Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Wednesday 3 December 2025 – Comments by Brandon Bailey

RACE 1

3 DIGBY ran a great race behind William’s Woman at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 25th of October, he stayed on well to finish third, he easily brings in the best form to this race on Wednesday, top jockey Richard Fourie gets the ride, he will be very hard to beat. 9 WORLD CHAMPION was gelded on the 7th of October, he ran a fair race behind Caribbean Gold on the 5th of October, he ran fourth and was beaten just under three lengths by the winner, on his best form, he should be competitive. 7 MR MOUSTACHE ran a much-improved race last time, he finished five lengths behind William’s Woman on the 25th of October, in hope that he has improved further back at home, he could sneak into the places at a decent price. 4 TRAILFINDER is well-bred, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 9 – 7 – 4)

RACE 2

5 DIOGENES had absolutely no luck in running on the 10th of November, he finished just over six lengths behind Boundless Love at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, from a neat draw, there should be no excuses for this individual, he will run a big race. 7 IN A TIMELY MANNER stayed on really well for third last time behind Marcus Aurelius, he was drawn wide on that occasion, and he was coming back from a small break, there should be lots of improvement to come from this gelding, with some luck in running from a tricky draw, he will be right there in the finish. 8 IGNITE THE FIRE quickened up smartly to win a good race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 29th of October, he is a young horse with a terrific turn of foot, he will be charging at them late, include him into all bets. 3 SESAME never runs a bad race, she ran fourth in her last start behind Boundless Love on the 10th of November, she can certainly earn again for the connections from a good draw. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 7 – 8 – 3)

RACE 3

4 SOMMERSTERN moved up like a winner in his last start at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he ran a great race behind Clark Griswold, he will love the step up in trip to 1500m, from a good draw, he will be hard to beat in this field. 8 PRAIRIE DAWN must have a solid each way chance here, he stayed on well for third behind Umzingeli Wenyathi on the 10th of November, watch him late, he will be running on strongly. 1 BLUE STEEL is much better than his last run behind Smarten Up on the 18th of October, he is a lovely looking gelding with a great action, he should bounce back to his best form from a neat draw on Wednesday. 5 LARKING ABOUT has been well tried in the maiden ranks, she could sneak into the places at best. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 8 – 1 – 5)

RACE 4

8 TENPENNY quickened up in devastating fashion to win well at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 25th of October, he was given three points for that impressive win, the yard thinks highly of this individual, even though he is drawn wide, he will be storming home late. 9 MAJOR MASTER is much better than his last run, he was forced to race on speed, and then became one paced up the lane behind Chasingtherainbow on the 10th of November, in hope that he gets given a chance from a bad draw on Wednesday, he could surprise them all and win at a decent price. 2 LA PULGA ran a great race over a trip that is on the short side for him on the 29th of October, he was low flying late for third behind Powerandtheglory, with natural improvement expected on Wednesday, he could be a serious factor in the finish. 1 HANDSOME PRINCE ran his socks off behind Gimmie Rules at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 15th of November, he will run a big race again from a good draw, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 9 – 2 – 1)

RACE 5

8 MASTER OF PARIS ran a lovely race behind his stable companion on the 8th of November, he stayed on well for second behind Ahead Of The Facts in the Listed Woolavington Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he is gutsy, he is honest, and he tries hard, even though he carries a big weight for this staying contest on Wednesday, he should be involved in the finish once again. 4 JOSHUA will love this trip of 2200m, the further they go with this individual, the better he will be, he ran a game race behind Coco’s Hero on the 15th of November, if he gets cheap sectionals in front, he will run a big race. 2 BEAUTIFUL SIDE caught the eye late for third behind Lavender Bay on the 15th of November, her chances must be respected now that she steps up in trip, and she has no weight on her back. 7 TOTHEMOONANDBACK only ran a fair race behind Wehaveasituation on the 19th of November, he was beaten just under six lengths by the winner on that occasion, he has dropped even further in the ratings, and he gets the services of Richard Fourie, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 4 – 2 – 7)

