One of South Africa’s most successful racing stables, Bass Racing, has joined forces with leading sports betting brand Betway, becoming sponsorship partners to the yard ahead of the ’24/25 Cape Summer season.
In addition, Bass Racing’s head trainer, Candice Bass-Robinson, has been appointed a Betway ambassador as the stable continues to grow.
Candice Bass-Robinson joins the Betway brand (Pic – Supplied)
Bass-Robinson, who took over head trainer duties from her celebrated father Mike in 2016, promptly became the first female trainer to saddle the winner of the famous Durban July in 2017.
She finished fifth on the National Trainers’ log for the 2023/24 season.
Her total stakes earned for the past season amounted to R14,5 million. Her four Grade 1 winners included the brilliant Charles Dickens, now at Drakenstein Stud, and the superstar filly Beach Bomb, exported and racing in the United States.
“Betway is synonymous with sport globally and has initiated a huge drive into the South African sports, and horseracing market. The R6-million Betway Summer Cup is the richest group race in Africa. “They have shown themselves to be huge supporters of the industry and I’m excited to be part of the journey with them. It’s also a privilege to become a Betway ambassador,” said Bass-Robinson at the announcement.
Mark Bass, the Bass Racing marketing and racing manager, said: “ Bass Racing is approaching its 50th birthday which was established by my father Mike in 1976. He trained 2450 winners including 50 Grade 1’s and we have a generational investment in the sport and share the same core values and principle as Betway. This is the start of a new chapter at Bass Racing and we are delighted to be taking the next step with a brand that has the reputation as Africa’s foremost online and mobile gambling company – we are honoured to align our flags.”
In welcoming the partnership with Bass Racing, Betway Africa’s Jonathan Blumberg said: “ We are proud to be associated with the Bass Racing family. Candice has proven herself as a top-class trainer in the short time since taking over from Mike and will no doubt be a great addition to our family as a Betway ambassador.”
Since taking over head trainer duties, Bass-Robinson has saddled 12 Grade 1 winners and 51 Graded winners in her total of over 700 career victories.
She propelled herself into the top 10 ranked female trainers in the world in her first year as a professional trainer when winning the Durban July with Marinaresco.
The stable was also home to two of the finest racehorses seen in the country in the last 20 years – Pocket Power and Charles Dickens.
