World Sports Betting (WSB), who support feature races around the country, have agreed to sponsor this year’s SA Triple Crown, a series of races long billed as South Africa’s ultimate test for three-year-olds.
The full sponsorship amount paid by WSB has been utilised to boost the prize money of the series, which is the richest in Africa and comprises three legs over distances ranging from 1600m to 2450m in the space of two months.
“World Sports Betting stepped up to the plate at short notice to sponsor the Gauteng Summer Cup last November and on behalf of Phumelela and horseracing, I would like to express my gratitude to them for doing so again with the SA Triple Crown,” said Phumelela horseracing executive Patrick Davis.
“The money generated by their sponsorship has been used to increase the stakes of the three Johannesburg Triple Crown races,” he added.
Ryno du Plessis of World Sports Betting said: “We are delighted for WSB to be associated with the SA Triple Crown for the first time. Sponsoring a series that comprises a Gr2 and two Gr1 races has further enhanced the stable of major races that WSB has backed. We are also pleased to be supporting all stakeholders in the sport during these challenging times by having our entire sponsorship utilised by Phumelela to bolster the stakes of the three races.”
In order to encourage the participation of Cape-based runners there are alternate first legs – the Cape Guineas over 1600m at Kenilworth in Cape Town and the Gauteng Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein.
The Cape leg of the current series in December was won by Russian Rock.
The second and third legs are the WSB SA Classic over 1800m and the WSB SA Derby over 2450m respectively, both at Turffontein.
There’s a R2-million bonus awaiting the horse who has the speed, stamina and courage to triumph in all three legs.
Three horses have won the Triple Crown.
The mighty Horse Chestnut, who many rank the best horse in South African racing history, won the inaugural event in 1999.
Louis The King banked the bonus in 2014 and Abashiri repeated the feat in 2016.
Full details of the Johannesburg legs of the 2021 World Sports Betting SA Triple Crown are:
- Leg 1: R525,000 WSB Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) 1600m
(Turffontein – Saturday 6 February)
- Leg 2: R750,000 WSB SA Classic (Grade 1) 1800m
(Turffontein – Saturday 6 March)
- Leg 3: R750,000 WSB SA Derby (Grade 1) 2450m
(Turffontein – Saturday 3 April)
A bonus of R2 million will be paid to connections of the horse who wins all three legs.
If ownership changes across the series, the bonus will be shared proportionately. In terms of the bonus, 5% will be paid to winning trainer, 5% to the winning jockey/s and 0.5% to the winning groom (if the trainer, jockey or groom changes across the series, the bonus will be shared proportionately).
There will be no consolation bonus scheme. Horses who participate in the first two legs get free entry and acceptance in the SA Derby.
- Media release by Phumelela Gaming & Leisure Limited on Tuesday 19 January 2021