RACE 6

7 BOUNDLESS LOVE showed tremendous heart to win a good race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 10th of November, he was given three points for that win, if he jumps out the machine well and he gets to the front again, he will be hard to peg back, there is no doubt that he will go close to winning again at this level. 9 GIVETHATMANABELLS got caught late when running a superb race behind Marcus Aurelius on the 10th of November, he was taken to the front, and he stayed on strongly for second, unfortunately the wide draw here will make it tough for him, but if he manages to get himself into a good position, he will be right there at the finish. 5 DEVIL A SAINT has dropped even further in the ratings, there should be no excuses for this gelding on Wednesday, from a neat draw, he could be the surprise package at a decent price. 8 ISCHYRO was given a bad ride from a bad draw at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 10th of November, he is much better than that performance, he will be dropped out early from a bad draw here, and he will be doing some good work late, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 9 – 5 – 8)

RACE 7

1 TRUE HORIZON ran a terrific race behind Match That on the 10th of November, she was doing some good work late for second in a competitive race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, if she can bring that run to the track on Wednesday, with no weight on her back, she will take lots of beating. 7 LOVERS LANE stayed on well for second from a bad draw last time behind Dawn’s Early Light, he can definitely win a race like this on his best form, include him into all bets. 4 FORT RED could be the value play in this tricky race, ignore his last run, he is much better than that, he is very fast on his day, if the apprentice gets his sectionals right and gets this horse to settle in front, he could be hard to peg back. 8 BLACK PATH is as honest as they come, she was eating up the ground late when finishing third behind Palace Gift on the 15th of November, if the gaps open at the right time, she will be competitive. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 7 – 4 – 8)

RACE 8

8 ALL ABOUT AL must have a serious winning chance in this field, he ran a top race behind Demanding Dave last time, he was doing some good work late for third in a tight finish up the lane at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 15th of November, if he brings that run to the track on Wednesday, he will go close to winning the lucky last. 9 BILLY COOL has run three good races in succession, he stayed on well for fourth in the same race as All About Al on the 15th of November, he has dropped further in the ratings, if the race works out for this gelding, he will be very competitive. 6 GOLD GIBOSKI could be anything, he has been rested and gelded, he quickened up like a nice horse to win his maiden in style on the 22nd of September, the blinkers stay on, and he drops in trip to 1000m, if he doesn’t need the run badly on Wednesday, he will have a serious winning chance. 3 FOLLOW YOUR HEART has been rested for 91 days, he was well beaten at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 3rd of September, if he puts that run behind him, and bounces back to his best form, he could sneak into the places at a big price. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 9 – 6 – 3)

A plan that came together

David Thiselton

The package of mares bought into South Africa by Cape Thoroughbred Sales just over ten years ago included Fastnet Rock mare Little Fastnet. who was in foal to Frankel and the resultant filly was Frankly, dam of Saturday’s Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans winner, the Heavenly Blue colt Trust.

The mares were looked after by Klawervlei Stud, who took the progeny to the Sales too.

Frankly fetched R4 million at the Premier Yearling Sale, purchased by an agent who must have been acting on behalf of owners Larry Nestadt, Gary Barber and the late Chris Gerber.

The small filly only won one race, but did display a nice turn of foot.

However, the purchase is now paying dividends, because Frankly is turning out to be a fine broodmare.

Larry Nestadt ended up owning Frankly on his own because Gary Barber pulled out of South African racing and Chris Gerber passed away.

However, he then brought Gary Player and Lindsay Ralphs into the partnership.

Frankly now stands at Ascot Stud in the East Cape, which is where the sire that Larry Nestadt has shares in, Heavenly Blue, stands.

Frankly’s first foal was Courageous by Canford Cliffs and she had one win and 19 places in 34 runs.

Larry raced the Australian-bred Heavenly Blue with Mike de Kock and he won the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m among other good performances.

It made sense from a cost point of view for him to send Frankly to Heavenly Blue and the results have been explosive.

Frankly’s second foal, the first produced by Heavenly Blue, was the colt Truth.

He has tremendous pace and has the capacity to stay further, but tends to take a bit of a hold.

He won his first two starts over 1160m and 1400m respectively by 4,25 lengths and 7,25 lengths respectively.

He has not been the luckiest of horses, but has added three more victories since, including the Gr 3 National Currency Sprint over 1100m.

Then along came the third foal, Trust.

