The Ngong racecourse, a right handed oval track of approximately 2400 metres, is situated 12 kilometres west of the city of Nairobi the Kenyan capital. It stages races from August until the next July, with the normal race day being Sunday, and was first opened in 1954, replacing Nairobi's former racecourse of Kariokor. The track is administered by the Jockey Club of Kenya, with a selection of badges shown below.

The principal race is the Kenya Derby which is run each April, although the track, the only one in Kenya, also stages the Guineas for colts, the Fillies Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger. A list of recent winners of each of the 5 Classics is shown below.

I am grateful to Philippa Castle, granddaughter of jockey and one time trainer Edward (Ted) George Banham for the photo shown below. She wrote that Ted Banham first rode in stables in Newmarket in the early 20s before going to South America, in particular Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) to ride, but found it had its shortcomings in terms of sticking to the rules of racing and was not to his liking, so he returned to Newmarket to resume his riding career, and realised many of the owners had second winter homes in Kenya in the 20s, providing him with an opportunity. There was limited racing in Kenya at that time, so Ted went to the October sales in Newmarket, purchased 14 thoroughbreds and accompanied them on their journey by sea to Kenya in 1926. Once there he helped extend racing opportunities in Kenya, advising on the building of additional racecourses in the country, and even won an early Kenyan Derby in 1928, which was first run in 1914. Racing first took place in Kenya in 1904 at Machakos, although at that time it was with small ponies rather than thoroughbreds. It was later extended to include meetings at Kariokor, and then Eldoret, Nakuru, Nanyuki and Limuru. He set himself up as a trainer, whilst also riding for all the UK wealthy expats in Kenya who he had previously ridden for in the UK. In 1930 he returned to England and joined the yard of Frank Butters at Fitzroy House, Newmarket where the Aga Khan, and his successor Prince Aly Khan, had horses. He also rode for Sir Alfred Butt whilst at the yard.

Winners of the Kenya Guineas for 3 year old colts over 1600 metres
1999 The Guineas was won by Jaasi Kirani owned by Mr B C Patel and ridden by Tony McGlone
2000 The Guineas was won by Happy Hobo owned by Mr D Farrar and Mrs L Dance and ridden by Tony McGlone
2001 The Guineas was won by Badinage owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by I Wachira
2002 The Guineas was won by James Bond owned by Mr N Sarif and Mrs P A Sercombe and ridden by S Njuguba
2003 The Guineas was won by Mesopotamia owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by J McCann
2004 The Guineas was won by Jubilee Mark owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by I Wachira
2005 The Guineas was won by Dexter owned by Mr and Mrs C C Bengough and ridden by C Carver
2006 The Guineas was won by Risky Business owned by Mrs M B Binks and ridden by J McGinn
2007 The Guineas was won by Vayu owned by Mr P L Mahajan and ridden by D Ngure
2008 The Guineas produced a dead heat between Sound Whisper, owned by Rainbow Warriors and ridden by N Stott, and African Storm owned by Mrs Elsa and Mr Romolo Severini and Mr J Svensson and ridden by J McCann
2009 The Guineas was won by Onapromise owned by Mr R Warner and ridden by T Pretorius
2010 The Guineas was won by Chilulu owned by Mr J Muya and Mrs M Morson and ridden by D Ngure
2011 The Guineas was won by Armstrongs Girl owned by Mr D Armstrong and ridden by J Muhindi
2012 The Guineas was won by Kings Point owned by the Maddison Family and ridden by J Lokorian
2013 The Guineas was won by Westonian owned by Mrs M Haynes and ridden by L Sercombe
2014 The Guineas was won by The Nutcracker owned by Mrs Natasha and Mr David Ansell and ridden by L Sercombe
2015 The Guineas was won by Spring Run owned by Mrs M Shava and Mr B Henry and ridden by P Mungai
2016 The Guineas was won by Cheney owned by Mrs M Haynes and ridden by L Sercombe
2017 The Guineas was won by Hawker Fury owned by Mr J Mburu and ridden by K Derere
2018 The Guineas was won by White Dragon owned by Mrs M Spencer and ridden by L Sercombe

