Author Archives: Yegan Kander

Hong Kong Sponsors the Gold Cup

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Gold Circle is thrilled to announce the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) as the new title sponsor of the Gold Cup race meeting. “Over the past two years this race meeting has been classified as a World Pool Event which has generated significant revenue for Gold Circle and this has coincided with HKJC World Pool becoming the sponsors of the Grade 1 Champions Cup. We can now confirm HKJC as the title sponsors of the day and we are excited to launch the first HKJC World Pool sponsored race day worldwide” said Michel Nairac, CEO of Gold Circle.

The Gold Cup race meeting represents one of the highest quality race days in South Africa. The 10-feature race card (the last 9 races being part of World Pool) boasts the premier race for stayers as the title event along with four Grade 1 races, three Grade 2 races and two listed races. Added to this, the race meeting falls on the last weekend of the South African racing calendar and with R6million in stakes on offer it is often a significant opportunity for Horses, Trainers and Owners to secure their respective status as EQUUS Champions of the year.

This year the Gold Cup will be run on Sunday 30th July and will be part of a double header World Pool weekend, with racing from Ascot on Saturday.

“There has always been a strong connection between the Hong Kong and South African racing industries, particularly when it comes to participants, so it is exciting to collaborate with them. Gold Circle have been wonderful supporters of World Pool and they recognise the benefits of a having a robust pari-mutuel offering. And Hong Kong customers are quite fond of the product as well. In fact, the 2022 Gold Cup meeting produced record turnover in Hong Kong for a simulcast meeting of HKD 394.7M,” said Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products of the HKJC.

The stakes on HKJC World Pool Gold Cup Day have been increased by more than 25% and features the R1m World Pool Gold Cup and the R1,25m HKJC Champions Cup. Former South African Jockey, Douglas Whyte, who went on to secure 13 consecutive Hong Kong Jockey Titles and is now a successful trainer, will be recognised by having the Grade 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes (formerly the Thekwini Stakes) named in his honour.

Douglas Whyte said “I feel privileged to have this race named in my honour and want to thank Gold Circle and the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the recognition. It is a great race meeting and Durban has always held a special place in my heart. World Pool has been a great initiative and a much needed boost for the South African industry.

The race program is listed below:

R1: Tabgold Darley Arabian (Listed)

R2: World Pool with Gold Circle Stakes (Gr2) formerly Debutante Stakes

R3: @WorldPool Twitter Stakes (Gr2) formerly Umkhomazi Stakes

R4: Douglas Whyte Stakes (Gr1) formerly Thekwini Stakes

R5: World Pool Moment of the Day Champion Stakes (Gr1) formerly Premiers Champion Stakes

R6: Mercury Sprint (Gr1)

R7: World Pool Gold Cup (Gr3)

R8: The HKJC Champions Cup (Gr1)

R9: Riding High Together Gold Bracelet (Gr2)

R10: HKIR in December Handicap (Listed) formerly Umgeni Handicap

Trainer

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Trainer of the Month – March 2023

John Buckler 

Assistant trainers seldom get the recognition they deserve but two of the best that run satellite yards at Summerveld are Byron Forster and John Buckler for two Western Cape-based trainers Andre Nel and Glen Kotzen respectively. Both Summerveld stables were in good form in March with five winners apiece but John just shaded Byron in the stats, John’s five winners coming at a 26% strike-rate and Byron’s at 25%. However, a R1 win on John’s runners will have seen a R6.40 profit.

John Buckler is Gold Circle’s Trainer of the Month for March.

Jockey

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Jockey of the Month – March 2023

Robert Khathi

Title-chasing Keagan de Melo is the usual suspect at the top of the KZN jockey log for March. He has enjoyed a super month with 18 winners on his march to the national title. Rachel Venniker also had a productive month with ten winners but it was Robert Khathi who had his best month since relocating from the Western Cape with seven winners. Joint third on the monthly log with Tristan Godden, the majority of his winners were for Byron Forster, Andre Nel’s KZN assistant for leading owner Sabine Plattner. Robert’s talents are starting to be recognised by other trainers and we wish him well during Champions Season.

Robert Khathi is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for March.

