THE LEGENDARY SEA COTTAGE

My Steemit name of @sea-cottage is taken from the legendary South African race horse and Durban July Handicap winner, Sea Cottage. Prior to legalised gambling, the horse racing industry was for a long time one of the largest industries in the South African economy and the only legal form of gambling. Last year (2016) marked the 50th anniversary of the most dramatic incident in South African racing history, the shooting of Sea Cottage.

Sea Cottage was shot from a concrete shelter while walking under the Blue Lagoon bridge on the morning of June 10, 1966. He was widely expected to win the Durban July Handicap. Earlier, a bookmaker had approached the owner of the Monaco Club and asked him to settle his considerable debt. The club owner’s alleged response was to ask what it would be worth to “stop” Sea Cottage and the bookmaker’s alleged reply was that he would forego the debt.

A bouncer from the club named Johnny Nel then allegedly hatched the plan and agreed to carry out the dastardly deed. Sea Cottage’s white markings made him an easy horse to identify. The great horse was shot in the soft flesh of the hindquarters with a pistol and reared in fright.

Sea Cottage made a remarkable recovery and appeared at the July gallops a couple of weeks later to tumultuous applause. He ran in the July Handicap just three weeks after the incident and finished an unlucky fourth after being severely checked at the two furlong mark. However, he famously won the July the following year carrying topweight and with the bullet still lodged in his hindquarter, deadheating with the lightweight Jollify, to whom he gave 27 pounds.

Nel had been arrested less than a day after the shooting. He had foolishly used his yellow convertible (one of the most conspicuous cars in Durban), to drive to and from Blue Lagoon and a passing fisherman had seen him racing away. Nel was sentenced to three years, but was released due to ill health after one year and died shortly thereafter. Sea Cottage ended his career with 20 wins from 24 starts and was widely regarded as the greatest horse to ever grace the South African turf.

Photo Credit and Source: http://www.goldcircle.co.za/fifty-years-on-from-sea-cottage-shooting/