Winners of the Kenya Fillies Guineas for 3 year old fillies over 1600 metres
1999 The Fillies Guineas was won by Windsong owned by Mrs Elsa and Mr Romolo Severini and Mr J Svensson and ridden by S Njuguna
2000 The Fillies Guineas was won by Motoine owned by Golden Fleece Ltd and ridden by J McGinn
2001 The Fillies Guineas was won by La Boheme owned by Mrs W Molinaro and Mr B Patel and ridden by J McGinn
2002 The Fillies Guineas was won by Arabian Mystery owned by Ms H Mathews and Mr A Barry and ridden by C Carver
2003 The Fillies Guineas was won by It’s a Secret owned by the Far Vision Syndicate and ridden by J McCann
2004 The Fillies Guineas was won by Be Tidy owned by Mr N Sarif and ridden by C Carver
2005 The Fillies Guineas was won by Similitude owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by I Wachira
2006 The Fillies Guineas was won by Risky Business owned by Mrs M B Binks and ridden by J Sampson
2007 The Fillies Guineas was won by Cedarbug owned by Mr I Gibson and Mrs S Fort and ridden by R Peters
2008 The Fillies Guineas was won by Lichenfield owned by Mrs M Haynes and ridden by L Sercombe
2009 The Fillies Guineas was won by Pirates Coup owned by Mr and Mrs A T Fraser and ridden by T Pretorius
2010 The Fillies Guineas was won by Caricature owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by I Wachira
2011 The Fillies Guineas was won by Armstrongs Girl owned by Mr D Armstrong and ridden by J Muhindi
2012 The Fillies Guineas was won by Heard The One owned by Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and ridden by J Lokorian
2013 The Fillies Guineas was won by Wonnitestand owned by Mrs M Haynes and ridden by L Sercombe
2014 The Fillies Guineas was won by Military Song owned by Mr R Karlsen and ridden by J McCann
2015 The Fillies Guineas was won by Happy Times owned by Colonel H Farah and ridden by R Khathi
2016 The Fillies Guineas was won by Western Ballard owned by Mr and Mrs C C Bengough and ridden by D Tanui
2017 The Fillies Guineas was won by School of Rock owned by Mrs A Bhaloo, Mr P Anjana, Mr F Puchercos and Mr R Karlsen and ridden by J Muhindi
2018 The Fillies Guineas was won by Zodi West owned by Mr J Mburu and ridden by P Mungai

Winners of the Kenya Derby for 3 year olds over 2400 metres
1999 The Derby was won by Abbra owned by Dr V Mallya and ridden by S Njuguna
2000 The Derby was won by Gingerbread Man owned by Mr and Mrs C C Bengough and ridden by P Mahajan
2001 The Derby was won by Adamant owned by the Rainbow Warriors and ridden by J McGinn
2002 The Derby was won by Blue Cap owned by Ms I Gibson, Mr J Farrar and Mr H Mathews and ridden by C Carver
2003 The Derby was won by Kiri Te owned by Mrs W Molinaro and ridden by J McGinn
2004 The Derby was won by Vivaldi owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by D Smith
2005 The Derby was won by Field Day owned by Mrs M Haynes and ridden by L Sercombe
2006 The Derby was won by Tinseltown owned by the Rafiki Club Syndicate and ridden by J McCann
2007 The Derby was won by Martial Art owned by Mr R Karlsen and ridden by PJ McCann
2008 The Derby was won by Warai owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by I Wachira
2009 The Derby was won by Tornada Alley owned by Mr Z Petkovic and the Five Nations Syndicate and ridden by J McCann
2010 The Derby was won by Golden Ash owned by Mr J Hawley and ridden by S Njuguna
2011 The Derby was won by Lazrin owned by Mr R M Warner and ridden by S Khumalo
2012 The Derby was won by Just Bluffing owned by Mr D Armstrong and ridden by P Mungai
2013 The Derby was won by Westonian owned by Mrs M Haynes and ridden by L Sercombe
2014 The Derby was won by Stake Ur Claim owned by Mr D Roberts, Mrs M Haynes, Mr C Bremner and Mr Y Patel and ridden by L Sercombe
2015 The Derby was won by Happy Times owned by Colonel H Farar and ridden by R Khathi
2016 The Derby was won by Western Ballard owned by Mr and Mrs C C Bengough and ridden by D Tanui
2017 The Derby was won by Hawker Fury owned by Mr J Mburu and ridden by J Greyling
2018 The Derby was won by Free Wheeler owned by Mrs M Spencer and ridden by F Herholdt

