Lucky Fish's major championship rewards

Sportsbook operator Lucky Fish has boldly announced its sponsorship of the SA National Trainer and Jockey Championships, together with an unprecedented Apprentice and Grooms Championship for the 2026-27 season.

All four competitions will encompass race meetings staged in all four racing jurisdictions in South Africa.

The Lucky Fish National Trainers Championship will reward the top 10 trainers based on the total number of winners they saddled during the season, rather than the stakes earned, which determines the official ‘Champion Trainer’ title.

With the aim of encouraging trainers to raid outside their home centres, there is a proviso that trainers must have saddled a minimum number of 6 horses outside of their designated home jurisdiction.

In addition, the trainer must win a race in two of the four jurisdictions to qualify (for clarity, Turffontein and the Vaal racecourses are in the same jurisdiction).

Similarly, the Lucky Fish National Jockeys Championship will reward the top 10 jockeys based on the total number of winners ridden across South Africa.  To qualify, jockeys must have ridden at least 5 winners outside of their home jurisdiction.

A total prize fund of R2 million has been allocated to each championship with R1 million awarded to the champion trainer and R1 million to the champion jockey, making these the richest performance-based awards of their kind in South African racing.

The sport’s emerging stars have not been overlooked!

Lucky Fish has put forward an additional R200,000 for the Apprentice Championship, with the top five apprentices sharing the prize money and the winner receiving a potentially life-changing R100,000.  To qualify, apprentices must have ridden at least 1 winner in two of the four jurisdictions.

The country’s grooms will also be rewarded by Lucky Fish for their dedicated care of the equine athletes.

The top thirty grooms who take charge of the most winners nationwide will share in R300 000, with the most successful groom earning the first prize of R50 000.

Vishen Naidoo, General Manager of Lucky Fish said “We believe the additional financial incentive for the participants in all four categories will elevate the competitive environment to a new level, while encouraging participants to compete across the country. We wish all the participants the very best in the pursuit of the ultimate prize. Lucky Fish is committed to giving back to racing”