LIFESTYLE - AFRICA’S greatest horse racing event officially kicked off last week with some major announcements.
KZN racing operator Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets announced that the latter would take over as the headline sponsor for the Durban July.
The Hollywoodbets Durban July will also enjoy a prize increase of 250% over the 2021 offering, with a record stake of R5 million.
KZN’s Champion Season roster is also the recipient of a major stakes injection of R13m.
The increase in prize money for South Africa's pre-eminent racing season will apply to both feature and minor races run in the province from March 1 to August 31.
In a race contested by generations of champions over 125 years, Hollywoodbets has become only the third sponsor in 59 years, with Rothmans and Vodacom previously holding that title.
At the Hollywoodbets Durban July announcement cocktail event on Thursday, Deven Heffer, Hollywoodbets brand and communications manager, said this was an emotional and special moment for the sports betting company.
“This racecourse is the very place where our owner and director, Owen Heffer, used the last R4 in his pocket and his wits make copies of, and sell tipping sheets to punters. And what started from there in the 1980s has become Hollywoodbets today. To have become the pinnacle of South African sports culture is something that we at Hollywoodbets are very proud of.
“We have a big legacy to continue and certainly now a new chapter. At Hollywoodbets we don’t do sports sponsorships, we do partnerships. The biggest goal is how can we grow the different sports we are involved in and how can we benefit the community around these. We are trying to bring the different sporting codes together and get them involved with the passion and energy of horse racing."
Sandisiwe Bhengu, the commercial manager for Hollywoodbets, said the success of their business was built on the foundation of horse racing and they were honoured to continue it on such a big platform.
“We aim to be more than just a title sponsor. We align ourselves with projects we truly believe in, and the Hollywoodbets Durban July has the potential for incredible opportunities and transformation. We as a stakeholder are embarking on this journey, but we can’t do it alone. We ask other stakeholders to embark on this journey with us to make horse racing more accessible to a wider demographic.”
Stephen Marshall, the events and marketing executive at Gold Circle, said the event was about more than just horse racing, it extended into tourism, events, fashion and entertainment.
“This event is the core of tourism events in the city of Durban. It doesn’t only benefit race day, but all related events in the build-up to it. Fashion is an extremely important player in this event. For example, we have the Young Designers Awards that take place every year.
"Our goal is to try to use this event as a launchpad to empower young people. We are so happy that a company as massive as Hollywoodbets, based right here in Durban, is taking this event forward,” said Marshall.
Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets said The Durban July injected almost R300m into the economy in 2019, the last year that the public was permitted to attend.
“Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle extended an invitation to everyone to join the build-up to the big race day with showstopping entertainment and events planned around the city for the whole week as well as after the event which will support a wide range of commerce,” they said.
Politicians and dignitaries, celebrity sports stars, film and television personalities and business people attended the function at which the announcement was made.
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