GTH wins Event Of The Year at Sport Industry Awards
Innovation and Excellence recognised
Global Team Horse Racing (GTH), who engaged a young, diverse, and globally connected fan base for horse racing with their inaugural GTH Team Series at Hollywoodbets Greyville this year, has won the prestigious and sought-after ‘Event of The Year’ Award, presented at The Hollard Sports Industry Awards ceremony in Johannesburg last Thursday evening.
Staged annually, the Sport Industry Awards showcase and reward the industry’s very best work, from a whole host of sports, brands, agencies, and rights holders, covering marketing, PR, digital, sponsorship, advertising, community investment, social media, and branding.
Campaigns launched between 31 August 2021 and 30th 2022 were eligible for a range of awards, including Sponsor of The Year, Communications Award and African Excellence and Social/Environmental Impact, with Event of The Year being one of the jewels in the crown. GTH was also nominated for Audio Visual Content of The Year.
Nominees for Event of The Year included the Rugby World Cup Sevens (SA Rugby), the Spar Grand Prix (BLD Group) and the Hollywoodbets Super League (SAFA). GTH CEO, Steve Ajax, commented: “We are hugely honoured and privileged to have won this award in the company of some big industry names. We believed from the start that GTH would be a game-changer with its thrilling, fast-paced, team racing concept aimed at a new, diverse generation of fans.”
Ajax added: “The award is an endorsement of the outstanding efforts of our exceptional team. They persisted in the face of a fair number of challenges which required great effort but pulled off a phenomenal series. Their commitment is praiseworthy, and I extend my thanks.
“We have plenty more to come next year as, alongside our live events, we’ve set our sights on the Metaverse with our ground-breaking digital offer, Meta.Horse, a holistic horse racing experience based on our unique GTH format.”
Angus Campbell, Marketing Director GTH Racing, said: “It’s been an exceptionally successful year for GTH with the completion of the pilot Live Series. We’ve learnt so much during 2022 and getting awarded Event of the Year is a huge positive for GTH and for racing. However, there is a long way to go, and we will keep pushing boundaries in everything we do.
“Our sincere thanks go to Hollard Insurance and The Sport Industry Group, the organiser of the Sport Industry Awards. They are dynamically engaged, set the agendas, and celebrate excellence within the industry.”
4Racing delights in excellent first Betway-sponsored Summer Cup
Johannesburg’s biggest horseracing event and one of the city’s top lifestyle and fashion attractions, the Betway Summer Cup, burst back into life as punters flocked to a vibrant Turffontein Racecourse in droves last Saturday.
Dubbed ‘The Golden Summer’ as a tribute to the City of Gold’s return to bustling events and activity, punters and racegoers heeded the theme with fashion that was a glittering sight, as racegoers embraced the Golden Summer theme on an entertaining race day hosted by racing operator, 4Racing.
Award-winning singer Lady Zamar got the crowd on their feet with her half-time show, performing her famous hits, Citizen and Love is blind, before the main event.
The only race day to feature a half-time show, taking inspiration from the NFL, the Betway Summer Cup half-time show also featured a colourful blend of performers including a delightful display from drum majorettes, cheer leaders, and a spectacular fashion show by the Spero Villioti Elite Design Academy.
“We are thrilled to have hosted a successful 2022 Betway Summer Cup, together with our sponsors and partners that made Johannesburg’s biggest horse racing experience come to life. This was truly the People’s race, with thousands of people enjoying a beautifully sunny day, excellent entertainment and thrilling races,” said Fundi Sithebe, CEO of 4Racing.
Johannesburg Mayor, Mpho Phalatse, attended the event, together with, amongst others, Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Property Management Tasneem Motara, The Wife actress Mbalenhle Mavimbela, Kaizer Chiefs Marketing Director Jessica Motaung, and Carte Blanche’s Claire Mawisa.
The famous garden-themed Golden Summer marquee was a floral affair, hosting the majority of racegoers with a premium view of the finish line. DJ, media personality and businesswoman, DJ Zinhle lit up the celebrity-filled dance floor, along with Amapiano star Boohle, at the luxurious Voguish Marquee with an electrifying performance.
