Latest news with #GoldCircle
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Race Coast off to a fast start
Little and Fortune light up Scottsville speed fest. Race Coast had a cheering start. The new brand unites the operations of Western Cape's Cape Racing and Gold Circle of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban's Bay of Plenty beach was the sunny venue for the official launch last week. Horses galloped on the sands of the surfers' haunt and racing's great and good proclaimed a new dawn, to the roar of Indian Ocean breakers. Then there was exciting and uplifting racing itself. This was a little out of earshot of the waves – 80km inland to be precise, at Maritzburg for the annual Festival of Speed on Saturday. For every race to the coast there must be a midlands meander. Scottsville racecourse introduced Race Coast in a rather special way, with any number of upbeat stories crammed into its famous four-feature card. Jockeys back in the mix Race Coast represents renewal in racing and you couldn't ask for better redemption stories than those of jockeys Andrew Fortune and Chad Little who have overcome dark times and fought their way back into the winners' circle. Little, back in the irons at the age of 40, found his reward in the shape of a first Grade 1 victory – a battling effort aboard the appropriately named Good For You, trained by Glen Kotzen, in the Gold Medallion for juveniles. Former champion jockey Fortune returned to the saddle at 57 earlier this year, after years in retirement and following unlikely recoveries from drug addiction and weight issues. On Saturday, he won the Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint on Tenango for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson and his ebullient interview contained this gem of wisdom: 'You've got to turn up for yourself!' Epitomising that philosophy is Sean Tarry, who's diligence has kept him at the top of the training ranks for decades – not least with phenomenal annual success at Scottsville's biggest meeting. This time around, he landed the topliner on the card, the Grade 1 SA Fillies And Mares Sprint, with Mia Moo. More success stories On the four-year-old's back was Callan Murray, a talented young jockey who plied his trade in Australia for a few years – as South African racing looked headed for the knacker's yard – but is back in his homeland after hearing good things about the revival of the game – a la Race Coast. Another welcome stirring in local racing waters has been successful raiding around the country by trainer Alan Greeff from the backwaters of Eastern Cape. His juvenile filly Direct Hit cruised to victory in the ultra-prestigious Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship, remaining unbeaten in four starts. Further landmark events at Scottsville included emerging stallion Canford Cliffs registering his first Grade 1 win, with Direct Hit, and complementing it with a Grade 2, with Tenango. And there were plenty more diverting moments, such as grooms with stage-fright and big cheques and babbling owners regaling us with their inevitable tales of lows and highs in the infernal game. If there was a note of disappointment it was the small crowd at one of the year's major race meetings. But, then again, Race Coast has just got started.
NBC Sports
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
NBCUNIVERSAL'S PARIS OLYMPICS COVERAGE TOPS SPORTS EMMYS WITH 10 WINS AS NBCU TIES COMPANY RECORD WITH 13 AWARDS
NBCU Ties for Most Sports Emmys of Any Media Company 2024 Paris Olympic Games Wins Outstanding Live Special – Championship Event NBC Sports' Peter Diamond (Gold Circle) and Rob Hyland (Silver Circle) Earn Special Recognition from the Academy Telemundo's Miguel Gurwitz Wins for Outstanding On-Air Personality in Spanish NEW YORK, NY – May 20, 2025 – NBCUniversal's coverage of the XXXIII Olympic Games from Paris topped the 46th Sports Emmy Awards with 10 wins – headlined by the honor for Outstanding Live Special-Championship Event – as NBCU tied its company record with 13 Sports Emmys (2003). In addition, NBC Sports earned honors for its NFL Playoff coverage and Telemundo Deportes' Miguel Gurwitz won his second Sports Emmy. The awards were presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Additionally at tonight's awards, Peter Diamond, former EVP, NBC Olympics Programming, and Rob Hyland, Coordinating Producer, NBC Sunday Night Football and Primetime Producer, NBC Olympics, earned special recognition for 'individuals who have performed distinguished service within the television industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership and professional accolades for 25 or 50 years.' Diamond received Gold Circle honors for 50 years of exemplary service. Hyland earned Silver Circle honors for more than a quarter century of excellence. The complete list of NBCUniversal winners: Outstanding Live Special – Championship Event: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Playoff Coverage: NFL Playoffs (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Short Feature: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Caeleb & The Critic (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Open/Tease: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Land of Stories (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Interactive Experience: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Technical Team Event: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Technical Team Studio: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Editing – Short Form: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Land of Stories (NBC/Peacock) The Dick Schaap Outstanding Writing Award – Short Form: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Land of Stories (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Audio/Sound – Live Event: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (NBC/Peacock) Outstanding Graphic Design – Event/Show: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (NBC/Peacock/USA Network/CNBC/E!/ Channel) The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award: 2024 PGA TOUR: Drone AR (CBS/NBC (PGA TOUR)) Outstanding On-Air Personality in Spanish: Miguel Gurwitz (Telemundo/Universo/Peacock) A complete list of winners is available here. --NBC SPORTS—
