THREE WAYS TO ENJOY RACING IN SA: TRACK, TOTE & TV

The entry of 4Racing onto the local horseracing scene has marked a turnaround for South African racing. Already, IOL reports that there are “rich pickings” of R207 million in store for 2022 over 240 races in the top three racing provinces of Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. This is a substantial increase on the 2021 stakes that stood at R186m. More money, inevitably, means greater interest and so much more excitement.

Some of 4Racing’s primary stated goals are to “appeal to a broad cross-section of the population” (4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe, IOL Sport, 25/11/21) and to acknowledge everyone who has historically been a part of the industry.

This commitment to inclusivity is seeing a lot more South Africans wanting to check out what goes down at the races. How then would a newbie go about watching horseracing in SA?

Track

The country has a rich racing history that we believe began sometime in the 1840s. What is more certain, however,?is that a year after the discovery of gold,?the Johannesburg Turf Club held its first meeting in June 1887.

What could be a stronger link to glitz and glamour than the yellow metal? An up close and personal visit to the track for the racing newbie is an absolute must.

A quote by jockey Federico Tesio points to the type of experience that can only be had trackside: “A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart and wins with his character.” 4racing venues include Turffontein, the Vaal, Fairview, Kenilworth & Durbanville. They have all either already been refurbished or are in the midst of impressive upgrades.

Tote

Worldwide, totes enable punters to pick their horses and put their money into a cumulative pool. Everyone with a winning ticket shares a percentage of the pot. The name is an abbreviation of ‘totaliser’ and you can look that one up!

In South Africa, tote betting takes place at the track and at TAB retail outlets countrywide. These outlets all contain TV screens enabling punters to easily follow their favourites. Serious punters love to share their knowledge, often built up over many years. A trip to the local TAB, therefore, is a good idea for the newbie looking for somewhere to follow the action while getting betting advice to boot. See:?www.tabonline.co.za

TV?

South Africa’s serious punters and newbie racing fans have never had so many TV and digital viewing options. Just last month, 4Racing and SABC Sport announced the April launch of a brand new 30 minute horseracing talkshow, Racing Today.

This outstanding news followed hot on the heels of SA’s 24/7 horseracing channel, Racing240, announcing that DStv viewers across the entire SADC (Southern African Development Community) region will now be able to watch the best SA and overseas Grade 1 races, magazine shows, and more.

Racing240 is where newbies keen to give racing a go are able to find the information they need from SA’s top tipsters and racing experts. It’s viewable on fixed and mobile devices on DStv Channel 240 and via?www.4racing.tv. This URL is also where racing fans can stream racing content from the Global1 and Global2 channels, plus access an archive of past horse races.

ENDS