2023 Betway Summer Cup stakes now a  whopping R5-million

Betway and 4Racing are delighted to announce that the 2023 Betway Summer Cup will have a record stake of R5-million.

The Highveld’s flagship Grade 1, 2000m spectacular takes place on Saturday 25 November 2023 at the iconic Turffontein Racecourse - and Betway and 4Racing have upped the stakes in a big way by doubling the R2.5-million stakes pot on offer last year.

The Betway Summer Cup cemented its prime status on the South African horse racing calendar last year with a highly successful event in the first year of Betway’s sponsorship, as Laurence Wernars’ Puerto Manzano took the spoils with trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren and jockey Keagan de Melo.

Now, one of Africa’s premier blue chip race days, which also includes the Grade 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans, the Grade 2 Betway Ipi Tombe Challenge, the Grade 3 Fillies Mile, the Grade 3 Merchants Stakes, the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap, and the Listed ROA Stayers, is set to be even bigger and better after the massive stakes cash injection announced for the main race.

4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe said the R5-million stakes incentive was a huge boost in the continued efforts to support the revival of South African horse racing.

“The R5-million stakes for the 2023 Betway Summer Cup is a record, landmark announcement, which is right up there with the highest prize purse in African horseracing," said Sithebe.

"We would like to thank Betway for supporting our vision to reinvigorate one of South African racing’s biggest races and race days. We need to make horse racing exciting, fun and viable again for punters, owners, trainers, jockeys and all who have dedicated their lives to the sport and this massive stakes increase for the 2023 Betway Summer Cup is a huge boost for the sport. Betway’s integration with and support for the Tote is also hugely important for our industry.”

Betway South Africa Head of Customer Experience, Jonathan Blumberg, said the considerable increase in stakes for the 2023 Betway Summer Cup is part of Betway’s steadfast commitment to supporting the South African horseracing industry.

“We are extremely committed to contributing to the growth and sustainability of South African horseracing and delighted that we are able to support 4Racing in increasing the stakes of the 2023 Betway Summer Cup to R5-million," said Blumberg.

"We have no doubt this will make the event even more attractive for the country’s very best thoroughbreds, the world’s leading jockeys and trainers and elite owners. We can’t wait for the big day and the build-up to what will undoubtedly be a hugely exciting and high quality race day.”

Sithebe said the stakes boost was further good news for South African horseracing, as it looks to continue its revival in all racing centres.

“We have to position South African horseracing as a major global player and we have made no bones about our desire to attract more World Pool events to South African racing to support our industry in its post-Covid recovery, on the back of the strength and quality of our country’s strong horseracing product,” Sithebe concluded.