After a spate of thrilling action in the past few weeks, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is again set to be a popular attraction at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. The progressive all-winners bonus prize stands at R1 025 000, with the daily must-be-won prize of R10 000 to be shared amongst the top 20.
Russell Boulineaux’s dramatic final race fourth cost him the R1 475 000 bonus last Wednesday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
But Stanger resident Sandeep Lall, aka ‘Pitbull’ finished best of all on Sunday at the same venue when he won the biggest competition prize ever offered in South African horseracing.
‘Pitbull’ banked the R500 000 Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge special must-be-won bonus for selecting the most winners on the afternoon.
JakesR met the Hollywoodbets personnel on Tuesday
And again at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday there was more breathtaking drama when JakesR – seen above – went into the last of 8 races poised to win the R1 million all-winners bonus, after selecting the first 7 winners on the card.
JakesR had the favourite Hereinafter carrying his lifechanging flag and when Anton Marcus went for broke up the home straight, it looked to be money in the bank.
But Jarryd Samuel had other ideas on the Tienie Prinsloo longshot Foxy Lady, who finished like a bat out of hell to nab the Marcus runner on the line.
Watch the final stages of the race here:
“I was on my way home from work when I got the call to say I had missed the million by a whisker. I had watched the earlier races and didn’t realise I was still in the running. Disappointment is too soft a word to describe how I felt,” JakesR told the Sporting Post once he had regained his composure.
The 28 year old Shallcross resident is a single man and lives with his Mom. He says that the win would undoubtedly have been a lifechanger for him as a self-employed person. And he has only been punting for a year!
“I was retrenched at the commencement of lockdown last year and only started taking a proper interest in the horses then. I love the Hollywoodbets Greyville track and this competition and do plenty of form study in a variety of racecards. I suppose that’s the way the cookie crumbles. It wasn’t my day – but I will be back for more!”
JakesR noted the Monday Pick 6 payout of R148 219 and said he could have covered himself with an exotic bet. But he was busy and didn’t take one.
He met the Hollywoodbets team yesterday and they cheered him up with a goodie bag and a gift.
“It’s a great free-entry competition and fun to play. Winning is naturally always more fun, but hey, my day will come!”
The first race is off at 12h35 today.
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