The Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) will be run at Turffontein on Saturday and once again the Princess has come on board to boost the race.

Owing to the deteriorating economic situation, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the stakes of all races have been cut. Last year, all Grade 1 races on the Highveld carried a stake of at least R1 million but that has been reduced to R425,000 and fillies’ events to R325,000.

That is the case with this year’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m but the Princess has stepped in to ensure the race will carry the same stake as all current Grade 1 races.

“Because of the situation the Princess has decided to put up the R100,000 stake difference,” explained her father, Mike Wittstock.

“An acknowledgement of her gesture will be made at the post-race presentation.”

Princess Charlene was invited to the Charity Mile in 2012 and since then she has been a strong supporter of South African racing and local charities.

Showing her backing for the underdog, she also initiated the Maiden Million, a R1-million race for horses who have not yet won a race. It always receives a massive entry and the nomination fees all go to charity. It is sponsored by the Prince And Monaco Merchants.

The first organisation to benefit from Princess Charlene’s charity work was the Gugulesizwe School in Daveyton from where she launched her foundation in 2012.

Others include Lesabe School in Wadeville, the Horse Care unit and five schools in Turffontein.

Tab News Online