Emerald Cup Festivities

Either I been in a hole or I havnt seen anything about the Emerald Cup weekend.... can anyone point me in the right direction???

From the Citizen

The Emerald Cup, Africa’s richest race on sand, celebrates its seventh year of existence in September – and this year’s event promises to be the best yet.

The Emerald Cup, a festival of racing that culminates in the race of the same name, is hosted by the Emerald Resort & Casino, Phumelela and the Racing Association.

It has grown since its inception into one of South Africa’s premier horse racing events, drawing thousands of spectators, and is unique in that it is the only racing event in the country that is specifically family-oriented.

The festival is preceded on Thursday, September 23, by a Racing Association golf day, as well as a World Series of Poker Africa Celebrity Poker Tournament for charity at the Emerald Resort & Casino.

Racing commences at the adjacent Vaal Racecourse with the traditional Little Hamptons Race Day on Friday, September 24, and the Emerald Cup Race Day on Saturday, September 25.

The actual 1 450m, Grade 2 Emerald Cup race, which with prize money of R660 000 is the richest horse race to be run on sand in Africa, draws the cream of South Africa’s trainers, jockeys and thoroughbreds. This year will be no exception, and punters can look forward to an exciting tussle for top honours.

Apart from all the thrilling action, spectators will be treated to live music performances, a children’s entertainment area, guest artists and celebrities, on-course competitions with great prizes, glamorous fashion shows, the popular Mr and Miss Emerald Cup pageant, picnic sites and a beer garden, among other attractions.

In addition, the Emerald Cup weekend will be preceded by a special SMS competition, in which entrants stand to win a Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LS worth R98 000, a Zambian grass-green emerald worth R35 000, or a luxury weekend for two at the Emerald Resort & Casino worth R15 000. The competition will be run in conjunction with The Citizen newspaper between August 2 and September 10. The winners will be announced at the racecourse on Saturday, September 25.

“We have seen the Emerald Cup go from strength to strength since we launched the event in 2004, and it has become the leading family-focused event on the South African racing calendar – not to mention one of the most eagerly-anticipated annual occasions in the Vaal Triangle,” says Emerald Resort & Casino CEO Martin Rice.

“I don’t think anyone anticipated how popular the Emerald Cup would become, and so rapidly at that – but then, the first-class entertainment and top-flight racing on offer is certainly a winning combination. There’s something for everyone, and it’s a fun day out that is not to be missed under any circumstances.”

Has been a few packages on tellytrack to stay over at the casino for the weekend

The Citizen has been running advertising for the Emerald Cup every day for weeks.....

Poker event in Bapsfontein well advertised i am at that followed by the annual jukskei tournie in Heilbron. Fantactic signage done by the club etc. Emerald Cup not so much. Still confused from the last time i went and the stop sign was not working. Hoe the Fu do you break a stop sign.

At least at Jukskei we get put in the correct sand boxes before we start tossing.

Horses Tossers load you in the wrong boxes and then toss up the days racing.

Best check the starters can count to 14 for the week end other wise F u c k u p on the cards.

Good luck to the Cinnamon Bun connections. Hope she wins for them.

I believe there have been adverts in the citizen... sadly I dont buy the citizen hey!! {Confirmed Facebook addict}

Would have thought someone would have sent out a mass e-mail to owners etc etc advertising the weekend events... whats the "little hamptons" day about??

Since we have a huge amount of tech/varsity students in the Vaal triangle I wonder if any of them are coming to the Cup since there is a HUGE party at Emerald on the same day... Wet n Wild... those ppl should all be "jolling" at the course and spening their pocket money betting on horses and hopefully getting hooked so when they are established bussiness ppl they will buy a horse!! Thats my theory at least!

For the last 2 or 3 years we have had a picnic spot cos it awesome for the family... kids run a mock and its generally a awesome day to chill out and enjoy the racing in a relaxed environment!! In previous years we have been able to bring our own food and drinks... this year we are not allowed to bring anything in!!! We have to buy from the caterers and from a dedicated picnic site bar - this new idea in 1 sense is great cos now we dont have to schleep stuff to the course BUT in the other hand sucks.... NEVER has a picnic site at races been run like that!! At the Vodacom July they picnic sites are COMPLETELY independant from the course caterers....

Anyhow, I cant wait for the Emerald Cup nevertheless!! WHOOP WHOOP!!

If GC were runnin it we would be getting induated with press releases