South Africa’s most popular horseracing competition produced two thrilled joint winners, including a a Durban-based novice punter and a Cape racecaller, at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday. Each player will take home R280 000.
Following a recent revamp, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge, a test of wits, skill and racing knowledge, with a dollop of luck, requires players to select one horse in each race at the designated racemeetings on the day, and is now available to play on all local race meetings, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore.
Under the new prize money formula the all-or-nothing prize to the player, or players, who correctly pick all the winners on any race day is now determined by the number of starters at the race meeting multiplied by R10 000.
In an exciting climax to the competition, the in-form Robert Khathi got Trade War home by a narrow margin over the pressing Gimme A Rainbow in the seventh and final race of the day.
Robert Khathi’s body language speaks loudly as Trade War (4) hold on to beat Gimme A Rainbow (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
There were 56 starters at the KZN racemeeting on Wednesday, so multiplied by R10 000 there was R560 000 shared by the two champions who selected all 7 winners on the card.
As an added incentive, Hollywoodbets double the prize money for the all-or-nothing prize and the daily must-be-won prize is also doubled for those players who have had a bet on the Punters’ Challenge Bet Slip, to the value of R50 or more, prior to the running of the first race.The Bet Slip is programmatically generated.
Unfortunately, neither of the two Wednesday winners made the decision to wager the R50 minimum, but both are ecstatic!
Proud Dad Neil Pretorius with his big-winning son Devon – this is a file pic!
“I am still shaking,” a clearly happy Devon Pretorius told the Sporting Post. Devon is a trainee racecaller in the Cape.
The 21 year old racing fanatic, the son of seasoned Tellytrack Presenter Neil Pretorius, said that he loved the free-to-enter Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge and had played every day for as long as he could remember.
“There were only seven races on the card today. I studied the form. It’s so weird as in the last race I almost went for Quest For The Best, but suddenly had one of those near spiritual moments only racing people will understand. It was a dash of inspiration where I saw Trade War’s silks in my head. He was in front. In the end it was something of an inspired decision, no matter how odd it may sound,” he laughed.
Devon said the R280 000 would come in ‘very handy’.
“Life is expensive, so a surprise like this is very welcome. Thanks to Hollywoodbets. They have done so much for racing, and now I personally am in the winner’s queue. I am so chuffed. Thank you again and congratulations to my co-winner,” added the young racing fan.
Durban-based Narsadu (his game name) finished in joint top spot with Devon on 83,97 points.
He chose for professional reasons to retain his anonymity but confirmed that he is a single 42 year old employed in the automotive industry, and has been involved in racing, and the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge, for, wait for it, two months!
“We study form and I am so very happy thank-you. The cash will be used for home renovations. I am a newbie in horseracing, but got introduced to it by a friend and have grown to love it. You can just imagine how this win will boost my passion for the game,” he laughed.
Narsadu said that he had been glued to the Gallop TV screen from the fifth race, and ‘sweated’ to the last.
Asked why he had not made use of the automatically generated Betslip card where he would have doubled his win, he conceded that he did, but unfortunately did not have the R50 balance in his account – so he played his all-on with the nominal balance that he had!
“I know that sounds ridiculous, but I’m not complaining. It’s a good day in any punter’s book, I reckon!”
Watch how Devon and Narsadu sweated in the final race:
Over and above the main goal of finding all the winners, as our two lucky winners did today, daily prize money of R5 000 for each of the scheduled race meetings is shared by the top 20 players on the points leaderboard at the end of the day.
The winner is awarded R2 000, with the runner-up R1 000, and the balance apportioned in terms of the published rules down to the 20th finisher.
For those wondering how to get involved, all that is needed is a Hollywoodbets account and the choice is yours to either select one horse in each of the races at the designated race meeting – as Devon and Narsadu did – or opt to make use of the ‘quick-pick’ option and take a chance!
Players receive points depending on where their selection finishes in a race, and how many actual runners there are in that race.
Points are awarded in accordance with the horses’ finishing positions i.e. in a 10-horse field, the winner will be awarded ten (10) points, 2nd place is nine (9) points and so on, with the last horse being awarded one (1) point.
Points are also awarded according to the price of the winner only. The winning selection receives a bonus of the Hollywoodbets starting price.
Entries must be in at least five minutes prior to the off of the first race. If you intend using the Bet Slip to enhance your payout potential, we would suggest you allow yourself some time. And make sure you have at least R50 in your account!
Join the next Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge at the Vaal on Thursday – the first is off at 12h00.
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