This year’s sponsors included headline sponsors Betway, Johannesburg Tourism, Jonsson Workwear, DStv and SABC Sport as broadcast partners, showing the horse racing event live from Turffontein on the day.
The Pick 6 Pool grew to R9,66-million and, following the few upset results, returned R R1,163 778.90 to 8.1 winners.
4Racing Chairman Charles Savage, commented: “It is Easy to lose sight of how far the 4Racing team have come in just 12 months and impossible not to be grateful, on a day like this, to Mary Slack, Jessica and Steven Jell and the incredible MOD team for all they have done to get racing back to this point. There was a spring in the step of many on Saturday, not seen for some time, there were of course the incredible thoroughbreds that set the track on fire. Well done to all the winners, runners, fans and the entire families who pitched up and made it so. Best of all is 4Racing is only just warming up!”
Corks pop as Alcohol Free sells for 5,4-million gns!
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Ever since the catalogue for the Tattersalls December Mares Sale was released, those in the orbit of the bloodstock world have been asking the same two questions: How much will Alcohol Free make, and who will buy her?
Shortly before 6 p.m. Nov. 29 during the second Sceptre Session, the answer was revealed when Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland, sitting beside Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments, bid 5,400,000gns ($6,781,077) in front of an awestruck Park Paddocks auditorium.
Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier, standing among the crowd in the packed gangway, filled the role of underbidder as the daughter of No Nay Never – became the second-most expensive Thoroughbred ever sold at auction in Europe.
“She’s been bought for a partnership and she’s going to race on in Australia,” Donohoe said. “She vetted extremely well for a filly who has plenty of miles on the clock; her reports were exemplary. The partners already have horses in training and breeding interests in Australia, and obviously she’ll make a fantastic broodmare at the end of her racing career.
“I think there’s 87 races in Australia worth a million-plus, so the prize money on offer there is big, and she’s that type of filly. She’s won the July Cup over six furlongs, then she stays a mile, too, so there’ll be a lot of options for her. Fair play to (trainer) Andrew Balding and the guys, they did a great job with her.”
Former star race mare Ouija Board dies
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Ouija Board, a global superstar, two-time Eclipse Award winner, and successful broodmare, has died at age 21, Thoroughbred Daily News reports.
The Cape Cross mare spent her last years as a broodmare at Stanley House Stud in Newmarket, England, in service of Edward Stanley, the Earl of Derby.
Trained by Ed Dunlop, Ouija Board competed in seven different countries, and faced Grade or Group 1 competition at each stop.
Her racing career began in her native England, where she took home the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, followed immediately by a trip across the Irish Sea to take the G1 Irish Oaks. Ouija Board was on the move once again for her next start, traveling to France to finish third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Ouija Board finished her 3-year-old season with her first of what would be three trips to the U.S. to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The event was held at Lone Star Park in 2004, and Ouija Board drew off late to defeat older foes by 1 1/2 lengths as the post time favorite. That effort helped secure her the Eclipse Award as North America’s champion turf female, and she was also named 2004 European Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly.
At four, Ouija Board tallied a win in the English G3 Princess Royal John Doyle Stakes during an abbreviated campaign, then she returned stateside to finish second to Intercontinental in the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Belmont Park before shipping to Asia to finish fifth against males in the G1 Japan Cup, then win the Hong Kong Vase.
Ouija Board returned to full power in 2006, once again earning European’s Horse of the Year title and champion older horse, along with another Eclipse Award as champion turf female.
That season started in the U.A.E., where she finished fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, then it carried on to a third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong before returning to her home country for the summer, which included a score in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes during the Royal Ascot meet. She notched a victory in the G1 Nassau Stakes, then shipped to Ireland once again to run second in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes before making a final trip to the U.S. for the Breeders’ Cup.
In the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Ouija Board rallied from five wide to win by 2 1/4 lengths. She then finished her on-track career with a third-place effort in the Japan Cup.
