The SA Champions Season commenced yesterday and although it will be unrecognisable in some facets due to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the crowded program brings with it plenty of exciting racing for online and telephone betting punters to look forward to.
The downside will be reduced stakes and only absolutely essential personnel will be allowed on course so there will be no crowds to create atmosphere.
In the first eight weeks of the SA Champions Season all of these races will be run:
June 7: The Grade 2 WSB Guineas (R175,000), the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas (R150,000), the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes (R175,000).
June 13: The Grade 2 Post Merchants (R175,000), Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes (R100,000), Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes (R100,000), the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes (R100,000).
June 20: The Grade 2 WSB 1900 (R175,000), the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (R125,000), the Listed East Coast Cup (R85,000).
June 28: The Grade 1 Daily News 2000 (R500,000), the Grade 1 Gold Challenge (R425,000), the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 (R325,000), the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes (R150,000), the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes (R85,000), the Listed Devon Air Stakes (R85,000), the Non-Black Type Durban Dash (R75,000.).
July 4: The Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint (R425,000), the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint (R325,000), the Grade 1 Golden Horse Medallion (R325,000), the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship (R325,000), the Grade 3 Cup Trial (R125,000).
July 11: The Grade 2 Track And Ball Derby (R150,000), the Grade 3 TRack and Ball Oaks (R125,000), The KZN Winter Challenge races (1200m, 1600m, 2000m all for a stake of R75,000)./
July 18: The KZN Breeders Million Mile and seven other KZN Breeders races (all for stakes which are yet to be announced).
July 25: The Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July (R1,5 million), the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe (R150,000), the Grade 2 Golden Slipper (R150,000), the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200 (R125,000), the Grade 3 DSTV Gold Vase (R125,000), the Listed Thukela Handicap (R85,000), the Non-Black Type eTHekwini Sprint (R75,000) and the Non Black Type KZN Yearling Sale Million (R650,000).
There will be a five week breathing space between the Vodacom Durban July meeting on July 25 and the Gold Cup meeting on August 29.
At the latter meeting the following feature races will be staged, Grade 3 Gold Cup (R400,000), the Grade 1 Champions Cup (R425,000), the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint (R425,000), the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet (R150,000), the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes (R150,000), the Grade 2 The Debutante (R150,000), the Listed Umngeni Handicap (R85,000) and the Listed Darley Arabian (R85,000).
The following rules shall be applicable from racing’s effective restart date, June 1.
The field sizes will be restricted to 12 runners per race with the exception of ALL Pattern races in which 14 runners will be allowed. However, it is hoped that by the time of the July the protocols will allow more than 14 runners.
Jockeys will be restricted to ride in the region of their choice and cannot move in between provinces. They will be allowed to make ONE move prior to the commencement of racing.
The adjusted minimum riding weight in Handicap races shall remain at 54kg.
Horses moving between regions shall NOT be allowed unless a horse is moving to another province on a permanent basis as per the regulations of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
All Horse Transport Companies must have the necessary Permits to move horses between the training centres and race courses.
The last race must be run not later than 16h45.
Only essential staff members will be permitted on to the racecourse through a single entrance point.
1. Licensed Jockeys/Apprentices engaged to ride at the race meeting
2. Licensed Trainers with engaged runners
3. Licensed Assistant Trainers/Stable Employees (recommended one per stable)
4. Grooms (one per horse)
5. Official Photographers/Technical Staff
6. Racing Operator Staff
7. Licensed Officials
8. A maximum of two Racing Journalists at the sole discretion of the Racing Operator.
All public betting outlets will be closed but online betting and telephone betting will go ahead as normal.
To open an online TAB account: Visit www.tabgold.co.za and under FAQs there will be detailed instructions on how to open an account for online betting and telebetting. Downloading the Tabgold Betting App also allows one to bet on sport online.
Visit www.trackandball.co.za to open a fixed odds online betting account.
By David Thiselton
