The premier South African Champions Season weight-for-age mile, the Grade 1 Gold Challenge has a new sponsor. The race to be run on Sunday, 28 June will be sponsored by South Africa’s leading bookmaker, Hollywoodbets.
The race makes up the trifecta for Grade 1 WFA 1600m races that includes the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate run at Kenilworth and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes run at Turffontein.
The race is an important stepping stone into the Vodacom Durban July and the honours roll is littered with Vodacom Durban July winners from Dancer’s Daughter and Pocket Power, to Big City Life, Legislate and last year’s dual champion, Do It Again.
Other recent winners include Winter Solstice and international Grade 1 winning miler, Variety Club.
Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager for Hollywoodbets, says that this race is another feather in the cap for his company. “Being able to sponsor a race of this magnitude is something we are incredibly excited about. Seeing the Vodacom Durban July contenders in Rainbow Bridge, Vardy, and Do It Again battle it out over the mile, will truly show who is poised to announce themselves as the number one contender in this year’s racing spectacle.”
“This is also Hollywoodbets’ first ever Grade 1 race sponsorship, and a milestone in our company’s history.”
“Hollywoodbets has invested heavily in horse racing in KZN, with the sponsorship of both Hollywoodbets Greyville and Scottsville Racecourses, the Grooms’ Initiative, and the Back On Track Challenge – encompassing trainers, jockeys, racehorses, grooms, apprentices and of course the punters. Being able to collaborate with Gold Circle on these projects and sponsorships have allowed us to make a positive impact on racing in the province, and we look forward to continuing our support in the months to come.”
Gold Circle’s Events and Marketing Executive Steve Marshall said that it was both a privilege and pleasure to welcome a leading industry brand to one of their foremost South African Champions Season features.
