The recent Sun Met race meeting at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town was a success both locally and internationally with Hong Kong horseracing fans betting nearly R180-million on just six of the 13 races run on the day.
South African horseracing is beamed live daily by satellite to about 40 countries, but the Sun Met marked the first time the Hong Kong Jockey Club had televised and operated betting on a race meeting in this country.
Sun International took over the sponsorship of the Cape's premier race last year, when the prize money was upped to R5-million to make it the richest race open to all horses in South Africa.
Hong Kong, one of the biggest horseracing betting jurisdictions in the world, televised Races 5 to 10, including the Sun Met, at the Kenilworth meeting and Hongkongers bet a total of R178-million - in spite of the races taking place in a 8.25pm to 11.50pm timeframe in Hong Kong.
"This was a real feather in South African racing's cap," said John Stuart, who heads Phumelela's international division. "The Hong Kong Jockey Club is very professional and months of planning and preparation went into their Sun Met telecast, which was reflected by the turnovers they accomplished."
Back home there were increases in both attendance and tote betting turnover.
More than 21,000 people were at Kenilworth for South Africa's richest race meeting with total prize money of more than R22-million.
The large turnout was in spite of threats of protest action by the Public Servants Association in the weeks leading up to the race. Last-minute negotiations averted the planned protests.
Betting turnover in Phumelela TABs increased slightly over 2017 to R23.7-million, which TAB boss Vee Moodley reckoned was an accomplishment in the current economic climate.
"The South African economy is still under pressure with weak household spending and fierce competition for discretionary income," said Moodley...