Eight On Eighteens' victorious gallop in the Daily 2000 Grade 1 race at Hollywoodbets Greyville

ANOTHER segment of KwaZulu-Natal's programme of horseracing in winter, also known as the Champions Season, galloped to life on Saturday with the running of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000, which drew a large gathering of punters and socialites to the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. 

From the moment the entry gates opened early on Saturday, the atmosphere was electric. Fans eagerly placed their bets and anticipated an afternoon of world-class racing.

The highlight of the day was the main race, where Eight On Eighteen, a horse owned by Nick Jonsson and trained by Justin Snaith, galloped to victory and drew a roar of approval from the crowd.

The win marked a significant milestone for all involved and highlighted the event's continued legacy of excellence in the South African horse racing calendar.

Looking dapper in a blue suit, the Daily News' editor, Ayanda Mdluli, took to the podium to hand over the trophies to the triumphant jockey.

In an interview before the big event, Mdluli reflected on the significance of the occasion and expressed his gratitude to those who made it possible.

“As the Daily News editor, I am proud to be part of this prestigious event. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me, especially my mother, and of course, our loyal readers. We’ve recently launched the new Berliner-formatted Daily News, and the response has been phenomenal,” said Mdluli.

The main race commenced promptly at 15:18, triggering a surge of excitement throughout the racecourse. Punters rose to their feet, clutching tickets, shouting the names of their favourite horses as the action unfolded on the turf.

An elated Jonsson expressed his appreciation for the Daily News' long-standing partnership with the event.

“It’s incredibly exciting that Eight On Eighteen clinched the main race. We’re grateful to the Daily News association with this event for 20 years. It’s a wonderful experience to own a share in a winning horse, and now we’re focusing on preparing our horses for the Durban July,” said Jonsson.

The winning jockey, Richard Fourie, shared on his emotional connection with the horse and his pride in the result.

“I’m over the moon. This victory means the world to me. The bond I’ve built with this horse over the years is special, and today it showed. Most importantly, we appreciate the thousands of people who came out today to support us,” Fourie said.

About his success on board Eight On Eighteen, Fourie emphasised the importance of the rider-horse relationship in achieving success and the time spent nurturing that connection.

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