Larry pointed out about Trust, “If you look at all of his races, his acceleration is incredible. On debut he looked like he wouldn’t run a place and won. Then in his next start in the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck over 1400m he was taken out at the start by the eventual winner. He was knocked to the back of the field and he still finished second (with another impressive late burst taking him within 0,60 lengths of the winner). He’s a nice horse, good looking horse, and he’s got an incredible turn of foot.”

Trust showed a fine turn of foot again on Saturday. He was the only horse able to go with Jan Van Goyen when the latter burst into the lead. He then once again showed his ability to produce extra late as he got the better of the tussle for the line and was drawing away at the end, winning by 0,70 lengths with the rest of the field in a different race.

Candice Dawson has trained all of Courageous, Truth and Trust.

Trust will not be traveling to run in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas with Larry saying it came too soon after the Dingaans.

Jan Van Goyen is set to run in the Guineas and he will be a good representative of the Highveld three-year-olds.

The Cape three-year-old form has been muddled with the swapping of winners and placings and no standout performers to date.

There could still be horses who will improve and possibly stand out with one of them being the ruling Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas favourite Gimmie Rules. He might have only won a B Stakes event last time, but he was clearly still green and had to come around horses from the back on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Winter Course in the 1400m event and yet won effortlessly.

Horses that ran in the Gr 2 Race Coast Cape Punters Cup could still improve with one example being Happy Verse, who had no sort of luck being caught wide without cover in the running and then being squeezed out late.

However, one of the country’s guru racing analysts, Karel Miedema, has not given any three-year-olds high ratings this season.

He was not overly impressed with the Dingaans form and only awarded Trust an ability rating (AR) of 100.

However, as Ashley Parker of Ascot Stud said about Trust, “He is a nice horse who is still inexperienced, but he is learning fast.”

Not many horses can brag they have won the Dingaans on just their third career start, beating an Equus Champion in the process, so Trust looks to be an exciting prospect.

John Koster, who recalled looking after Frankly at Klawervlei, mentioned that Trust’s pedigree had the “reverse cross” of Danehill via Schnitzel on to Galileo that has done so well.

Trust’s next target will likely be the Triple Crown series of the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas, Gr 1 SA Classic and Gr 1 SA Derby.

Ashley Parker has revealed that Frankly  has a yearling full sister to Trust, who is “magnificent”, and she has a Gimmethegreenlight filly foal at foot. She was covered by Heavenly Blue again this season.

There are many examples of big spending at the Sales being worthwhile in the long run and Larry Nestadt is a deserved beneficiary of Frankly’s early success as a broodmare. Her value and the value of her progeny will be burgeoning.

Meanwhile, Little Fastnet has been standing at Advocate Nigel Riley’s Haversham Stud, having previously been with Maine Chance Farms. Her Jackson filly fetched R100,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale this year.

YOUNG RIDERS SET TO DISPLAY THEIR SKILLS

Warren Lenferna

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is where the action will be today. Eight races, brought to you by Race Coast, are on the card, with the first getting underway at 13:15 and the lucky last at 17:20. It is a wonderful time of the year to be in Cape Town, as the evenings remain bright and warm.

More and more Apprentice races are being staged around the country, giving the emerging talent from the world-class South African Jockey Academy greater opportunities to showcase their skills and improve through race-riding experience. There are two such races today — races two and seven. Race two is a Class 5 over 1600 metres and opens the Place Accumulator, while race seven is a D Stakes over 1200 metres and serves as the penultimate event on the programme.

In race two, seven runners will face the starter, with Diogenes an early scratching. Beer With The Boys, for Lucinda Woodruff and Brevan Plaatjies, jumps from gate one and makes his stable debut. He brings decent form and should run well, making him a definite inclusion for quartet punters. State Capitol, from the Glen Kotzen yard with Jacey Botes aboard, is taking time to win again and will need to improve to threaten, and is likely to be an outsider. Sesame, also trained by Kotzen, has caught the eye in both her runs since breaking her maiden and should relish the claim from Sifisokuhle Bungane. She looks a solid first-four contender.