Trainer

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Trainer of the Month – February 2023

Paul Lafferty

Paul Lafferty managed five winners from just 19 starters last month at a strike rate of 26%, four of those winner’s coming for owner John Finlayson. John has been a staunch supporter of the sport for many years, mainly in Gauteng, but has thrown his lot in with Lafferty who has done him proud. All four of his winners were at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Paul is Gold Circle’s Trainer of the Month for February

JOCKEY

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Jockey of the Month – February 2023

Sean Veale

Keagan de Melo once again topped the list by number of winners in KZN last month, scoring 15 times at a healthy 33% strike rate. But Sean Veale had one of his better months, visiting the winner’s box on seven occasions at a 22% strike rate in spite of traipsing back and forth from Cape Town where he was in support of his boss, Dennis Drier. Dennis boasts a long string of loyal assistants and jockeys and Sean, who took over from Sean Cormack, will no doubt team up with Stuart Ferrie who takes over the stable reins on April 1.

Sean Veale is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for February.

Coastal Horse Care Unit the Harry Gwala Municipal District

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“Gold Circle sent a team to accompany Coastal Horse Care Unit to the Harry Gwala Municipal District over the weekend of the 24th to 26th February. The areas that were visited during this clinic were. Kokstad , Matatiele and Umzinkhulu. More than 300 horses were seen during this visit.”

For more information on the Coastal Horse Care Unit click here – https://www.youtube.com/@coastalhorsecareunit3279/playlists

World Sports Betting commits R52 million to sponsoring 4Racing’s major horseracing events in Johannesburg, Vaal and Nelson Mandela Bay

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Major sports bookmaker, World Sports Betting, has significantly increased its investment in South African horseracing by committing a minimum R52 million towards the sponsorship of 4Racing’s blue-chip events in Gauteng and Eastern Cape over the next three years.

World Sports Betting, renowned sponsors of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown Series that traditionally kicks off the Gauteng horseracing season, are proudly the new and official sponsors of ‘The Championships’ season in Johannesburg, which will now come to be known as ‘The World Sports Betting Championships’.

In addition to the first three legs of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown, held annually and in tandem with the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, The World Sports Betting Championships will also include the Royal Race Day, headlined by the Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, and the eagerly anticipated Champions Day, which is the Finale of The World Sports Betting Championships.

As part of their exciting partnership and a minimum of R52 million sports marketing investment in 4Racing, World Sports Betting will continue to sponsor the Vaal’s big racing day out, the Grand Heritage, and the East Cape Derby at Fairview over the next three years.

The deal will also see World Sports Betting invest significantly into 4Racing’s digital and broadcast programming on Racing 240 all-year-round, as well as its magazine show Weighted To Win, along with activations around major WSB race days.

World Sports Betting have proudly announced that they will commit a further R7 million to  Grooms’ CSI initiatives, with every winning Groom under the 4Racing umbrella being awarded a generous R1 500 cash incentive.

“This investment by World Sports Betting into the future sustainability of South African horseracing is hugely significant. We appreciate their confidence in and support for The World Sports Betting Championships season, which has added a new dimension to the start of the Johannesburg horseracing season. We are also appreciative of WSB’s sponsorship of our major race days in the Vaal and Nelson Mandela Bay. While the horseracing industry remains under pressure to ensure its long-term survival, we are heartened by the partners who have come on board to put their name, energy and support behind our major race days on the 4Racing calendar and to ensure stakes remain competitive. We will continue to make the sport of horseracing appealing to existing and potential new punters, owners, trainers, corporates and all stakeholders who are strongly invested in the much-loved sport of horseracing,” said 4Racing Chief Executive Officer, Fundi Sithebe.

“We are proud and more so honoured to be part of this journey and partnership with 4Racing. Our aim and vision go hand in hand with that of the 4Racing Executive team and all major players and contributors to ensure the sustainably and longevity of the sport we live and breathe. Our plan is to welcome a new life into the sport of racing, creating awareness, an element of fun and lifestyle too. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with 4Racing,” said World Sports Betting Group Holdings CEO, Warren Tannous.