Winners of the Kenya Oaks for 3 year old fillies over 2400 metres
1999 The Oaks was won by Windsong owned by Mrs Elsa and Mr Romolo Severini and ridden by S Njuguna
2000 The Oaks was won by Hachimori owned by Mr and Mrs A L Gammaticas and ridden by J Andrade
2001 The Oaks was won by Caspia owned by Mr and Mrs A L Gammaticas and ridden by I Wachira
2002 The Oaks was won by Kirtius owned by David, Daphne, Guy and Des Bowden and Mr K Evans and ridden by S Njuguna
2003 The Oaks was won by Mesopotamia owned by Mr and Mrs A L Gammaticas and ridden by I Wachira
2004 The Oaks was won by Lora Lee owned by Mrs Nora and Mr Zarko Petkovic and Mrs A Brown and ridden by J McCann
2005 The Oaks was won by Field Day owned by Mrs M Haynes and ridden by L Sercombe
2006 The Oaks was won by Tinseltown owned by the Rafiki Club Syndicate and ridden by J McCann
2007 The Oaks was won by Vayu owned by Mr P L Mahajan and ridden by D Ngure
2008 The Oaks was won by Chinook owned by Mr N Brewis, Mr E Ansell, Mr L Garner and Mr H Erculiani and ridden by S Njuguna
2009 The Oaks was won by Camelay owned by Mr R Karlsen and ridden by J McCann
2010 The Oaks was won by Lightfoot owned by Mr Z Petkovic and Mr R Karlsen and ridden by J McCann
2011 The Oaks was won by Roxanne owned by the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and ridden by J Lokorian
2012 The Oaks was won by Heard The One owned by the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and ridden by J Lokorian
2013 The Oaks was won by Labour of Love owned by Mr G Sphikas and ridden by R Kibet
2014 The Oaks was won by Lucky Mascot owned by Sheikh H Butt and Dr P Musimba and ridden by J Muhindi
2015 The Oaks was won by Happy Times owned by Colonel H Farar and ridden by R Khathi
2016 The Oaks was won by Western Ballard owned by Mr and Mrs C C Bengough and ridden by D Tanui
2017 The Oaks was won by School of Rock owned by Mrs A Bhaloo, Mr P Anjana, Mr F Puchercos and Mr R Karlsen and ridden by J McCann
2018 The Oaks was won by Lettfot owned by Mrs M Binks and Mr R Karlsen and ridden by P Mungai

Winners of the Kenya St Leger for 3 year olds over 2800 metres
1999 The St Leger was won by Windsong owned by Mrs Elsa and Mr Romolo Severini and ridden by J McCann
2000 The St Leger was won by Nile Star owned by Mr D R Ansell and ridden by J McGinn
2001 The St Leger was won by Dunkirk owned by Mr and Mrs A T Fraser and Colonel P Davis and ridden by Nigel Day
2002 The St Leger was won by Sonya owned by the Rainbow Warriors and ridden by J McGinn
2003 The St Leger was won by Mesopotamia owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by I Wachira
2004 The St Leger was won by Vivaldi owned by Mr and Mrs A L Grammaticas and ridden by D Smith
2005 The St Leger was won by Field Day owned by Mrs M Haynes and ridden by L Sercombe
2006 The St Leger was won by Magnum Forty Four owned by Kemira Growhow Oy and ridden by I Wachira
2007 The St Leger was won by Martial Art owned by Mr R Karlsen and ridden by J McCann
2008 The St Leger was won by Ten Thirty owned by Mrs M B Binks and ridden by D Ngure
2009 The St Leger was won by Silverdale owned by Mr D Armstrong and ridden by I Wachira
2010 The St Leger was won by Chilulu owned by Mr J Muya and Mrs M Morson and ridden by I Wachira
2011 The St Leger was won by Skeleton Coast owned by Mr D Armstrong and ridden by P Mungai
2012 The St Leger was won by Pasha Sultan owned by Sheikh H Butt and Dr P Musimba and ridden by S Khumalo
2013 The St Leger was won by Irish Garden owned by Mr and Mrs C C Bengough and ridden by D Tanui
2014 The St Leger was won by Stake Ur Claim owned by Mr D Roberts, Mrs M Haynes, Mr C Bremner and Mr Y Patel and ridden by L Sercombe
2015 The St Leger was won by Happy Times owned by Colonel H Farar and ridden by R Khathi
2016 The St Leger was won by Western Ballard owned by Mr and Mrs C C Bengough and ridden by D Tanui
2017 The St Leger was won by Hawker Fury owned by Mr J Mburu and ridden by J Greyling
2018 The St Leger was won by Free Wheeler owned by Mrs M Spencer and ridden by L Sercombe