it important to ensure that his jockeys are treated well also get the remuneration they deserve.
“Looking after your jockey and making sure he gets all the medical treatment he needs when he is injured is very important.
“I have also registered those who look after and ride the horses to [the] Social Security [Commission].”
Tough times
While Namibian horse racing has seen a boom over the past two years, it also become a casualty of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic and the subsequent ban on sporting events and public gatherings has resulted in a pause on horse racing events, which began to bag big sponsorships of close to N$100 000 from companies. The fact that events are on halt does however not stop horse owners from taking care of their animals.
“The pandemic has touched all of us because we now have to make sure that these horses remain fit even if there is no income from the events we normally take part in. “We just hope that the government will soon allow us to commence with horse racing activities because the horses are stressed,” Murangi noted.
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