Gold Index, ridden by Varun Jodhee for Herman Brown and the Social Squad ownership group, finished behind Hiawatha Goldberg last time but looks set to get much closer now. He could be the lurker in the pack and offers some value. Hiawatha Goldberg, also from the Brown stable and representing the same connections, showed huge improvement in his stable debut. With that run under his belt, he should be much fitter and can go on to win. In A Timely Manner is lightly raced and clearly progressive; this is his second run since being gelded and he has a major chance of putting it all together today for Justin Snaith, Nicola Yuen and their owners. Ignite The Fire, for Paddy Kruyer and Damyan Pillay, will start from the widest draw. He recently shed his maiden and now steps up in class, but could still be up to the challenge.

Hiawatha Goldberg is preferred, ahead of In A Timely Manner, with Sesame and Gold Index also expected to run well.

The second Apprentice race of the day is race seven over 1200 metres, where eight runners will charge down the Kenilworth straight. True Horizon caught the eye when running on strongly last time and looks capable of another bold effort with Adam Marcus and Damyan Pillay combining. Avignon, for Piet Botha and Brevan Plaatjies, should be cherry-ripe for his third run after a layoff. Très Chic had excuses last time but must show improvement on current form, and others are preferred. Varun Jodhee takes the ride.

Fort Red, an eight-year-old campaigner, is seldom far off the action and seems to have found the ideal field in which to run a big race, perhaps even securing another victory. Gravity found one better last time and looks the horse they all have to beat. United We Stand remains a maiden and appears held by stronger opposition. Lovers Lane, from the Reeves stable with Nicola Yuen aboard, has been consistent and, despite taking time to win again, looks ready now. He has earned in most of his recent runs. Black Path is ultra-consistent and cannot be ignored in any calculations.

Gravity is the narrow choice, ahead of Lovers Lane, with Black Path and Fort Red expected to make their presence felt.

Soccer Carryovers and Updates – 3 December 2025

PLEASE NOTE!

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Wednesday 3 December 2025. R7 400 000 (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 21h00. Sport 11 Pool 1.

Soccer10 Friday 5 December 2025. ADD-IN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 20h00.Sport 7 and Pool 1.

Soccer4 Saturday 6 December 2025. ADD-IN R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 18 Pool 2.

Soccer10 Saturday 6 December 2025. ADD-IN: R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 8 Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 6 December 2025. Carryover R200 000. Estimated Pool: R750 000. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer SCORES Carryover R 98 416. Saturday 6 December 2025. Pool Closes at 16h00.

Soccer CORNERS Carryover R 3 095. Saturday 6 December 2025. Pool Closes at 16h30.

 

A New Era of Racing: Colossus Pools Launched on 1st December with UK Racing!

Race Coast is thrilled to announce a game changing new era for South African horse racing punters with the official launch of horse racing with Colossus Pools on Monday, 1 December 2025!

Following the successful introduction of Colossus world class sports pools, we are now bringing this innovative technology to the multi-leg racing bets. To kick off the launch, the horse racing pools will feature predetermined, high value UK race meetings, giving local punters access to massive international jackpots.

This marks a major step forward for the sport, combining the thrill of racing with modern, flexible features.

Introducing Unprecedented Control

For the first time in South African racing, you will be able to take advantage of key features that put you in control of your bet:

  • Cash Out: Don’t wait until the last race! You will now receive leg-by-leg offers to Cash Out all or part of your ticket as the pool progresses. Secure a profit early or reduce your risk, giving you unprecedented control over your potential winnings.
  • Syndicate Betting: Join forces with other punters to crowdfund a single, high stakes ticket. Share the cost, increase your chances of hitting the jackpot, and share the rewards with the betting community. You can become a Syndicate Captain or contribute to a ticket led by an expert.

Race Coast is committed to innovating and ensuring our horse racing proposition is the most exciting and engaging in the country.

Get Ready to Play!

Look out for the Colossus button on the www.tote.co.za website and from December 1st, toggle between Football and Horse Racing, and experience the new generation of betting.

Massive UK Jackpots, More Control, and Shared Success—get ready to elevate your racing experience!

Get Ready for a Game Changer! Introducing Colossus – Bigger Pools, More Control!

We are thrilled to announce a ground-breaking new chapter in your betting experience! We’ve partnered with Colossus Bets, a leading UK-based company, to bring you an exciting new product never before seen in the South African tote betting market.