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Racing season opens with thrilling victory in R750 000 Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes
The Champions Season started with the running of the Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Saturday. Image: Leon Lestrade / Independent Newspapers. The atmosphere was electric at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse last Saturday as the 2025 Champions Season kicked off with the R750 000 Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes. The event attracted a vibrant crowd of fans, punters, and families, all eager to participate in this prestigious day of racing. Children enjoyed a range of free entertainment at KidZone, while adults livened up their experience at the Durban View Restaurant and participated in the thrilling Win if You Lose competitions that kept spirits high between the races. In a riveting 1400m race, the crowd roared as Gladatorian, the five-year-old son of Vercingetorix piloted by his usual jockey Sean Veale, rode to victory. The gelding triumphed over 11 formidable rivals, including last year's winner, Royal Aussie. Marketing and brand officer, Sinethemba Hlela, stated that The Independent on Saturday is proud of its ongoing relationship with Hollywoodbets Greyville and Gold Circle, which continues to grow. 'The Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes is always an exciting highlight on our calendar, and we are thrilled to be part of the top-class racing this event brings,' she said. Graeme Hawkins from Gold Circle said Champions Season 2025 got off to a flying start last Saturday, with top-class racing and exciting finishes the order of the day. 'The traditional season-opener, the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, held over 1400m, produced a nail-biting finish between Gladatorian and See It Again, which set the tone for an outstanding day,' he said. Looking forward, Hawkins said the stage is set for a memorable Champions Season, with the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July being the highlight. 'At the first entry stage, 61 horses were nominated, including both Gladatorian and See It Again, and with the Daily News 2000 (Gr1) in two weeks' time, there is much anticipation amongst the racing fans,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Punter Raffiek Habib, 68, from Durban, who attends all the major races, recalled coming to the racecourse at the age of seven with his grandfather. 'I love horses running on this track; it's not about the money and gambling, it's about blueblood racing. The way horses are bred and the speed they have, it's exhilarating, and that's what I love about it. Although the jockey is on the horse getting that rush, I'm here, backing that horse and getting that same rush. The excitement is there,' he said. However, Habib said he did win some of the bets he placed and is looking forward to the season ahead.
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Local jockeys good enough for world league
Riding excellence a highlight as KZN's new era dawns. It was a joyous occasion when the KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season cavalcade got rolling at Greyville at the weekend. It marked operator Gold Circle's first race meeting under the new ownership of Hollywood Sportsbook, the saviour of horse racing in the province. Appropriately, Gold Circle boss Michel Nairac, wearing his horse owner hat, led in a feature winner in the shape of the redoubtable Gladatorian. There were plenty of other positive aspects. For example, Justin Snaith declared the present three-year-old crop the best he'd seen – minutes after two of his star sophomores, Sail The Seas and Eight On Eighteen, had completed the Exacta in the WSB Guineas (Grade 2) and sounded a warning that the champion trainer's raiding party from Cape Town would be formidable opponents over the next few months. The excellence of jockeyship was another feature of the day. Muzi Yeni wins on Sail The Seas Local jocks have been guilty of all sorts of silly behaviour lately, but most of them remain, on the whole, very good riders of racehorses. As has been proven many times, South African jockeys can hold their own anywhere in the world and the best of them are the equal of anyone in a saddle. In the East Coast Cup over 2000m, underrated Serino Moodley showed off his good judgement of pace and conditions in bringing Mascherina from near the tail of the field, in heavy going, to win going away up the inside rail. Next, it was Sean Veale with a well-timed challenge on Gladatorian, nabbing highly rated See It Again in the last strides of the Drill Hall Stakes. Then champion jockey Richard Fourie was at his hard-driving best in landing the WSB Fillies Guineas on Mon Petit Cherie. Perhaps the ride of the day came from Muzi