Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Ayr, Windsor (UK) and Killarney (Ireland) – 14 July 2025.

Andrew Harrison

Thisiswhatitmeans has grown an extra leg since taking to the rejuvenated Hollywoodbets Greyville poly as he trotted up in the New Turf Carriers Class 3 over 1400m yesterday. This was his fourth win on the bounce on the surface, making light of his 62.5kg and a wide draw as Marco van Rensburg had  little more to do than a steering job.

Making the field as a reserve runner after the defection of Voldemort, the son of What A Winter was never in trouble and cruised to a comfortable victory chased home by a well-beaten Rosh Kedesh and rank outsider Few Dollars More.

The well-backed Mexican Pete hit the front briefly but was soon under pressure and faded tamely.

It was the second winner on the day for MJ Odendaal, nattily dressed in his red jacket and tie and always good value in the post-race interview egged on by presenter Paul Lafferty.

It was also the second win in a row for Hollywood Racing who had scored with El Rey Viene in the previous race.

The fact that Peter Muscutt had debutant Deandre’s Dream penciled for the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at month’s end should have given some indication as to his chances in the card opener. He duly obliged but under a driving ride from Serino Moodley, just holding off late efforts from Clintostar and The Centurion. The colt was plenty green in the race and more can be expected but the Gr1 may be a bridge too far at this stage. 

Future Variety and Winds Of Change last met in the Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint, neither making much impression on the winner Tenango, however, Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge was five lengths ahead of Winds Of Change  and that form was confirmed as Future Variety gave Sean Veale an armchair ride.

The race was over as a contest crossing the subway as Veale let out a little rein and Future Variety sped away to put daylight between himself and pacemaker Bourbon Warrior with Winds Of Change finishing a tame fourth.

The filly Clickbait finished with a rattle under Callan Murray for MJ Odendaal in the first leg of the PA, getting the better of Simbine who was running on smartly after being squeezed out at the start.  Clickbait, (12-1) jumped sideways also inconveniencing favourite Holy Star who struggled into third but saved many a PA ticket.

Gavin Lerena, seven winner’s clear of reigning champion Richard Fourie in the race for the jockey’s title at the start of the meeting, added number eight as he rode a confident race on the Mano Pandaram-trained Line In The Sky in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Coming from well off the pace, Line In The Sky quickened smartly to get home ahead  of rank outsider Capricious Miss  and favourite Valli Gal who kept going for third.

The race was not without incident as the saddled slipped badly on Fantasy League  who took Austrian Beauty and Run For Peace with her to the outside rail at about the 800m mark.

Takeyourbestshot had two improved races under his girth since arriving from the Highveld and Van Rensburg tried his best to go one better in the fifth, trying to make all the running. He stacked the field up before the home straight before making a dash for home but replacement rider Sean Veale aboard Spectacular, always had Takeyourbestshot in his sights in spite of being well back early.

Glen Kotzen’s runner quickly reeled in the leader crossing the subway and the race was over in a matter of strides with Takeyourbestshot staying on for second ahead of Fine Wine.

Record High put paid to many Pick 6 hopefuls in the sixth as Wendy Whitehead’s gelding arrived at 40-1 under Cole Dicken who makes the best of his limited chances. Favourite Numzaan was in contention hallway up the straight but the tank was empty as Record High challenged up the inside and Palermo, under replacement rider Nicholas Patel also threatening. This pair pulled clear with Record High always going the better finishing ahead of  White Seahorse who battled home for third.

Duncan Howells was starting think he was always destined for the second box but Sean Veale, hunting his third winner on the day, rode an exceptional race on El Rey Viene to break the curse in the seventh.

Draw 10 out of 11, Veale was quickly over from his outside gate and up with the pace. It was tough going up the straight as first Porfirio refused to throw in the towel and then Mohandas finishing like a train but just too late and again showcasing the Western Cape form as he was having his first outing for Yogas Govender. 

Veale, Odendaal and Hollywood Racing rounded off the Pick 6 with Lou Lou The Legend. Veale with his fourth winner, Odendaal with his third of the afternoon and Hollywood Racing with their third in a row. Jumping from the widest gate, Veale got the best out of his mount up the outside of the field to reel in stable companion One Irish Rover on the fence to give Odendaal a one-two.

Lerena rounded off the meeting nine-clear of Fourie as he rode a bold race on Papillon Blu with Piet Botha’s filly notching her third win on the trot, another taking to the synthetic surface.

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!

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.

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.