What is Colossus Bets?

Imagine betting into massive, guaranteed prize pools, often reaching life-changing sums, with the added power of controlling your bet as the action unfolds. That’s the essence of Colossus Bets! It’s a revolutionary way to play, combining the thrill of traditional tote betting with unparalleled flexibility.

Understanding the Bet Types & Functionality:

Colossus Bets specialises in pool betting, where you bet against other players. The total money wagered is placed into a “pool”, and the prize money is shared among all winning tickets. The more people who play, the larger the potential jackpot! 

Some of the Bet Types on offer

  • Pick 1×2: This is a straightforward pool where you predict the result of each match – Home Win (1), Draw (X), or Away Win (2).

 

  • Correct Score: This is a more challenging but potentially more lucrative pool, where you must predict the exact final result of each match

 

  • Both Teams to Score: This is for fans of goals and fast paced action. Your task is to simply predict whether or not both teams will score at least one goal in a selected series of matches

 

Innovative Functionality

  • Cash Out: This feature allows you to lock in a profit before all matches (legs) in your ticket are completed. After each leg, Colossus bets will make you an offer to buy your ticket based on its current value. You can choose to accept the guaranteed payout or stay in the game for a chance at the full jackpot.

 

  • Syndicate Betting: Colossus Bets offers a unique way to play through Syndicate Tickets, allowing Players to team up and increase their chances of winning. Creating a Syndicate – If you have a betting strategy or consider yourself a “Pro”, you can create a Syndicate Ticket and invite other Players to contribute towards the payment of the ticket. Joining a Syndicate – Alternatively, you can join a Syndicate Ticket that another Player has already created. When you contribute to a Syndicate Ticket, you will own a share of that ticket. This share is directly proportional to the amount of money you contributed. If the Syndicate Ticket wins, you will receive a proportionate share of any returns (such as dividends or cash-out proceeds) based on your contribution. In essence, Syndicate Tickets allows Players to pool their resources, share the risk, and share the rewards!

 

  • Guaranteed Huge Sports Pools: Colossus Bets offers guaranteed prize pools often reaching life-changing proportions. This means greater potential payouts for a winning ticket!

 

  • Consolation Prizes: For many pools, if you narrowly miss the jackpot by getting a number of the selections correct, you can still win a share of a consolation prize. This means that you can still get a payout even if your ticket isn’t a perfect winner.

How to find the Colossus Product

To access the Colossus soccer products, simply follow these steps:

  • Log in to your TOTE account on www.tote.co.za
  • Once logged in, look for the “Colossus” button on the main navigation bar.
  • Click the button to be taken to a new page, displaying all the available Colossus products
  • Start playing!

 

Why is this a game changer for South Africa?

Colossus Bets is renowned for pioneering the Cash Out feature in multi-leg pool betting, Syndicate Betting, and for offering some of the largest sports jackpots globally. This partnership brings that innovation and scale directly to you, providing a fresh and exciting way to engage with your favourite sports.

We are confident that Colossus Bets will transform your betting experience, offering bigger thrills and more control than ever before.

Ready to get in on the action? The Colossus button on www.tote.co.za is your portal to this revolutionary product. Don’t miss out!

Be sure to look out for the Colossus horse racing products – Coming Soon!

Get Ready for a Game Changer! Introducing Colossus Bets – Bigger Pools, More Control! – Betting now OPEN!!!

Introducing Colossus Bets

We are thrilled to announce a ground-breaking new chapter in your betting experience! We’ve partnered with Colossus Bets, a leading UK-based company, to bring you an exciting new product never before seen in the South African tote betting market.

What is Colossus Bets?

Imagine betting into massive, guaranteed prize pools, often reaching life-changing sums, with the added power of controlling your bet as the action unfolds. That’s the essence of Colossus Bets! It’s a revolutionary way to play, combining the thrill of traditional tote betting with unparalleled flexibility.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Guaranteed Huge Sports Pools: Colossus Bets offers enormous, guaranteed prize pools. This means bigger potential pay-outs for a winning ticket!

• Multi-Leg Challenges: Test your sporting knowledge by predicting the outcome of multiple events (legs) within a single pool. The more legs you correctly predict, the closer you get to that colossal jackpot!

