On 1 December 2022, scores of socialites, influencers and horse racing fans flocked to Durban’s iconic Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse for a thrilling first Global Team Horse Racing Series (GTH) in August and September, witnessing what Hollard has just crowned sport’s 2022 Event of the Year.
The KwaZulu Royals take home the winning trophy for the GTH Live Series 2022 (Pic – GTH)
GTH series organisers thank Durban fans for contributing to a phenomenal first series; inaugural season at Hollywoodbets Greyville recognised in two prestigious Sports Industry Awards categories; and organisers talk of expanded series in 2023, plus a new digital Meta.Horse race addition.
The GTH Live Series was nominated in two 2022 Hollard Sports Industry Awards categories: Event of the Year and Audio-Visual Content of the Year.
The GTH pilot live series stormed into Durban on August 5 after two years of trials. Live race meetings were held every Friday evening under floodlights in the build up to a dramatic season finale on September 2, 2022.
A game-changer
Similar to the T20 cricket format, the GTH live series targeted families and sports fans who had never watched or experienced a horse racing event using exciting track-side entertainment, an easy-to-follow points scoring system, and world-class racing performances.
Races were added to the official Gold Circle calendar, which boosted Durban’s race season purse considerably.
Hollard’s Sports Industry Awards seeks to honour and congratulate sport industry innovators. Two new categories were added this year to reflect the novel and exciting ways that the sports industry has responded to post-Covid challenges.
Eligible campaigns for entry included work completed between August 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022.
GTH action at Hollywoodbets Greyville (Pic – GTH)
Modernising horse racing
GTH is an entirely new, team-based horse racing format with roots in the UK.
Horse racing has traditionally been an individual sport, however, the novel GTH team-based format sees teams of jockeys and horses riding against one another to accrue points for every race win and draw. At the end of every series, the team with the most points takes the crown.
Steve Ajax, GTH CEO, said 2022 had been a hugely successful year for the brand and that the first series in Durban had been well received.
“It (the Hollard award nominations) is an endorsement of the outstanding efforts of our exceptional team, which started from scratch and built an event that has generated worldwide interest. The commitment at all levels was incredible. We are looking forward to an expanded series in 2023,” Ajax said.
Angus Campbell, Marketing Director of GTH, giving his acceptance speech at the Hollard Sports Industry Awards with the GTH team (Pic – GTH)
Angus Campbell, GTH Marketing Director, added: “It has been an exceptionally successful year for GTH with the completion of the pilot live series. We have learnt so much during 2022 and getting awarded Event of the Year is a huge positive for GTH and for racing. However, there is a long way to go, and we will keep pushing boundaries in everything we do.”
While race goers and South African families can look forward to more exhilarating entertainment at next year’s running, a digital element will also be introduced in 2023.
Ajax said: “There is plenty more to come next year as, alongside our events, we have set our sights on the Metaverse with our groundbreaking digital offer, Meta.Horse, a holistic horse racing experience based on our unique GTH format.”
For more information about GTH and Meta.Horse, visit www.gthracing.co.za.
- Press release by GTH on 5 December 2022
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