The Dundee July is the premier KwaZulu-Natal rural horse-racing event and the most important one on the sector’s calendar. In 2005, the local government recognised the sport, and so began the Dundee July.
Year after year, the event has grown in popularity and size. Ithotho/SportPesa are proudly one of the official partners at the event and a stakeholder with various associated entities.
Noteable stakeholders include the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (DSAC), various local municipalities, the Coastal Horse Care Unit (CHCU), the Traditional Horse Racing and Breeding Association (THRBA), Play2Legal, and the Fort Stud.
Ithotho/SportPesa has so far contributed more than R1-million in stakes sponsorship for the event via its partnership with DSAC to the THRBA. The brand procured other value-added giveaways from the CHCU. They include bridles, browbands, rope halters, leads, and dewormers, which are much needed by rural horse racing communities.
Ithotho/SportPesa also purchase horse blankets and jockey uniforms from a locally based NPO, Play2Legal. The brand intends to distribute more than 400 horse blankets in various rural racing districts by the end of the period.
In addition, Ithotho/SportPesa have imported a thoroughbred traditional racehorse from Sweden to enhance the local horse breeding programme and upkeep of the genetic pool. The Fort Stud receives a monthly fee to maintain the stallion Main Kronos and to manage the Ithotho/SportPesa horse breeding programme.
The group charges no fees for the service provided, as this is purely done to enhance and assist the genetic pool of traditional racehorses available in South Africa. Ithotho/SportPesa are thus aligned with the transformation of the rural horse racing sector and are committed to assisting in its growth and development.