4Racing hosts sizzling Topbet Spring Challenge Family Fun Day at Turffontein

Horseracing operator 4Racing, hosted an exciting Topbet Spring Challenge this weekend which was a heady mix of racing high drama, quality horseracing and fantastic entertainment and family fun at the Turffontein Racecourse.

A wonderful crowd came out in good numbers on Saturday for an event that kickstarted the Gauteng horseracing season, and they were royally entertained on a beautiful day out in the sun filled with a variety of activities for all.

Racegoers and attendees, who included the likes of Kaizer Chiefs Marketing Director and horserace owner, Jessica Motaung, Soweto Equestrian Centre founder Enos Mafokate and SuperSport anchor Neil Andrews, enjoyed entertainment from DJs and musicians, while exploring various food, fashion and horse themed stalls on-course.

“Our goal is to build the world’s most loved horse racing experience and to revive horseracing as a fantastic leisure, high performance and lifestyle sport for all. Our partnership with Topbet this weekend enabled us to create a wonderful, family-focused experience for Johannesburg’s horseracing and event fans. It was a fantastic launch of Johannesburg’s horseracing season as we build up to our popular Summer Cup at Turffontein on November 26 and as we continue to showcase new initiatives to grow the sport’s popularity and engagement.” said Fundi Sithebe, Chief Executive Officer of 4Racing.




The impressive favourite for the main race, William Robertson, won the Topbet Spring Challenge - but not without plenty of drama and tension ahead of the big race.

Champion jockey S'manga Khumalo stunned the crowd when he opted against racing William Robertson after leading him to the start, indicating he was not comfortable with the condition of the horse and withdrawing from the race.

A frantic last-minute replacement jockey was sought, and there could be no better candidate than the experienced and wily veteran Muzi Yeni, who was waiting in the wings and was rushed to the start as the drama unfolded.

Yeni duly produced a thrilling ride to lead William Robertson to a famous nerve-wracking victory, holding off a determined charge from jockey Diego de Gouveia on the horse After The Rain.

The exciting nine-race programme entertained the crowds and saw Juan Paul van der Merwe riding Humdinger to victory in the Topbet Fillies and Mare Challenge and Yeni and William Robertson stealing the thunder in the main R400 000 Topbet Spring Challenge.

The next major race day at Turffontein is the Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile on 29 October, with the big Summer Cup race day set for Turffontein on Saturday 26 November.

Picture credit: Alet Pretorius / 4Racing

Well done to all and it certainly was a drama filled day for race goers.

I guess only Soumillon had a worse weekend than Khumalo.

Haibo, 4Q is disorientated again, blowing smoke and praising themselves, including speaking of themselves in the 3rd person….WTF?

“Our goal is to build the world’s most loved horse racing experience and to revive horseracing”

Considering that 4Q knows how far behind they are compared to KZN and Cape Racing and ………..they broadcast Hong Kong, French, Aus and all the major racing festivals in the UK - 4Q has to be delusional to make statements like this when Borrowdale attracts bigger crowds, the Dundee July and EC bush racing all has more on-course attendance than any meeting at Turffontein. Conquer the world! 4Q are living outside their minds.

Is 4Q working on a 200-year plan to deliver the world’s most loved horse racing experience!!!!!

“we continue to showcase new initiatives to grow the sport’s popularity and engagement”

Corne Spies, after winning the feature race at Turffontein, was singing the praises of the boys at Cape Racing and this was his message to 4Q:

“I hope our administrators up here can do something soon”

Sissy must be living and commenting on a parallel world - administrators don’t trail blaze.Take a sho’t left.