The third leg of the World Sports Betting Championships, the R4.3 million Derby Day, takes place at Turffontein on Saturday 1 April, headlined by the R1.5 million World Sports Betting SA Derby (Grade 1), R1 million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) and the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks (Grade 2).

The World Sports Betting Championships continues on Saturday 15 April with the Royal Race Day, headlined by the R1 250 000 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1), as well as the Racehorse Owners Association’s R300 000 Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint.

The World Sports Betting Championships’ Finale concludes on leg five with the high-octane R4 895 000 Champions Day on Saturday April 29, which is a major highlight on the South African horseracing calendar packed with top quality Graded races galore.

Champions Day includes the R2 million Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge, the Middle Distance Championship, and the R1 million Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint, the quickest 1000m event in the land which crowns the best sprinter.

The day also contains a host of Championship Graded races for Juveniles, Fillies and Mares.

The World Sports Betting East Cape Derby takes place on Friday 12 May 2023, while the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage at the Vaal takes place on Saturday 9 December this year.

The remainder of the World Sports Betting Championships’ season race days’ details are as follows: 

Leg 3: Derby Day, 1 April: 

•           WSB South African Derby Gr.1 Leg 3, The Triple Crown, The 3yo              Championship

•           Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks, Gr.2, Leg 3, The Triple Tiara – The 3yo Fillies Championship 

•           H. F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, Gr.1 – The Mile Championship

Leg 4: Royal Race Day, 15 April:

•           HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, Gr.1 – The Fillies and Mares Mile Championship

•           Racehorse Owners Association’s Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint.

Leg 5: The World Sports Betting Championships Finale, 29 April:

•           WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge Gr.1 – The Middle-Distance Championship 

•           Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint Gr 1. – The Sprint Championship 

•           WSB SA Nursery Gr.2 – The Juvenile Championship 

•           WSB SA Filles Nursey Gr.2 – The Juvenile Filles Championship 

•           WSB Gerald Rosenberg Gr.2 – The Fillies and Mares Middle Distance Championship

•           WSB Camellia Stakes Gr. 2 – The Fillies and Mares Sprint Championship

•           SpinaWina Gold Bowl Gr.3 – The Staying Championship

Entrance to the Turffontein Racecourse is free throughout ‘The World Sports Betting Championships’ season. 

ENDS

For any media inquiries contact 

Jermaine Craig

0832010121 / JermaineC@4racing.com

NHA PRESS RELEASE

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Inquiry – Jockeys B Jacobson and M Yeni

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that an Inquiry before Adv K Lapham-Fourie and Ms B Loonat was held in Johannesburg.  The Inquiry commenced on Tuesday, 14 March 2023, and was finalised today.

The Inquiry was held into an incident that occurred between Jockeys B Jacobson and M Yeni in the Jockeys’ Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on 13 February 2023.

The parties have agreed to settle the issues arising out of the incident and the Inquiry on the basis as set out below.

1.         SETTLEMENT – JOCKEY B JACOBSON

The interim suspension imposed on 15 February 2023 is lifted with immediate effect.

A penalty is imposed of a suspension from riding in races under the auspices of the NHA for a period of five months.

The five-month suspension will be suspended as follows:

The full period of the suspension will be suspended for a period of three years from the date of this settlement agreement.

Thereafter, the suspension will be reduced to a period of two and a half months suspended for a further period of two years.

The suspension is on condition that Mr Jacobson is not found guilty of a contravention of rules 72.1.18, 72.1.25, 72.1.26, and 72.1.40 of the rules of the NHA during the period of suspension.

Mr Jacobson undertakes that he will take no further steps in relation to the complaint filed under case number 107/22023 at Berea SAPS.

2.         SETTLEMENT – JOCKEY M YENI

The interim suspension imposed on 15 February 2023 is lifted with immediate effect. It is recorded that Mr Yeni reserves all of his rights in relation to the interim suspension.

A penalty is imposed of a suspension from riding in races under the auspices of the NHA for a period of six months.

The six-month suspension will be suspended as follows:

The full period of the suspension will be suspended for a period of three years from the date of this settlement agreement.

Thereafter, the suspension will be reduced to a period of three months suspended for a further period of two years.

