With another excellent racing season having come and gone, it would be remiss of me not to thank the betting companies that generously contribute to the South African racing industry.
Mike de Kock writes on his website and compliments his stable sponsor Betway, Hollywoodbets and World Sports Betting – kudos to all of you, and individually to Betway’s Laurence Michel and Jonathan Blumberg, Owen and Devin Heffer of Hollywoodbets and Warren Tannous of WSB.
Betway, aside from its major race sponsorship and promotions in Gauteng, also have incentives for winners and Grade 1 winners to my grooms, that’s on top of stable gear, blankets, soccer sponsorships, etc.
Betway will again be sponsoring the Highveld Spring Season leading up to the G1 Summer Cup, building on last year’s success that had double the prize money and was marked by vibrant energy and fresh flair.
Word has it that this year’s Betway Summer Cup will be even bigger and better, and that grooms of all Summer Cup runners will again receive a massive cash incentive bonus of R20,000 each. This is life-changing money for individuals that, as you will recall with three of our own groms last year, was used to help their families.
Hollywoodbets’ commitment to racing can be seen around the country at racecourses, airports and in their huge investment in racehorse ownership, aftercare and sponsorships for trainers.
World Sports Betting sponsor a host of races and, alongside Hollywoodbets, also hand out cash prizes to winning grooms.
Blumberg, the Heffer family and Tannous are individual colour holders with the NHA, investing in racing via racehorse ownership, further proof of their commitment to the sport that we are all fortunate to benefit from.
What the betting companies have done at grass roots level is amazing. The lives of grooms have been changed, improved by the extra funds made available to them. They take even more pride in the work they do, and in their appearances on television. Their families have also benefitted, every cent being helpful in tough economic times for everyone.
Betting companies, take a bow!
- www.mikedekockracing.com