Get ready for Joburg’s biggest horse racing event – the 2025 Betway Summer Cup – happening at the iconic Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday, 29 November 2025.

The sport of horse racing is as deeply rooted in Johannesburg as the city itself and nearly as old.  The city was founded in 1886, by prospectors seeking their fortune after the discovery of gold. The first horse race in Johannesburg – the Witwatersrand Handicap - was held that very same year, on 30th December.

It was such a success, that it prompted the formal establishment of the Johannesburg Turf Club, which held its inaugural meeting on 15 June 1887 featuring the Johannesburg Handicap – the forerunner of our Summer Cup. The first running of the race was held over two miles for a stake of £250. 

The race was renamed the ‘Johannesburg December Handicap’ for one renewal, before the ‘Johannesburg Summer Handicap’ was established in 1902. It was run over 1800m between 1906 and 1909 and became a 2000m contest in 1910. It was not renamed again until 1972, when the hotel chain, Holiday Inn, took up the sponsorship.

The ‘Holiday Inns’ became the ‘Sun International’ between 1984 and 1987; the Administrator’s Champion Stakes between 1988 and 1991; the ’Administrator’s Cup between 1992 and 1996 and the ‘Premier’s Cup’ for 1997 and 1998.

In 1999, the race was staged as the ‘Summer Handicap’ and changed to the ‘Summer Cup’ in 2000. Between 2000 and 2021 a number of major sponsors were part of the big day including Sansui, until the online betting giant, Betway, took the mantle in 2022.

This premier sporting event is a highlight on Gauteng’s social calendar, blending top-class horse racing with an unforgettable day of entertainment and celebration.

The Betway Summer Cup is proudly known as The People’s Race, offering something for everyone. Whether you're there for the pulse-pounding races, the gourmet food and drinks, the high fashion, or the incredible live music – you’ll find your vibe in one of the many stylish hospitality zones.

Mark your calendar, dress to impress, and be part of the energy that only the Summer Cup can deliver.

Tickets are on sale now. Prices start from as little as R100 for general admission and can be purchased from Ticketpro.

• https://betwaysummercup.co.za/
• Instagram and X: @summercupracing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/summercupracing/