The suspension is on condition that Mr Yeni is not found guilty of a contravention of rules 72.1.18, 72.1.25, 72.1.26, and 72.1.40 of the rules of the NHA during the period of suspension.

A further fine of R5 000 is levied for the contravention of rule 56.2.4.  R5 000 will be payable by Mr Yeni to the NHA within 15 days of the date of this agreement.

The parties further agree that in accordance with normal procedures which are available to all Jockeys, Mr Yeni may at all times approach the Chief Stipendiary Steward or any other official of the NHA who is in attendance in the event that circumstances arise which require the intervention of the NHA. The NHA further agrees to take all reasonable steps to address any concerns which may be raised under the circumstances.

Mr Yeni undertakes that he will take no further steps in relation to the complaint filed under case number 134/22023 at Brackendowns SAPS.

CHAMPIONS SEASON 2023

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Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets are pleased to announce that Champions Season 2023 will boast more than R29-million in prize money for the Feature race programme, which comprises 13 Grade 1 races, 12 Grade 2 races and a host of Grade 3 and Listed events. In addition, an amount of R24-million will be paid out for the minor races during this period.

Speaking on behalf of Gold Circle, CEO, Michel Nairac said “At this time, when horse racing is facing many challenges, we are delighted that the status of our Champions Season has not only been retained, but it has also been enhanced. Of course, this would not have been possible without the generous support of our loyal headline sponsor and partner, Hollywoodbets. All stakeholders are indebted to Hollywoodbets for their continued backing and belief.”

With all the Covid protocols and regulations now firmly behind us, racegoers can look forward to a Champions Season of high-quality horse racing, with visitors descending on KwaZulu-Natal from all around the country. Annually, the Champions Season which brings the racing year to a glorious conclusion, attracts the best horses, jockeys, and trainers to compete in the “National Championship” of South African horse racing.

The R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July remains the most sought-after and valuable prize. However, there are significant increases for the following important Graded races:-

1.    Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Grade 1) from R1,25-million to R1,75-million

2.    Daily News 2000 (Grade 1) from R1-million to R1,50-million

3.    HKJC Champions Cup (Grade 1) from R1-million to R1,25-million

4.    Garden Province Stakes (Grade 1) from R1-million to R1,25-million

5.    Woolavington 2000 (Grade 1) from R750 000 to R1-million

6.    The Gold Cup 3200m (Grade 3) from R750 000 to R1-million

7.    Premiers Champion Stakes 2yo’s (Grade 1) from R500 000 to R700 000

8.    Thekwini Stakes 2yo fillies (Grade 1) from R500 000 to R700 000

In addition, the following Grade 2 races have had their stake increased from R400 000 to R500 000:-

1.     World Sport Betting Guineas

2.     Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes

3.     Post Merchants

And the following Grade 2 races:-

1.       World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas from R350 000 to R450 000

2.       World Sports Betting 1900 from R350 000 to R400 000.

THE GOLD CUP RACE MEETING MOVES TO SUNDAY 30 JULY

Gold Circle wishes to advise that The Gold Cup race meeting has been moved from Saturday 29 July to Sunday 30 July. This has been agreed to because the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in England has been moved to Saturday 29 July.

Both of these elite race meetings are “World Pool” events, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club has requested that the meetings take place on consecutive days rather than simultaneously.

“Given the status and value of hosting a World Pool race meeting, the decision to move the Gold Cup to Sunday 30 July was a no-brainer,” said Nairac.

WOOLAVINGTON 2000 OPEN TO ALL FILLIES AND MARES AT W-F-A

Gold Circle also wishes to advise that the conditions of the Woolavington 2000 have been changed with immediate effect. Formerly restricted to three-year-old fillies, the Woolavington 2000 will now be open to all Fillies and Mares at Weight-for-Age. The change in conditions was approved by the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) and Gold Circle Racing Committee and the race will retain its Grade 1 status.

“The Woolavington 2000 was struggling to maintain the levels required by the APC for a Grade 1 3yo fillies’ race and we are confident that the depth of quality will improve significantly now that it is open to all fillies and mares,” said Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik. “In addition, the change of conditions adds a significant Grade 1 opportunity for older fillies and mares over a middle distance and fills a gap in our Champions Season programme.”