This year’s ‘The Summer Reign Season” theme is top notch.
The second edition of Betway 2023 Summer Cup finale on November 25 promises fire, as 10 best horses and their jockey’s battle it out the iconic Turffontein race course, Joburg.
At stake is a whooping R5 million.
Hosted by 4Racing- the country’s leading horse race and betting company- thousands of fans drawn from fashionistas, corporates and media, will set the day as not to be missed in the entertainment calendar.
This is part of sport tourism that drives our economy, says the dazzling Fundi Sithebe, 4Racing CEO, at the media launch on Tuesday.
“Our partnership with Betway keeps growing in that in 2022, we saw over 5000 spectators, and this year, we’re looking at 8 000. These are what we call ROIs, hence the increase of a purse from R2,5m last year to R5million in 2023,” she told this reporter.
“It’s a family gathering but at the same time, allows more betting on the day. So, on the main event there will be SMMEs, fashion, food stalls, as part of supporting our emerging entrepreneurs.”
The Turffontein race-course is one of the best in the country, and we take advantage of other horses from the coast that struggle to perform on Highland to their ultimate best, says well known Jockey- Smanga Khumalo, who attributed this to acclimatising of weather.
“We are thrilled to partner with 4Racing for another year. This year the partnership has already yielded even greater results, with grooms being the ultimate winners, as all participating grooms in the final field of the Betway Summer Cup will walk away with R20 000 each.
We look forward to putting horseracing at the forefront and having it compete with other major sports in the country. We also look forward to the Betway Marquee on the big day, with some of the Betway ambassadors and influencers present,” said Betway’s Jonathan Blumberg.
DJ Zinhle and hitmaker Lady Du, will provide entertainment on the day, from the Half Time Show and official After Party of the Betway Summer Cup, with Joburg’s top socialites set to walk the event’s red carpet on the day.
Celebrities and influencers such as Big Brother Titans 2022 winner; Khosi Twala, fashion influencer Phumza TiyaandmusicianRicky Tyler,will grace the event.
Since taking over the reins and making this horseracing accessible to all at 4Racing, Fundi quipped she looks forward to a day, were 70 000 spectators would attend the Summer Cup, like in Los Angeles, were she graced the event, with fashion, glitz and glamour being the order of the day.
“It is my dream to turn things around and allow the public to be major role players as well, instead of being passive, be it from owning a horse, being a jockey’s to creating job opportunities. It is then we can talk about the 70 000-mark, because everyone would now understand the concept of horseracing and its benefits, apart from betting.”
“Cannot wait to see how people will interpret the ‘Summer Reign’ theme through their outfits for the day,” continued Fundi, who confirmed was at the RWC in France, and joined in the fun when Boks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup to billion viewers, worldwide.
The official barrier draw for the final field of the 2023 Betway Summer Cup will take place on Wednesday 15 November 2023 at Marabi Club in downtown Johannesburg.
Image Mdu Mphahlele (Fundi Sithebe, 4Racing CEO- far right, with models and Jockey’s Muzi Yeni and S’manga Khumalo, at the media launch on Tuesday, Turffontein).
