By JAMES TROTTER
A historical occasion is marked in January
2017 when Africa hosts its first multi-day
horseracing festival. The G1 L'Ormarins
Queen's Plate, the continent's oldest and
most exclusive raceday, launches its inau-
gural two day event. Thousands of Cape
Town's most desirable will pour into Ke-
nilworth Racecourse adorned in blues and
whites at the foot of the iconic Table Moun-
tain to drink champagne, dance and revel in
watching world-class horseracing under the
sun of a long summer day.
Held for the first time in 1861 when first
run in the honour of Queen Victoria, who
donated a silver bowl and 500 sovereigns as
the prize for the prestigious race, the L'Or-
marins Queen's Plate ("LQP") is now con-
sidered one of the world's great racedays.
