Leading global online betting and gaming brand Betway and 4Racing announced on Wednesday that they are springing into the Summer season, with an exciting collaboration that will see Betway sponsor 13 race days on the Highveld and Eastern Cape, which includes exciting bonus incentives and stakes increases.
The Betway Spring Series sponsorship of 13 race meetings kicks off on Friday 1 September at Fairview with the Betway Jockey Club Stakes and concludes with the Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein on 7 October 2023, creating a fun ‘Spring into Summer’ Series leading up to the showpiece R5 million 2023 Betway Summer Cup at Turffontein on Saturday 25 November 2023.
2022 Betway Summer Cup winner’s podium
Betway have also agreed to sponsor the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes on the Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile race day on Saturday 28 October, while they will also be headline sponsors of the Victory Moon Stakes race day on Saturday 5 November.
The selected Eastern Cape race meetings Betway are sponsoring, with increased stakes are as follows:
Friday 1 September 2023
- Listed Betway Jockey Club Stakes
Increased from R150 000 to R200 000
Friday 8 September 2023
- Listed Betway Speedster Stakes
Increased from R175 000 to R200 000
Friday 22 September 2023
- NBT Betway Friendly City Stakes
Increased from R175 000 to R200 000
Friday 6 October 2023
- NBT Betway Craddock Place Stakes
Increased from R175 000 to R200 000
In addition, courtesy of Betway the owner of the first locally-trained horse home in these four Eastern Cape races receives an additional R35 000, while the trainer of the first locally-trained horse home in these races will receive a R15 000 bonus.
East Cape star Santa Therese (Pic – Pauline Herman)
On the Highveld, the first Betway-sponsored race day will be the Betway Spring Spree Stakes this Saturday 2 September, which has seen stakes increased from R175 000 to R250 000.
Stakes for the Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge on Saturday 7 October 2023 will be increased from R400 000 to R550 000 and the Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge increased from R300 000 to R450 000.
For the Highveld race meetings at the Vaal and Turffontein on 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 26 and 28 September, Betway will also give an incentive bonus of R5 000 to the winning trainer of every race.
The selected Highveld race meetings sponsored by Betway, with increased stakes are:
Saturday 2 September 2023
- Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes
Increased from R175 000 to R250 000
- NBT Betway Lady’s Stakes
Increased from R150 000 to R175 000
Saturday 7 October 2023
- Betway Spring Challenge
Increased from R400 000 to R550 000
- Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge
Increased from R300 000 to R450 000.
“We are delighted to have Betway on board for the Spring season as we build up to what is sure to be a massive 2023 Betway Summer Cup this year. We are also really thrilled that Betway’s sponsorship of the 4Racing Spring season allows for significant stakes increases in their sponsored races and incentives for both the Eastern Cape and on the Highveld. Betway’s sponsorship and integration with the Tote is a major boost for the industry and really gives us the perfect springboard to leap into what is set to be an exciting Summer season for punters,” said Gabriel Soma, 4Racing Head of Racing Operations.
“We are extremely excited by the opportunity to further demonstrate our commitment in supporting the horse racing industry and all its various stakeholders. We have decided to increase the stakes of selected races, as well as offer bonuses to both the owners and trainers on selected race days, as well as a special bonus for the first locally trained horse in the Eastern Cape. We feel this is the perfect way to increase the excitement and interest in the Spring Series as we build up to the 2023 Betway Summer Cup,” said Betway’s Jonathan Blumberg.
“We are striving to do all we can for the industry as a whole, not only with the increase in stakes and the additional bonuses. The increase in the Betway Summer Cup stakes to R5 million is a true reflection of this. We have a few things up our sleeve for this year’s Summer Cup and this will be released to the public in due course,” Blumberg added.
This important collaboration with 4Racing is an extension of the existing relationship with Betway and the augmented stakes and associated bonuses are designed to add interest and excitement to the Highveld season.
- Media release by 4Racing on Wednesday 30 August 2023.
