The well attended official Vodacom Durban July gallops on Thursday morning formed the backdrop for the announcement of a groundbreaking R10m – three year naming rights sponsorship of Greyville and Scottsville Racecourses between racing operator Gold Circle and leading bookmakers Hollywoodbets.
Hollywood’s Devin Heffer and Babu Nunan of Gold Circle shake on the deal (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
The two historic KZN racecourses are now named the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse and Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse.
While stadium sponsorship has become common place in other forms of sport in South Africa, this represents the first deal of its kind in the South African Horseracing Industry.
Gold Circle is part of a multi-faceted and integrated industry, organising horseracing events throughout KwaZulu-Natal and is now partnering with Hollywoodbets which is South Africa’s most dynamic bookmaker, offering the widest range of betting markets on Horse Racing, Soccer, Lucky Numbers, and all other sporting codes.
Spokesman Devin Heffer said that Hollywoodbets is proud of the contribution the company has made to horseracing over the past years through their trainer and work-rider sponsorships, and the number of horses that run in the Hollywood Syndicate colours.
The Hollywoodbets national footprint took its initial step in 1999 with its first retail branch in Durban, just 2 minutes away from Greyville Racecourse on Argyle Road. This branch, that started with just four terminals, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
The wider Hollywoodbets group now employs 5389 team members across South Africa.
Hollywood’s contribution extends beyond horseracing through its “My Community Programme” which has seen the group contribute to a variety of charities, sponsorship of sports teams, and development of several Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in the past year.
The collaboration between Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle will encourage other bookmakers and corporate brands to get involved in sponsoring the Sport of horseracing.
Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle look forward to working together in ensuring that KZN continues to be the ultimate racing destination in South Africa.
Together they will welcome the world to Hollywoodbets Greyville for the 123rd running of the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday 6th July 2019.
