ONE of South Africa’s oldest horseracing events has a new title sponsor. Ladbrokes.co.za in partnership with Gold Circle is proud to announce the title sponsorship of The Gold Cup, the country’s premier long distance horse race, in an initial three-year deal.

Ancestral Fore: 2010 Gold Cupm winner.

Ladbrokes.co.za, South Africa’s fastest growing online bookmaker made the announcement at this year’s annual Expro charity event held at Greyville Racecourse today. “Our partnership with Gold Circle will cement another premier horse racing event, while preserving the heritage of The Gold Cup. As a new-comer to the South African market, Ladbrokes.co.za is proud to support the local horse racing industry” said Ladbrokes General Manager Jan Nel.

Gold Circle Chief Operating Officer, Graeme Hawkins, said he was delighted to welcome Ladbrokes on board as the sponsor of this important race. “Through this partnership with Ladbrokes, Gold Circle will raise the profile of the meeting into a major horseracing attraction and a grand finale to the horse racing season”.

This year the Gold Cup meeting was boosted by all the Graded races usually run at Clairwood racetrack on the last Saturday of the season, being moved to the Gold Cup meeting.  “This elevated The Gold Cup race day, turning it into one of the most important on the national calendar, especially in light of the Equus Awards that take place a week after the end of every season” said Hawkins.

Hawkins added that the important charity aspect of the meeting, where Gold Circle assists a number of non-profit and charity organisations in raising funds for their various causes, will remain.

He thanked former sponsors Canon for their loyal support of the Gold Cup over the years and stressed that Gold Circle’s association with the company will continue, details of which will be announced at a later date.

The announcement of the title sponsorship comes at a time when sponsorship of major sporting events in South Africa is under threat due to the global financial crisis. “No better time exists for Ladbrokes to announce the sponsorship of an event of this calibre and to show our commitment not only to the horse racing industry, but to South African sport in general”.