Gold Circle is pleased to announce the return to sponsorship action by the Western Cape Bookmakers’ Association with their sponsorship of the R125 000 Grade 3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap, scheduled for the 24th December 2005.

In addition to the sponsorship of the race, the Western Cape Bookmakers will award a bonus of R100 000 to the connections of the horse which manages to win all 3 legs of the ‘Summer Stayers Series’, which will comprise of:

The Durbanville Cup (Listed) 3200m 29 November 2005

The Cape Summer Stayers Handicap (Grade 3) 2500m 24 December 2005

The J&B Reserve Stayers (Grade 2) 2800m 28 January 2006

The bonus, if won, will be awarded to the winning connections at the racemeeting on Saturday 4th February at Kenilworth.

With the abundance of sprint to middle distance races scheduled, and the accompanying lucrative stakes on offer, the inclination to breed, purchase, train and race long-distance horses has, understandably, become less alluring, and the idea of a bonus being offered to contestants in the Cape ‘Stayer’ races will certainly inject some much-needed spice and incentive into ‘distance’ racing.