Global Team Horseracing kicks off!
Cape Stingers Manager Michelle Rix celebrating .a win (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
- The Cape Stingers upstage the Gauteng Gijimaz on night two of SA’s new Global Team Horse Racing series (GTH)
- KwaZulu Royals to ride against the Cape Stingers at Hollywoodbets Greyville tonight
- Three teams competing for R3.5-million in new series’ prize money
- Just one more meeting to go before September 2’s spectacular series finale
Crowds of Durban locals and families lined the track at Hollywoodbets Greyville this evening to cheer on the Gauteng Gijimaz and the Cape Stingers in a gripping second night of South Africa’s new Global Team Horse Racing series (GTH).
Team KwaZulu Royals remain in the top spot on the series’ leader board after Friday’s race meeting.
Live races will be held at Hollywoodbets Greyville racecourse tonight and then for one final meeting.
This evening, August 19, the KwaZulu Royals take on the Cape Stingers to. Gates open from 17h00. Races start at 18h00 and are due to finish by 20h30.
Scoring
GTH is a brand new style of thoroughbred horse racing in South Africa.
Points are awarded on a sliding scale with eight races every week. For a win, teams earn 23 points. Second place is worth 18 points. The third and fourth runners in each race earn 15 and 12 team points respectively. Those who run from 5th position to last place earn between 10 and 5 points each.
Points are halved for Races 1 and 2, one race per meeting earns double points, and scores are doubled in Race 8. At the end of each evening, a team win scores 2 points; a draw 1 point and a loss is worth 0 points.
The two teams with the most points by the end of the series will compete for the 2022 GTH series title. A dramatic series finale is scheduled for Friday, September 2, 2022.
Highlights from night two
Following night two of the series last Friday, Neil Tovey’s horse, Bella Siccome came first with jockey Sean Veale in Race 8 securing the Cape Stingers the top spot in the competition to date. Sean Veale was also awarded Night Rider for the night.
Friday’s winning team won by 30 points overall, beating the Gauteng Gijimaz‘s 415 points. The leader board heading into week three this Friday evening is as follows:
KwaZulu Royals – 2 points
Cape Stingers – 2 points
Gauteng Gijimaz – 0 points
GTH Marketing Manager, Angus Campbell, said the race events have been full of excitement. “It has been a thrill to watch. The race goers love the format and many have said that this is the most fun they’ve had at the racecourse in years! We’ve attracted some top local jockeys and trainers to the field, and the horses have put on some exhilarating performances,” he said.
GTH hopes to grow the sport of horse racing in South Africa by treating a new generation of fans to a more action-filled, condensed racing experience.
“It’s not only about seeing your horse cross the line first in only one race. It’s a build-up,” Campbell added.
Jockeys are also having to work together to get their teams into poll position, as opposed to competing individually one race at a time.
Riding for the Cape Stingers, Gabrielle Pieterse was excited about the new format and felt confident in his team and team captain. “GTH is a great idea, this format of team horse racing is a good initiative to bring the public’s eye to the sport!” He went on to ride the fastest time with Passage of Power at a whopping 73km/h.
Excited and confident for her team’s first event, Cape Stingers Manager Michelle Rix, added: “It’s a different atmosphere on course, discussing tactics with owners in the parade ring is different, it’s not the usual, “Don’t get caught wide”, “Come off the fence”, or “Get early gate speed”, it’s a different format! Our horses are leaving for the race and we’re already having to discuss the next race. GTH is great for racing and for people who don’t understand racing”.
For a recap of the GTH scoring system, watch this easy-to-follow video:
Tickets are available online at TIXSA and at the gate. General access is R100. Children under 14 years go free.
GTH race meetings are also being broadcast live on DSTV’s Action channel (209) and on YouTube.
GTH has partnered with the Riverside Hotel where they will be running respective competitions for a VIP experience for the 2nd of September. Follow GTHRacingZA and Riverside Hotel social media pages for more info.
For more information about the series, visit https://www.gthracing.co.za.
