Just weeks ahead of the start of the 2024 SA Champions Season, Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets have announced that their groundbreaking Grooms Initiative incentive has been doubled to R2000 a winner for the duration of the showcase season, and will continue into the first month of the new racing term.
The joint initiative has paid out over R4,5-million to one of horseracing’s previously unheralded, but most important sectors, since it was launched in September 2019.
Per close of racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Monday, Grooms have been rewarded in 3890 races for their contribution to the horseracing ecosystem in KZN.
Hollywoodbets Brand & Communications Manager Devin Heffer said that the Grooms initiative had proved a real winner for a sector that played an important front-line role in delivering a South African racing show that everyone can be proud of.
“We look forward to continuing the momentum into this upcoming Champions Season. The regular R1000 incentive will be doubled to R2000 from 10th April to 31st August 2024. There is also a milestone of a 4000th Grooms Initiative winner on the horizon, and we will award the 4000th winner a R4000 cash incentive as a gesture of marking a milestone on our broader road to improving the lot of all stakeholders,” added Heffer.
Speaking on behalf of Gold Circle, Events and Marketing Executive Stephen Marshall endorsed the valuable role played by Grooms, and said that the increased incentive would be welcomed by all.
"The Grooms play a major part in the success of all racing yards, and it is pleasing to note that our local Grooms and their visiting colleagues will deservedly benefit for their contribution to a sport that provides a livelihood, and so much enjoyment, to a wide spectrum of our population,” said Marshall. - Gold Circle