Racing. It's a Rush: PRESS RELEASE
Subject: ALMOST R11 MILLION IN PRIZE MONEY TO BE PAID OUT ON CHAMPIONS DAY
Date: 20 APRIL 2016
Anticipation is mounting for SA’s richest non-restricted thoroughbred pay day, where almost R11 million in prize money will be paid out on the day (excluding the R2 million bonus for potential SA Triple Crown candidate Abashiri). 11 races have been carded and for the first time the latter races on Champions Day will race under the lights.
The barrier draw for the Premier’s Champions Challenge, taking place at Turffontein on Saturday 30 April, with a winning stake of R4 million for the taking, took place today at Turffontein, which matched a community, charity and media partner with a racehorse for Champions Day.
Phumelela are donating a total of R 150 000 which will be distributed to 13 deserving charities on the day.
Media Partner Tame Times was matched with China and the Hong Ning Chinese Aged Home. Based in Belgravia, this is the only home of its kind in South Africa, catering for the unique needs, culture and environment of Chinese senior citizens in Johannesburg. The racehorse paired in this group is Legal Eagle.
Greece was paired with Killua Castle, with Daily Sun as media partner and the Hellenic Ladies Benevolent Society, an initiative with global reach which assists the needy within the Hellenic community.
Outdoor advertising media concern Insight Outdoor is the media partner paired with India and their chosen charity, the Al Azhar School. India has been paired with racehorse Halve the Deficit.
The Italian Aid Association is the charity chosen by the Italian community who has been matched with Judicial with Phakaaati as their media partner, the soccer news supplement of the Citizen newspaper. The Italian Aid Association offers welfare assistance, hospital and home visits, legal advice, food parcels and clothing for families in need.
Entertainment guide 48 Hours has been matched as the media partner with Lebanon and their chosen charity ST Charbel Helping Hand World Organisation, an organisation operating under the umbrella of the Maronite Catholic Church, and interacting with the Lebanese community throughout South Africa that provides relief to less fortunate individuals and families from the Maronite community, and the community at large. Racehorse Deputy Jud has been paired here.
Publishing group Caxton has been paired with the Casa Ebenezer Old Age Home and Portugal along with Inara. This home, which opened in 2009, offers the elderly a retirement home which provides safety while meeting the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the aged.
Local TV station Soweto TV has been matched with none other than South Africa, with St. Laurence's Children's Haven being the chosen charity. The Haven is a place of safety in the Roodepoort area for abused and abandoned boys and girls of all races, creeds and aged between 6 months and 18. These children are offered love and care in a secure and warm environment. South Africa is their represented country and they matched up with horse Afrikaburn.
Although not countries themselves, five additional “communities” have been included in Champions Day, and include SEFAC, Racing Association, TellyTrack, TAB, Racing. It’s a Rush and Turffontein Racecourse.
Turffontein Racecourse has been matched with The Sowetan Newspaper and SOJO Business & Tourism, an association for the upliftment of facilities and the establishment of employment opportunities in the South of Johannesburg – an area which accommodates some of the city's major recreational and tourist attractions. The Home of Horseracing in Gauteng has been matched with Trading Profit.
There will be over 40 Ferraris on display come Champions Day. The Southern Equatorial Ferrari Automobili Club (SEFAC) has been matched with the Citizen and CANSA, the Cancer Association of South Africa, a non-profit organization set up to fight cancer and offer support to cancer sufferers. The horse drawn for SEFAC is French Navy.
The Racing Association, the concern established in 1997 to protect and support the interests of the sport of horseracing, has been paired with Captain America and Caxton as a media partner and the San Michele Home which provides an essential non-denominational home for intellectually & physically disabled people.
South Africa’s exclusive horseracing television channel, Tellytrack on channel 239 on DStv, is the chosen community paired with Mix FM and the National Horse Trust which is dedicated to the prevention of abuse of horses. Mac De Lago is their racehorse on the day.
TAB has also been chosen as a community, and is also paired with The Citizen and the Highveld Horsecare unit, an organisation which assists over 2000 working horses on any given day around South Africa, providing them with re-homing, care and assistance. Stonehenge was drawn earlier today as their racehorse.
Last but by no means is least the Racing. It’s a Rush community, an initiative launched in 2014 to bring horseracing back to the forefront of the lifestyle entertainment industry. With over 16 000 Facebook followers, this community is helping to discover, engage and attract a loyal following of new fans to horseracing in South Africa. MixFm has again been paired with Racing. It’s a Rush, along with Brazuca and the corresponding charity is The Horse Care Unit, which as mentioned above helps provide assistance for horses in need.
What is undisputed is that come Champions Day on 30 April, there will be many more winners than only the top racehorses.
Gates on Saturday 30 April open at 11 and entrance is free. For more information or bookings for Champions Day on 30 April, please call 011 681 1702 or at
www.itsarush.co.za
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