The Met unveils Sun International as its new title sponsor

PHUMELELA Gaming and Kenilworth Racing are delighted to announce that luxury hospitality, gaming and entertainment group Sun International is the new title sponsor of the Met, which henceforth will be run as the Sun Met and will carry a South African record prize money of R5-million.

Sun International’s sponsorship of the famous race, which was first run in 1883 and is South Africa’s oldest major horse racing event, and the doubling of the prize money were announced at a glittering function in Cape Town on Thursday, October 6.

International champagne brand Maison Mumm will partner with Sun International in sponsoring Cape Town’s premier horse racing and social event.

Sun International also has a hospitality and infrastructure partner for the event in Circa, a specialist hospitality company that will bring its usual exclusive, high-quality flair to the race day.

Sun International was quick to take up the reins as the title sponsor of the Met when the local distributor of J&B announced that the brand would be ending its 39-year association with the race.

“Given the gaming and social history of the Met, the synergy between our two premium entertainment and hospitality brands was immediately clear. We are therefore delighted and honoured to be associated with this prestigious event,” said Sun International chief operating officer Rob Collins.

“The Sun Met represents the oldest and grandest event on the South African entertainment calendar. What we can promise is that we will bring elegance, sophistication, glamour and excitement to the event, and there will be so much more that racegoers can now look forward to.”

Speaking on behalf of Kenilworth Racing and Phumelela, which manages Western Cape horse racing on behalf of Kenilworth Racing, Rob Scott said, “We are so pleased to be associated with a brand of the stature of Sun International. The coming years will see the Sun Met become an iconic event in South Africa. We look forward to the last weekend in January to start the journey to making the Sun Met SA’s greatest race.”

The Sun Met, celebrated with Maison Mumm, will be Africa’s richest horse racing day. With a stake of R5-million, the Sun Met is now the richest race open to all horses on the continent.