• The Power of Cash Out: This is where Colossus Bets truly revolutionises your play! For the first time in South African tote betting, you will be offered the option to Cash Out your bet before all legs of your ticket are complete. If some of your early selections (Legs) are winning, you could secure a profit even if the later legs are still in doubt. You can choose to cash out a portion of your ticket or wait for the completion of all the legs for a possible larger prize, giving you unprecedented control over your potential winnings.

• Syndicate Betting: Colossus Bets offers a unique way to play through Syndicate Tickets, allowing Players to team up and increase their chances of winning. Creating a Syndicate – If you have a betting strategy or consider yourself a “Pro”, you can create a Syndicate Ticket and invite other Players to contribute towards the payment of the ticket. Joining a Syndicate – Alternatively, you can join a Syndicate Ticket that another Player has already created. When you contribute to a Syndicate Ticket, you will own a share of that ticket. This share is directly proportional to the amount of money you contributed. If the Syndicate Ticket wins, you will receive a proportionate share of any returns (such as dividends or cash-out proceeds) based on your contribution. In essence, Syndicate Tickets allows Players to pool their resources, share the risk, and share the rewards!

Why is this a game changer for South Africa?

Colossus Bets is renowned for pioneering the Cash Out feature in multi-leg pool betting, Syndicate Betting, and for offering some of the largest sports jackpots globally. This partnership brings that innovation and scale directly to you, providing a fresh and exciting way to engage with your favourite sports.

We are confident that Colossus Bets will transform your betting experience, offering bigger thrills and more control than ever before.

Ready to get in on the action? The Colossus button on www.tabgold.co.za is your portal to this revolutionary product.

Don’t miss out!

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE 129TH HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY!

Durban, South Africa – The countdown has begun! The 129th edition of Africa’s premier horse racing and social spectacular, the Hollywoodbets Durban July (HDJ), is set to take place on Saturday, 5th July 2025, at the iconic Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. As the most anticipated fixture on South Africa’s racing calendar, the event seamlessly blends world-class horse racing with high fashion, entertainment, and a memorable social experience.

Staying true to the theme of “Marvels of Mzansi,” this year’s racing extravaganza promises an iconic line-up of South African talent, featuring a diverse array of artists set to captivate all attendees throughout the day. The national anthem will be beautifully performed by one of the country’s leading songstresses – look out for the reveal in May. With these performances, the thousands of attendees expected at Hollywoodbets Greyville will have a memorable experience. Stay tuned for the full artist line-up. All ticket holders can look forward to a day filled with live entertainment that will be talked about for years to come, as this year’s HDJ celebrates Mzansi’s vibrant spirit. 

Tickets for this outstanding event are now officially on sale via Ticketpro (www.ticketpro.co.za). Priced at R230 for general admission, your ticket grants access to a day of thrilling racing action, live entertainment, fashion showcases, gourmet food experiences, and an array of engaging activations from event partners. For added convenience, onsite parking is available for R170 per vehicle.

For those seeking an elevated experience, the VIP hospitality packages provide exclusive access to luxurious enclosures, premium viewing areas, and top-tier catering. These options can be explored on the official event website (www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za). Please note that VIP hospitality packages do not include general admission tickets, which must be purchased separately via Ticketpro.

This year’s theme, “Marvels Of Mzansi”, was unveiled in late February, marking the official commencement of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience, presented by Durban Fashion Fair. The fashion programme includes the much-anticipated HDJ Young Designer Award, showcasing the best up-and-coming talents from KwaZulu-Natal. The winners will share the spotlight with the HDJ Invited Designers and DFF Rising Stars at the HDJ Fashion Preview Gala, set to take place at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in late June.

Racing enthusiasts can also look forward to the announcement of the first official entrants on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. With last year’s champion, Oriental Charm, emerging as the early ante-post favourite, excitement is already building. 

Secure your tickets today and experience Africa’s greatest horse racing and social event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July!

Soccer10 Price change on Wednesdays

Please Note: From December, Unit cost of all Soccer10 Pools closing on Wednesdays will be R3.

The R3 unit cost on Wednesdays is on a trial basis only & follows requests from many customers to increase the Soccer10 Unit.

