Note To Self beats Wish List in the annual Champions Season highlight, the Hollywoodbets Durban July (Picture: Race Coast)
The curtain has fallen on another outstanding KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season; one that showcased world-class racing, exceptional equine talent and reaffirmed the strength and momentum of South African racing. As the 2026/27 racing season officially begins on 1 August, attention now turns to the highly anticipated Cape Summer Festival of Racing, where an exciting new chapter will unfold from 1 November.
Building on the success of the past season, Race Coast is pleased to announce a significant increased investment across both the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal through enhanced stakes that will benefit participants throughout the industry.
Unlike previous years, the end of Champions Season will not see a reverting back to “out-of-season” purses. The current stakes structure and Race Coast Incentive Scheme (RCIS) will remain in place until 31 October 2026 and a new stakes structure will take effect on 1 November 2026, coinciding with the start of the Cape Summer Festival of Racing. RCIS will fall away on the same date; however, it is important to note that every Rand has been redirected to the stakes pot.
Race Coast has approved a substantial increase in annual stakes across both regions, taking the combined stakes investment to R270 million, an increase of 20% on the past year.
Grooms will now get a 100% increase in their share of the stakes, in recognition of the invaluable contribution they make to the care, preparation and success of South Africa’s racehorses. The stakes earnings for grooms will increase from 1% to 2%, effectively doubling their reward. This decision reflects the commitment of Hollywoodbets and Race Coast to meaningful investment in the people whose every day dedication underpins the success of the sport.
In breaking down the new funding, KwaZulu-Natal stakes will increase from R129 million to R156 million, while Western Cape stakes will increase from R96 million to R114 million, providing increased returns and opportunities across the racing programme.
One of the most meaningful enhancements comes at the grassroots level of the sport. Minor race stakes will increase by an average of 20% during the off-season and 22% during the respective seasons, significantly improving earning opportunities for owners, trainers and racing connections throughout the year.
The minimum stake for all minor races increases from R80 000 to R100 000 during the off-season, while no in-season minor race will carry a stake of less than R110 000.
Feature Race stakes have also been reviewed and standardised across the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, with Grade 1 races receiving the largest increases to further strengthen South Africa’s premier racing programme. The new Feature Race stakes will be released timeously before the respective Cape and KwaZulu-Natal seasons.
To align with the enhanced stakes structure, Entry and Declaration Fees will increase by 20% from 1 November 2026.
Speaking on behalf of the Race Coast companies, Head Of Racing Operations WC, Kurt Felix, commented, “These enhancements represent an important investment in the future of racing and reflect our commitment to growing the industry in a sustainable way. Increasing stakes strengthens the racing programme at every level, while the doubling of the stakes earnings for grooms recognises the vital role they play in the success of every horse and every stable. We believe these changes will provide greater opportunities across the industry and continue to build confidence in racing as we look ahead to an exciting Cape Summer Festival of Racing and the seasons beyond.”
With renewed investment, increased opportunities and the excitement of another Cape Summer Festival of Racing on the horizon, the 2026/27 season promises to build on the momentum of a successful KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season and continue the positive trajectory of South African racing.
That is not the end of the good news. Race Coast is currently in discussions with 4Racing concerning the proposed structure, including meaningful rewards, for the National Championships for both trainers and jockeys for the 2026-27 season. An announcement in that regard will follow shortly.
Race Coast Stakes Investment – Effective 1 November 2026