Ouija Board retired with 10 wins in 22 starts for earnings of $6,312,552.
When she was retired to Lord Derby’s broodmare band in 2007, she accumulated a similar amount of success, earning the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s H J Joel Salver Award for Flat Broodmare of the Year in 2014.
Her produce record is highlighted by Australia, a son of Galileo who won the 2014 Epsom and Irish Derbies. He is the only Epsom Derby winner whose sire was himself a Derby winner while his dam was also an Epsom Oaks winner. Australia stands at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.
Other runners of note out of Ouija Board include Group 2 winner Frontiersman and Group 3 winner Voodoo Prince.
Teetan hopes to ride next week following illness
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Karis Teetan plans to tune up for the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) on the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) undercard next Wednesday as he returns from what will be nearly three months on the sidelines.
Teetan has not ridden since September 18 because of a thyroid condition, symptoms of which include a high heart rate and muscle weakness, but he is confident he will be given the all-clear to take rides later this week.
“I’ll have a blood test again on Friday, but I spoke to the doctor last week and they’re pretty confident I’ll be back racing on IJC night,” he said.
“Of course, there’s not many races for those not riding in the IJC, so I’ll just pick up one or two on the night to have a go around before the big day. Everything seems to be going the right way, and I’m looking forward to getting back.” -SCMP.
‘Gimme’ this last one!
BORN AT AVONTUUR STUD
Pippa Mickleburgh, GM of Avontuur Estate, has seen another foaling season go by and she wrote on Facebook: “Foaling season 2022… all done and dusted.
“A majestic Gimmethegrenlight colt to end with a bang… colts dominating the fillies by quite a way.
“Thanks to the awesome night shift team who were diligent, caring and sure made my job a whole lot easier.
“Personally it was a hard one for me and my special mares but the love, understanding and support from one and all was extremely appreciated and helped me make it through.
“Looking forward to some sleep and no interruptions.”
Nicholls says rival Elliott is talking a load of bull!
INTERNATIONAL RACING
Paul Nicholls has shot down accusations that British jump racing is being harmed by an unwillingness from trainers to regularly take on each other with their best horses as a “load of b******”.
The champion jumps trainer said on Tuesday that he “didn’t agree with a word” of the observations by Gordon Elliott that racing in Britain was falling behind Ireland in part due to trainers choosing to “duck and dive each other the whole time” with their best performers.
Horses trained in Ireland have dominated British jump racing in recent seasons, topped by Irish trainers winning 23 of the 28 races at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. The last four winners of the Randox Grand National have also been trained in Ireland.
Elliott said the example of Nicky Henderson running two of his best horses – Constitution Hill and Epatante – in the same race at Newcastle at the weekend “doesn’t happen in England too often” and added “there’s no hiding place in Ireland” and that “the best racing [is] here because we have to take each other on every day.”
Nicholls gave short shrift to Elliott’s argument, instead saying British trainers were purely focused on ensuring their horses ran in races where they had the best chance of winning.
“I thought it was a load of b******, we run our horses where we think it’s best for them,” Nicholls said.
“We’re not frightened of anyone, we’re not ducking and diving and trying to avoid running against each other. I didn’t agree with a word of it.” – Racing Post.
Today’s Question
Name the jockey who has ridden the most winners in racing history.
KZN MEETING MOVED
Hollywoodbets Scottsville has been drenched by heavy rainfall (134mm) over the past 3 weeks with 42mm being recorded over the weekend.
As at 13:00 today, penetrometer readings is 35 on the Standside Track and 36 on the Inside track with some areas recording 40.
The chances of the track drying up sufficiently for Wednesday’s race meeting is remote and Gold Circle has taken an early decision to move the race meeting to Hollywoodbets Greyville Turf track (Pen reading 25).
Races 4 & 5 now 1800m and Race 6 over 1600m. First race off at 12:30.
Hollywoodbets Greyville Fields, Wednesday
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Vaal Fields, Thursday
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Picture: Russell Baze.
