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

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.