Kearsney jockey thunders into Durban July

KEARSNEY College Old Boy and jockey, Lyle Hewitson looks to claim a top place in the main race at this weekend’s Durban July Handicap, an event that is considered one of the most prestigious on the South African racing calendar.

Hewitson will ride the two-year-old Shango, trained by Sean Tarry, and he believes it could provide a surprise on the day.

Despite his age (22), this is the fourth year that Hewitson will compete in the annual horse racing event.

He’s now back permanently in South Africa, after he rode in Hong Kong and Japan.

He left for the East with a great track record – two-time champion apprentice, as well as being South Africa’s champion jockey with 219 wins during his record breaking 2018-19 season.

“It was a massive experience there for me. Riding in Hong Kong was difficult and I battled to find my feet. But my upbringing and the grounding I had at Kearsney helped me get through that tough time.”

He endured a 140-race drought before getting off the mark in Hong Kong, and was then able to turn around the barren spell to a bountiful one in Japan, scoring on his first day of elite level racing there.

“Japan is a beautiful country; the food is great and the people are even better. The language barrier can be difficult but I managed to get around it,” he says.

Hewitson returned to South Africa in May, going into quarantine in Johannesburg, before being allowed back into the saddle six weeks ago.

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“It was an amazing experience racing overseas and being part of a totally different culture, but it’s a fantastic feeling being home. It’s a cliché, I know, but there really is no place like home.”

Due to Covid-19 regulations, Hewitson is riding solely in KwaZulu-Natal for July and August and will return to Johannesburg thereafter.

If all goes well, he plans to ride in Japan next year for three months – February, March and August – but will remain based in South Africa.

Hewitson had a meteoric rise through the ranks due to many years as a work rider as well as a family steeped in the racing industry.

“My dad, Carl, was a jockey and is currently a trainer, so I grew up with horses. In Grade 7 I had my heart set on becoming a jockey, but it was only in Grade 10 that it became reality,” he said. After finishing matric at Kearsney College, where he achieved five distinctions, played both hockey and cricket for the 1st teams, he was accepted at the Jockey Academy.

Since his return, he’s resumed his successful relationship with champion trainer, Sean Tarry, and was quickly back into his stride.

Last month he rode his first winner at his first meeting back in South Africa.

A determined and positive jockey, he’s well-respected in the industry and will be riding in 10 races on Saturday.

Until then, he’s focussed on preparing his horses for their races, keeping fit and keeping his weight down.

Saturday’s meeting will be the 124th running of the 2200m Vodacom Durban July and from 3.10pm but it is a broadcast-only event due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

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