We’re offering a massive R1 million for the first jockey to surpass the long standing Anthony Delpech benchmark of 334 winners in the forthcoming racing season, which kicks off on 1 August 2023.
The 334 winner mark was established by former multiple national champion Anthony Delpech, when he shattered Piere Strydom’s record in the 1998/1999 season. The dazzling Delpech season record, achieved at the age of 30, still stands today. A three-time SA champion, and an internationally respected Grade 1 winning jockey, Anthony retired at the age of 50 in 2019.
Now a popular Racing Manager of the Hollywood Syndicate, he welcomed the Hollywoodbets incentive as a tangible means of rewarding the enormous effort, and the gruelling personal and professional sacrifices, that would go into any bid to beat the record.
“What a great idea and a true personal honour for me, and the new record-holder, whoever that may be. I believe there will be many of our jockeys chasing this target. A goal is vitally important for any sportsman. But it’s no walk in the park, believe me! Any rider with national title aspirations is required to spend seven days a week, for twelve solid months, travelling the length and breadth of South Africa, chasing winners. It takes enormous commitment without any guarantees of success, and demands that the individual maintains a level of fitness and mental application that could push any athlete to the edge. It’s also a dangerous and physically demanding sport, and the risk of a setback or injury is omnipresent. I’d really love nothing more than to see one of the new generation jockeys toppling my record this season,” added an enthusiastic Delpech.
Winning Form-sponsored rider, Keagan de Melo, reached the 275 winner mark after he was crowned SA Champion Jockey as the curtain came down on the 2022/23 racing season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday 30 July 2023. Keagan, who is set to pursue his career in Hong Kong, rode 1434 horses at seven racecourses in four provinces, in an unrelenting quest to be the best of the best last term.
National title runner-up Richard Fourie, who is a Winning Form stablemate of de Melo’s, fell 17 winners short, but was thrilled with his personal best-ever season tally of 258 winners and wished his friend and colleague well on his new career challenge in the East.
“I was only 13 years old when Anthony Delpech set that magic bar with his 334 winners. But I am always up for a challenge and I will be doing my best, and more,” declared the enormously talented Fourie, who won 8 Grade 1 races last season.
In the 2021/22 season Warren Kennedy won the national title with 263 winners, the same mark achieved in the 2020/21 season by Hong Kong-based Lyle Hewitson.
The 334 Delpech Jockey Challenge powered by Hollywoodbets starts on 1 August 2023 and culminates on 31 July 2024.
