The irony of a horse named Master Of Destiny winning a race that could have meant a lifechanging windfall for him and his family has not been lost on 35 year old Cape-based Database Administrator and loyal Hollywoodbets customer, Russell Boullineau.
A commendably philosophical ‘it was not meant to be’ was the response when the Sporting Post spoke to the man who emerged from a field of over 11 000 players to come within a heartbeat of winning the bumper prize of over R1 475 000.
That substantial sum would have been the progressive payout for a 100% winner sheet in the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday.
Russell Boullineau – oh so close to a lifechanger!
The free-to-enter competition requires players to select one horse in each race at the KZN racemeetings.
Russell, who has played the challenge from the outset, looked to have judged the day, that always looked to favour the fancied horses, to a tee, and was one of the 1409 players whose dreams were still alive going into the sixth race.
And when Truly Wicked, a horse that he says he has been monitoring since the age of 3 and loves the polytrack, stormed home under Serino Moodley at 14-1, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge field was reduced to just 22 players in the running for the big prize, with two races to go.
Watch Truly Wicked win, below:
“I fancied Mashari strongly in the penultimate race and when Warren Kennedy hit the front we shouted him home. I knew I had to have a chance with Goodtime Guy in the last. But Master Of Destiny, appropriately I suppose, proved me wrong. My horse ran a 1,40 length fourth. That’s racing! My wife’s more disappointed than me, but I’m jumping on the positive omen of going this close and intend coming back strongly on Sunday for the R500 000 must-be-won prize!”
Russell, who has been a Hollywoodbets customer for over seven years,and bets mainly online, won the R4 000 cheque in the daily must-be-won prize on Wednesday for topping the log on the afternoon, and he is extremely pleased with that ‘bonus’, as he puts it.
“We have just moved house and the big cash would have come in handy to purchase appliances. But the R4 000 will still be most welcome to allow me to buy a few items and spoil my wife and child!”
The Parkview High School graduate is from Durban originally and now resides in the Cape Northern Suburbs.
Horseracing runs in his family. His grandparents and uncles were all keen punters. They collaborate and share tips with each other. Russell listens to the ‘wise men’ because he feels that ‘age accompanies experience’.
But for Wednesday’s meeting he picked his own horses – and only registered his selections at the last minute!
Emerald Express (Warren Kennedy) was the easiest winner of the day – or of the year! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Russell enjoys the Jackpots and Place Accumulators. He says that he quite unusually took a Pick 6 on the meeting, but failed to strike it lucky.
He feels that the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is a novel and unique way to add interest to racing for punters of all shapes and sizes.
“It’s free – which is great! I love the excitement of the live leaderboard too and we can live in the spirit of the challenge throughout the day. So it’s fun and rewarding. And the points system is well structured and fairly weighted. If one finds a value winner, you get rewarded accordingly.”
The conversation reverted back to the tension of the Hollywoodbets Greyville final race build up.
“The whole family got very involved in the racing today. I got calls from them saying just one more win until you change your life! It was so close. I won’t think about it too much – racing folk move on. We don’t get stuck in the ‘what ifs’ for too long!”he laughs.
Russell was excited to hear that the free-to-enter Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is set for a historic bumper day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday with a sensational R500 000 guaranteed must-be-won bonus prize offered to the player, or players, that select the most winners on the day.
A competitive nine-race turf programme at the Theatre Of Champions sets the stage for the biggest punter competition prize pool ever offered in South African horseracing!
The progressive bonus payable on Sunday – and which was almost Russell’s on Wednesday – has grown to a mouth-watering R1,5 million, of which R500 000 must be won.
Leading South African sports betting operator Hollywoodbets continue to invest in the punter and the exciting giveaway on Sunday to win big, at no cost or outlay from the player, is another show of appreciation of racing’s loyal customers, who support this wonderful game with passion.
The R500 000 must-be-won special on Sunday afternoon will be banked and shared by those selecting the most winners, if no punter, or punters, win the R1,5 million for picking all nine winners. Note, there are no bonus points applicable in the R500 000 must-be-won prize.
Registration for the Sunday meeting opens on Thursday.
Russell is on form and said that he would be studying form for the next four days!
“This is exciting news. Imagine the interest that it is going to generate? I’m under big pressure now to go all the way on Sunday. But I love it!”
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