Normanz seen winning the 2014 Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint
Thursday, 24 March 2014 saw the media launch of the 2015 Tsogo Sun Sprint at the Montecasino complex in Johannesburg.
The only sprint event with four Grade 1 races in one day has been given a major boost with Tsogo Sun adding its name and prestige to the event – the Tsogo Sun Sprint – scheduled for 23 May 2015 at Scottsville racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.
History
First run in 1962, South Africa’s oldest, biggest and richest sprint event, previously known as the Golden Horse Sprint, is one of the top race days in South Africa and offers over R3 million in prize money this year.
“Tsogo Sun has been a partner to the Golden Horse Sprint for 14 years and is now taking its support to a new level by changing the name to the Tsogo Sun Sprint,” says Jacques Booysen, MD of Tsogo Sun, who explains that Tsogo Sun’s Golden Horse Casino holds the enviable position of being the only casino in Africa to be located on a racecourse.
New strategy
Tsogo Sun Golden Horse Casino
“We’re excited about this new strategic direction that is seeing the group ‘adopt’ key sporting events to the extent of taking on the naming rights to the event. We believe this is a win-win partnership with the City of Pietermaritzburg that will see the Tsogo Sun Sprint being elevated by the opportunity to leverage the Tsogo Sun brand, as well as for the group, which is extending its reach into the thrilling and fast-paced world of horseracing. In fact, this was an opportunity not to be missed as we recognised that changing the name would raise the profile of the casino, the group and the city.”
Last year the group launched its headline sponsorship of the Tsogo Sun Amashova Cycle Challenge in Durban, which heralded a new beginning for both brands. It was the first time that Tsogo Sun embarked on a title sponsorship and it was a clear indication of Tsogo Sun’s belief in the cycle challenge as one that has enormous potential for growth and appeal to its target market. “The Tsogo Sun Sprint also holds great potential for growth and we trust that our partnership with the City of Pietermaritzburg will give the event the opportunity to expand beyond its sound foundation to one that appeals to a far wider audience among horseracing enthusiasts and entertainment-seekers all over the country,” Booysen adds. The race day will be marketed by Tsogo Sun in nine provinces for the first time, through all Tsogo Sun casinos, on every casino floor and in every hotel room, and on TV and radio.
Gold Circle’s Graeme Hawkins
Graeme Hawkins, Racing Director of Gold Circle Horseracing and Betting, says that the significant investment by Tsogo Sun will give the Tsogo Sun Sprint a much-valued boost in terms of positioning Pietermaritzburg as a horseracing destination in South Africa. “Scottsville is a lovely track steeped in tradition, and we believe this new partnership with Tsogo Sun in a top event on the horseracing calendar will bring the horseracing aficionados flooding in to experience the thrills and highlights of the day. We’re extremely grateful to Tsogo Sun for coming on board and we trust this will be a worthwhile relationship for the group for many years to come,” Hawkins adds.
City of Pietermaritzburg
Tsogo Sun’s partnership with the City of Pietermaritzburg began in 2014 when the City participated in the race for the first time. The city’s objective is to support an event that takes place in the heart of the city and has the potential to bring footfall into Pietermaritzburg. Mayor of Pietermaritzburg, Chris Ndlela, says the City of Pietermaritzburg is delighted to be a part of the Tsogo Sun Sprint. “We believe that this new alignment with the Tsogo Sun brand will add impetus to the event and will help to position Pietermaritzburg more strongly on the South African map and drive tourism in the area.”
The four Grade 1 sprints include the R1 million Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint; the R600,000 Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion; the R600,000 Gr1 City of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint and the R600,000 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.
Tsogo Sun’s vision is to be the premier entertainment destination in the catchment area where its properties are located. Sizwe Jantjie, Tsogo Sun Marketing Manager, says, “The sponsorship of this race strengthens the group’s position as the place to go for entertainment and for creating great experiences. The Tsogo Sun Sprint will be an exhilarating day of pace and power, great style and African flair, as well as a host of added entertainment options.”
