The Castle Tankard is Zimbabwe’s biggest horse racing event and it happens once a year at the Borrowdale Racecourse in Harare, this year it’s hosted on Saturday the 5th of May at the Borrowdale Racecourse. It’s our own version of gigs like South Africa’s Durban July and Zambia’s Lusaka July. This year we’re in full attendance, of course. Big hats and all!  Never ones to leave our #ENTHUSE-iasts in the cold we thought we’d give you some motivation – here are a few good reasons NOT to miss the Race of the year this weekend!

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We’ve Earned it for the Culture

Africa`s first ever sponsored horse race was the Castle Tankard in 1960. This was two years ahead of Rothmans sponsoring South Africa`s now famous Durban July. Did we mention that Zimbabwe`s Borrowdale race course which opened in 1957, is considered to be one of the best looking tracks in the world?!  Although horse racing and betting is predominantly a colonial concept it has since grown in Zimbabwe. The Borrowdale Racecourse Chief Executive Clever Mushangwe in an interview with AFP said;

“Horse racing came here with colonisation, but actually it grew from strength to strength as Zimbabweans came to love it. People love the mixture of a social event where they see friends, they can enjoy the horses and they have a flutter (small bet).”

We can’t help but agree.

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Flashing Lights & Glamour

We know what you’re thinking, horses aren’t glamourous pssh! But what if we told you that the Castle Tankard is as per annual tradition incorporating Fashion and Design by showcasing up-coming designs and household names while the who’s who of Zimbabwe prance around in outrageously chic outfits down the Castle Tankard Carpet and VIP Marquees. Socialites and style icons like Craig Zoowie and ZiFM Stereo’s Samantha Mussa have been buzzing about the tankard all week!

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Octoberfest in May for FREE?!

Picture this… an ice cold glass of draft on a hot day while you’re surrounded by weird and wonderful mix fabulousness, horse-races, braai and good music and it’s for free.

That’s right, access to the general area is free and of course, access to the VIP Marquee is by invite or special ticket access. Info on that is readily available on the Castle Lager Facebook Page.

Gates are open at 8 AM, join us for a good chat on the Red Carpet where we’ll be streaming onto our Facebook Page Live on the Castle Tankard Red Carpet featuring the lovely Gilmore Tee and Too Extra. Acts of the day include Winky D, Judgement Yard and a selection of DJs including Power FM’s L Roy.