Yeni as he kept Sail The Seas sailing to hold off determined challenges from Eight On Eighteen and Cosmic Speed – two of the exemplars of Snaith's golden crop of three-year-olds. The wealth of talent in South African saddles was pulled into focus by the announcement of an international jockeys' super league that will start next year. The 12 riders signed for the new global competition are superstars: Frankie Dettori (Italy/UK/US), Ryan Moore (UK), William Buick (UK), James McDonald (New Zealand/Australia), Joao Moreira (Brazil/Japan/Australia), Zac Purton (Australia/Hong Kong), Christophe Lemaire (France/Japan), Mickael Barzalona (France), Yutaka Take (Japan), Irad Ortiz Jr (Puerto Rico/US), Flavien Prat (France/US), Vincent Ho (Hong Kong) Top SA jockeys South Africa, a relative global racing backwater, would not have expected representation in such company. Yet they wouldn't have been outclassed. The likes of Michael Roberts, Douglas Whyte and Jeff Lloyd flew the flag with honour in the past, while Luke Ferraris, Warren Kennedy and Ryan Munger are current emissaries. Organisers of the new league plan up to 10 fixtures of six-race contests, with Ascot and York in England, Leopardstown and the Curragh in Ireland and Longchamp and Chantilly in France mentioned as possible venues. 'The franchise-based league structure allows a range of commercial and investment opportunities to be progressed and we firmly believe the concept we've developed with our foundation jockeys can help revolutionise global horseracing in the coming years,' said Lachlan Fitt, one of the founders, adding that other jockeys will be drafted into the league as it develops. Female jockeys will probably be the first additions. South African racing fans wouldn't be deluded in thinking of their sole female rider Rachel Venniker as a candidate.
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
It's official: Hollywood rescues KZN racing
Bookmaking giant gets go-ahead on eve of winter season. When Owen Heffer was selling rough-printed tipping sheets outside Greyville racecourse in 1984 – for a few rand to keep his young family alive – he didn't dream he'd one day own the place. Yet this week, just over 40 years later, that improbable scenario came to pass. On 1 May, the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Regulatory Authority approved the acquisition of the province's horse racing operator Gold Circle by Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings. The latter, of course, is the holding company of the gambling giant that grew from the tiny seed of those humble lists of tips, through the Winning Form guide and a tiny bookmaking business. In 2023, with Gold Circle in severe financial trouble, Heffer's Hollywoodbets proposed bailing out the company with an initial R500-million rescue injection. Gold Circle's shareholders jumped at the offer. Hollywoodbets had by then become the fairy godmother of many sporting and non-sporting endeavours, ploughing millions back into its heartland community in KZN – and then further afield. Famous buyouts and sponsorships included the takeover and very successful revitalisation of Cape Town horse racing; race sponsorship of South Africa's premier race, the Durban July, and branding of Brentford football club in London. Other tie-ups included sponsorship of the Dolphins provincial cricket side – and their stadium; sponsorship of the Sharks rugby team – and their stadium, sponsorship of South Africa's women's cricketers, and a multitude of helping hands lower down the rungs of sport and charity. Rescue job Owen Haffer's rags-to-riches story is for another day. In the meantime, racing fans are celebrating the rescue job he and his team have pulled off in the place where his initial small punt delivered a sensational return. A Hollywood press release on Thursday declared 'a seriously ambitious and committed plan to resurrect the failing industry in the richly culturally diverse province that has enjoyed a passionate following of the sport for well over a century'. It continued: 'It is a reality that, given the combination of the prevailing economic climate and dramatic changes in the betting landscape, horseracing countrywide has languished in the doldrums for a large part of the 21st century.' The company promised 'a focus on the best utilisation of resources, while embracing a wider universal appeal that will keep pace with ever evolving modern entertainment trends, directed at a wider customer market'. Upgrades and improvements The investment will preserve about 6,000 jobs in KZN. Facilities at venues and training centres will be modernised, prize money will be boosted, the racing programme will be revamped, and incentives to promote racehorse ownership and boost field sizes will be introduced. Already buildings and equipment are being renovated and upgraded – including a revamp of the Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack and the course's floodlighting. At Summerveld Training Centre in Hillcrest, money will go into upgrading stabling, accommodation and roads. It will all cost a tad more than the initial R500-million mentioned. The government green light for the buyout comes as the KZN Champions' Season – the unofficial 'national championships' of racing – gets underway at Greyville on Saturday. The famous old Drill Hall Stakes tops the card, alongside the WSB Guineas and WSB Fillies Guineas, with all three races being important pointers to the Hollywoodbets Durban July in two months' time. The cherry on the top is an expected R3-million Pick 6 carryover pool on the day.
