Reddy splashes out on biggest marquee
BILLIONAIRE businessman Vivian Reddy will host 600 guests at Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July in the double-decker marquee previously used by Afrisun’s Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom.
“Most of the guests were mine anyway, so I went to Sibaya and said: ‘ Listen, I need the whole marquee’,” said Reddy, who is chairperson of Afrisun.
He scotched suggestions that taking the marquee over was a cost-cutting exercise by Sibaya, saying that was a “totally wrong perception” and he had wanted the doubledecker marquee to entertain more of his guests for his Edison Corporation.
“Sibaya only had the top level for 250 guests anyway, as the bottom level was used by another organisation. I am now taking both the top and the bottom levels and entertaining 600 business guests.”
The standard of the Edison Corporation’s race day hospitality would be the same as that of Sibaya’s.
“It is going to be quality,” Reddy said.
And yes, Miss South Africa – Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters – will put in an appearance as usual.
Mo Magic, the magician, will also entertain to fit in with this year’s theme, “The colour of magic”.
On the cost of playing host, Reddy said: “I don’t even want to tell you the figure: it is mind-boggling.”
Greyville Racecourse is a hive of activity as preparations continue for the big race. Thirty marquees of different sizes have already gone up and the decor and accessories are expected to start arriving on Thursday.
Edict of Nantes is the bookmaker’s favourite, while Al Sahem is in the number two slot.
WITH the Vodacom Durban July around the corner, punters and the like are scrambling to figure out which horse to bet on and how much to wager.
However, those who have never tried their hand at placing a bet on a horse are reluctant to do so because they are either afraid of losing their money – or just afraid of betting incorrectly.
The Daily News has a simple three-step guide for the novice better at the Vodacom Durban July with the help of Gold Circle.
There are about 25 different types of wagers a person can make and this plays an important role when you place your bet. STEP ONE: Select the horse you want to bet on and specify what type of bet you want to make on your betting card. STEP TWO: Give the teller your bet-marked card and the amount you want to bet. The teller will then punch in your selected race codes and hand you a ticket. STEP THREE: Keep an eye on the races. If you win, you can either take your ticket back to the teller and collect your winnings or have your money transferred via an EFT deposit.
If you change your mind, you have 35 minutes to cancel your bet before a race.