The Highveld Spring Racing Season kicks into full gear this weekend with the Spring Spree Stakes as a build-up to the Topbet Spring Challenge on 1 October.
4Racing will kick off the season with a spring in its step at the country’s flagship Turffontein racecourse on Saturday 3 September with the Spring Spree Stakes, welcoming new sponsors and with a renewed focus on the digital and on-course punter experience.
To celebrate the start of the season there will be a R1 million Pick 6 carryover for the Spring Spree Stakes for TAB customers, with the pool expected to reach R5 million.
Topbet has come on board as sponsors of the Topbet Spring Challenge this year and will kick off their partnership by sponsoring the Spring Spree Stakes, a listed 1200m handicap event with a R175 000 stake aimed at the sprinters looking to progress to the graded division during the season.
The 2021 winner was the Roy Magner trained, Vaseem, and the son of Vercingetorix will be back to defend his crown this weekend.
Vaseem defends his title on Saturday (Pic – JC Photos)
The other feature on the day is The Lady’s Stakes, a non black type handicap raced for R150 000. Last year’s winner was Paul Peter’s talented Big Burn, one of last season’s most consistent fillies.
4Racing and TAB have considerably enhanced the online betting experience with the www.tab4racing.com website, where punters can get all the best race day information, tips, race cards and horseracing news.
And in good news for on-course punters the popular ‘Furious Room’ punters lounge will reopen at Turffontein from 3 September, with free entrance to all on-course punters. There will be cold drinks and warm meals on sale, with pub fare of a free pie and soft drink or beer on promotion for punters who place their first R50 bet at the Furious Room.
After the Spring Spree Stakes it’s full speed ahead to a Spring Carnival of racing and the Topbet Spring Challenge on 1 October with its ‘Family Fun Day’ theme and a number of on-course activities for young and old.
“We are very excited about the Spring racing season and happy to welcome Topbet on board as our newest sponsors in partnering with us to kick off the horseracing season. We love the energy and enthusiasm of the Topbet team and their passion and commitment to supporting us in reigniting a fantastic on-course experience. The Family Fun Day concept is an exciting one and we look forward to a great build-up to the Topbet Spring Challenge and a wonderful race day. We are also very excited about the reopening of the Furious Room, which punters have long been calling for, and which will greatly enhance the Turffontein on-course experience,” said 4Racing CEO, Fundi Sithebe.
4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe looking forward to family fun on course – alongside her is Gavin Lerena who rides Val D’Orcia in the feature (Pic – JC Photos)
“Topbet is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the horseracing Industry, which has given us as bookmakers so much over the years. We have a great love for the animal and the sport. Topbet as a company is supportive in 4Racing’s vision of reviving the sport we love, and in making it better than ever before. We cannot wait for our race day, and hopefully, this is the first of many Topbet Race Days to come,” said Kevin Pillay, Topbet’s Horse Racing and Data Manager.
The Topbet Spring Challenge will have a family picnic area, a kiddies play area with face painting, shows and pony rides, as well as food stalls and market style vendors, craft beer and gin bars, as well as DJ’s and live entertainment.
All Turffontein grooms on the day will receive a Topbet goodie bag on what will be a festive, fun inclusive day at the races.
- 1 October 2022 – Spring Challenge Day
The Highveld Feature season will be well underway and the Spring Carnival will start in earnest with the headline Topbet Spring Challenge Day at Turffontein.
Topbet will sponsor two features on the day, both prominent in the calendar as they are two Group 2 events and form an excellent lead up into future races during the season, culminating in some of the runners aiming for Summer Cup glory.
The R400 000 Topbet Spring Challenge and the R300 000 Topbet Spring Fillies and Mare Challenge are both Grade 2 events at weight for age with penalties.
Last year’s events were both won by Champion Trainer Paul Peter’s runners, which set the tone for his record-breaking championship winning season.
This day also involves two Bloodstock SA Yearling Sales Races for fillies and colts/geldings.
These restricted events are both non black type and worth R400 000 each.
