WSB Increases Support Of SA Racing

Major sports bookmaker World Sports Betting has significantly increased its investment in South African horse racing by committing at least R52 million to sponsorship of 4Racing’s blue-chip events in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape over the next three years.

World Sports Betting, renowned sponsors of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown Series which traditionally opens the Gauteng horse racing season, are proud to be the new and official sponsors of ‘The Championships’ season in Johannesburg, now known as ‘The World’ Championships”.

In addition to the first three legs of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown, held annually and in conjunction with the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, the World Sports Betting Championships also includes the Royal Race Day, led by the Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes , and the much-anticipated Champions Day, which marks the finale of the World Sports Betting Championships.

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

The agreement also sees World Sports Betting making significant investments in 4Racing’s digital and broadcast programming on Racing 240 throughout the year, as well as its Weighted To Win magazine show, along with activations on key WSB race days.

World Sports Betting have proudly announced that they will be providing an additional R7 million to Grooms’ CSI initiatives, with each winning groom receiving a generous R1,500 cash incentive under the 4Racing umbrella.

“This investment by World Sports Betting in the future sustainability of South African horse racing is of tremendous importance. We appreciate their confidence and support for the World Sports Betting Championships season, which added a new dimension to the start of the horse racing season in Johannesburg. We also appreciate WSB’s sponsorship of our big race days at Vaal and Nelson Mandela Bay. As the horse racing 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 big days of racing on the 4Racing calendar and to ensure that the stakes remain competitive. We will continue to make horse racing attractive to existing and potential new punters, owners, trainers, companies and all stakeholders who are heavily invested in the popular sport of horse racing,” said Fundi Sithebe, Chief Executive Officer of 4Racing.

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

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

The World Sports Betting Championships continue on Saturday 15th April with Royal Race Day, which is hosted by the R1 250,000 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) and the R300,000 Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint of the Racehorse Owners Association is cited.

The Sports Betting World Championship final concludes on Stage 5 with the high octane R4 895,000 Champions Day on Saturday 29th April which is a major highlight of the South African horse racing calendar packed with high 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 fastest 1000m event in the country that crowns the best sprinter.

The day also includes a series of Championship Graded races for juniors, fillies and mares.

The World Sports Betting East Cape Derby will take place on Friday 12th May 2023 whilst this year’s World Sports Betting Grand Heritage at the Vaal will take place on Saturday 9th December.

The remaining details of the race days of the Sports Betting World Cup season are as follows:

• Stage 3: Derby Day, April 1st:

• 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

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

• Stage 4: Royal Race Day, April 15:

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

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

• Stage 5: The Sports Betting World Cup Finals, April 29:

• 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 Youth Championship

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

• WSB Gerald Rosenberg Gr.2 – The championship of mares and mares on the middle distance

• WSB camellia posts size. 2 – The Mares and Mares Sprint Championship

• SpinaWina Gold Bowl Gr.3 – The Lasting Championship

Entry to Turffontein Racecourse is free throughout the World Sports Betting Championships season.

• Media release from 4Racing from Thursday, March 23, 2023