SAJC announce free admission to Group 1 race days under SA racing's biggest club sponsorship deal
Adult racegoers will get free general admission to each of Adelaide's three $1 million race days, beginning on Australasian Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes Day on April 27.
On the eve of the Adelaide Racing Carnival, the South Australian Jockey Club has announced a 7-year $25 million partnership with Sportsbet - the biggest club sponsorship deal in the history of South Australian racing.
The new agreement will see Sportsbet become the naming rights sponsor of both Adelaide Cup Day and the Adelaide Racing Carnival, along with an annual cash component, investment in signage updates, infrastructure, innovation and activation.
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Sportsbet will also become the naming rights holder of four of SA's biggest feature races, the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) and three of SA's $1 million Group One races - the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m), Australasian Oaks (2000m) and The Goodwood (1200m).
"This is the biggest club sponsorship agreement ever signed in racing in this state and one of the largest in South Australian sport," SAJC CEO Grant Mayer said.
"When combined with the opening of residential registrations of interest for 'The Quarter' - the residential component of the $350 million Morphettville redevelopment - the opening of our exceptional $21 million Wolf Blass Event Centre and the recent announcement of $1 million Group One races for the Adelaide Racing Carnival, this Club is now on a trajectory that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago."RUTHLESS DAME WINS THE SANGSTER! 🙌
JOHN ALLEN GETS HIS 19TH GROUP 1. @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/OevGibWwmF
- 7HorseRacing ðŸÂÂŽ (@7horseracing) May 6, 2023
Along with free admission on the Group 1 days, an exciting 'Putt for Dough' activation is set to be featured on course for the entirety of the Adelaide carnival, giving racegoers the opportunity to sink a 'monster' golf putt, where winners can win a share of $100,000 cash.
"We're delighted to have found a partner as passionate about the future of our Club and the event experience we're creating as Sportsbet and can't think of a better way to celebrate than with free adult GA tickets and this incredible putt activation - just in time for LIV Golf," he said.
Sportsbet CEO Barni Evans said it reinforced Sportsbet's commitment to racing in South Australia.AFFAIRE A SUIVRE (3 f Astern - Laurelling by Highest Honor) has won the Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) 💎
A $75k buy for @FirstLight_FLR / @cmaherracing / Paul Willets from @KarakaChat ðŸ‘Â
A 2nd Gr 1 for @DarleyAus' ASTERN 💙
📹 @7horseracingpic.twitter.com/a8XszGpnsX
- ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) April 29, 2023
"We couldn't be happier to be partnering with the SAJC and it further demonstrates our ongoing investment in and commitment to the racing industry," Evans said.
"Sportsbet prides itself on innovative thinking and I'm so proud that this partnership includes a significant cash contribution to an innovation fund so that SAJC can continue to do things differently and attract new audiences to racing.
"Offering free GA tickets to all adults and the 'Putt for Dough' activity are just a couple of examples of how we can do racing differently and we look forward to many more initiatives in the future."
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