Horse racing operator, 4Racing, hosted an exciting Topbet Spring Challenge at the Turffontein Racecourse on October 1.
The fun-filled event was a heady mix of racing high drama, quality horse racing and fantastic entertainment and family fun.
A wonderful crowd came out in good numbers for an event that kick-started the Gauteng horse racing season.
They were royally entertained on a beautiful day out in the sun-filled with a variety of activities for all.
Racegoers and attendees included Kaizer Chiefs marketing director and horserace owner, Jessica Motaung, Soweto Equestrian Centre founder Enos Mafokate and SuperSport anchor Neil Andrews.
Fundi Sithebe, CEO of 4Racing said their goal is to build the world’s most-loved horse racing experience and to revive horse racing as fantastic leisure, high performance and lifestyle sport for all.
She said their partnership with Topbet enabled them to create a wonderful, family-focused experience for Johannesburg’s horse racing and event fans.
“It was a fantastic launch of Johannesburg’s horse racing season as we build up to our popular Summer Cup at Turffontein on November 26 and as we continue to showcase new initiatives to grow the sport’s popularity and engagement,” said Sithebe.
The impressive favourite for the main race, William Robertson, won the Topbet Spring Challenge, but not without plenty of drama and tension ahead of the big race.
Champion jockey S’manga Khumalo stunned the crowd when he opted against racing William Robertson after leading him to the start, indicating he was not comfortable with the condition of the horse and withdrawing from the race.
A frantic last-minute replacement jockey was sought, and there could be no better candidate than the experienced and wily veteran Muzi Yeni, who was waiting in the wings and was rushed to the start as the drama unfolded.
Yeni duly produced a thrilling ride to lead William Robertson to a famous nerve-wracking victory, holding off a determined charge from jockey Diego de Gouveia on the horse After The Rain.
The exciting nine-race programme entertained the crowds and saw Juan Paul van der Merwe riding Humdinger to victory in the Topbet Fillies and Mare Challenge and Yeni and William Robertson stealing the thunder in the main R400 000 Topbet Spring Challenge.
The next major race day at Turffontein is the Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile on October 29, with the big Summer Cup race day set for Turffontein on November 26.
