Rouvaun Smit: Voice of horseracing undergoes life-saving operation

Thoughts and prayers go out to horseracing commentator Rouvaun Smit and his family this evening.

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Cape Racing’s ‘Golden Voice’ suffered a fracture of his spine in a fall at his home on Thursday morning and underwent emergency surgery on Thursday evening at Kingsbury Hospital in Claremont.

Smit’s wife Rachelle told the Sporting Post that surgeons would be performing what is in essence a life-saving operation.

She thanked the racing industry for the expressions of interest and kindness throughout the day.

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One of the larger-than-life characters of the game, and a popular feature of Cape racing for 27 years, the 53-year-old Smit has called champions from Hollywoodbets Durbanville and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, to one of the world’s greatest race meetings at the historic Epsom Racecourse in Britain.

Rouvaun Smit was due to attend the Dubai World Cup

The born-and-bred Capetonian was the first international racecaller invited to Dubai, the year of Meydan’s champagne opening.

Smit has also had the crowd on the edge of their seats at the Champ de Mars in Mauritius.

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In a twist of irony, the former radio broadcaster has been looking forward to attending the Dubai World Cup later this month, and to joining his friend and colleague Shaheen Shaw on a shopping spree in Bangkok thereafter.

However, that won’t be happening now as he now fights to regain his health.

The South African website extends its thoughts and prayers to Smit’s family and friends.

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