2025 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge

 
The 10th renewal of the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge gets underway at Fairview Racecourse on Friday, 22 August 2025.

The 3-legged challenge is open to all horses and comprises:-

Leg 1: R175,000 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge 1200
Venue: Fairview
Date: Friday, 22 August 2025
Distance: 1200m

Leg 2: R175,000 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge 1400
Venue: Fairview
Date: Friday, 26 September 2025
Distance: 1400m

Leg 3: R175,000 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge 1600
Venue: Fairview Racecourse
Date: Friday, 17 October 2025
Distance: 1600m

4Racing offers a R250,000 bonus to the connections of the horse that can win all three legs of the popular challenge.There is also a consolation of R50,000 for runners that participate in all 3 legs and win at least 1.

Fairview’s polytrack surface was originally installed in 2013 after the Arlington track closed down. The NMB Racing Poly Challenge was first launched – and nearly won – in 2016 by Gogetthesheriff, bred by Lammerskraal Stud and purchased by Freddy van Onselen with the dream of landing the Algoa Cup. However, the son of Go Deputy had other ideas, becoming the local Polytrack champion and earning hero status on the East Cape’s synthetic surface under the care of trainer Jacques Strydom. He won the first two legs of the series, only to be denied glory by 0.50 lengths in the final on Friday 13 (!) May 2016, but generated a lot of fun and interest in the series along the way.

The first winner in the history of the series was crowned when Glen Kotzen raided with Gisela Burg and Martin Wickens’ King Regent, a 5yo son of Dynasty from Ridgemont Highlands, who swept all three legs - the bonus - in 2024, under jockey Denis Schwarz.

A field of seven has accepted for the 2025 series opener, which will be run as Race 7 on Friday's card and the field faces the starter at 16:25.