The unit cost of Soccer10 Pools on all other days remains R2.

KZN Racing – The New Dawn Takes Shape

All systems go on 1 January 2025

Horseracing in KwaZulu-Natal took the next step to the dawn of a new era with the publication on Thursday of a revitalized racing programme and the news of the introduction of incentives and stakes adjustments that will align the province with the status quo in the Cape.

The introduction of the new-look programme and policies on the East Coast comes into play as a result of the proposed acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group, which now hinges on the required approval of the KZN Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA).

Whilst the outstanding approval of the KZNERA is critical to the transaction, and will be the final step in transferring ownership, Hollywoodbets and its appointed Chairman Designate of Gold Circle, Greg Bortz are in management and strategic decisions during the interim period, with Hollywoodbets investing funds at its own risk to ensure the continuity of horse racing in KZN, and the survival of Gold Circle.

Programme and related reading matter, click here.


Subject to the fulfillment of other outstanding conditions precedent, the deal effectively unlocks a R500 million rescue injection from Hollywoodbets, and a takeover of the sport in the holiday province, which is set to include track upgrades and other infrastructural and operational initiatives.

The new KZN programme covers the period 1 January to 28 February 2025 and introduces the stakes-boosted class racing structure to the province, while unveiling financial incentives via the RaceCoast incentive scheme with the ultimate aim of improving racehorse ownership in KZN and achieving enhanced field sizes with the knock-on vital lifeblood of increased betting turnovers.

Down South, the RaceCape incentive programme has proven a winner and has underscored the unprecedented turnaround in Cape horseracing by providing further opportunities for the local racing community and increased employment prospects for grooms and work riders, as well as raising the bar for all related and ancillary horse racing services.

“We are very excited about future plans for KZN racing,” Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak told the Sporting Post on Thursday, as he outlined broad plans to revolutionise the appeal of the sport across the board for all stakeholders in KZN.

“We need to provide owners and trainers with an even and attractive playing field that makes them want to race. Stakes and rewards need to be meaningful. That ultimately leads to better field sizes, more exciting racing and improved betting turnovers. Punters are key to the success of the process. We are implementing a first world reform in terms of transparency when it comes to information. Items like horse weights, for example, will be published. They are, after all, a form assessment tool. Horses working at our training centres and tracks will all have easily identifiable bar-coded saddle-cloths. So, there are no secrets. If Oriental Charm or One Stripe is on track, the public will share in it,” added Vermaak, who confirmed that barrier draws after acceptance was another operational change which would be implemented on 1 January 2025.

Veteran KZN trainer Garth Puller, who attended a recent stakeholder’s meeting at Summerveld hosted by Greg Bortz, Justin Vermaak, Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets officials, enthused that he was thrilled by the news of the takeover by business-minded racing people who were brave and bold enough to step in and turn the ship around.

“This has come very late for me at my age, but it’s a lifechanger and the future is brighter than it was yesterday,” reflected a delighted Puller as he told the Sporting Post that the adjusted stakes and ‘very welcome’ incentives would boost cash-flows,  while also making it so much easier to help him and his colleagues market the basic ownership product.

“And we are getting draws after acceptances. Wonderful! I was calling for that 25 years ago at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Bigger fields mean a faster pace, means better form, means better truer results. It’s an ecosystem of positivity. It all feeds on itself,” added the horseman who is never scared to pass an opinion.

Puller said the repair of the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville was ‘definitely quite overdue and welcome news’.

“That’s our stage. The track must be safe for horse and rider, be true and competitive, and have credibility with all role-players. That’s not a negotiable.”

On the ‘abolition’ of the committee structure to facilitate decision making and policy, Puller said that he was so pleased to hear that all reasonable suggestions will be considered by management.

“Wonderful! So there are no more long-winded committees to hide behind and to dither over. How refreshing.  I believe every stakeholder in this sport in KZN needs to doff a cap to Hollywoodbets and Mr Bortz. This investment and takeover is a brave move. But we know that with the passion for horse racing of the local population in this province, we can make it work. And by putting the structures in place they are making sure we have no excuses. Let’s look forward and get on with rebuilding KZN racing. I am absolutely thrilled. This is good news,” he concluded.