1. J&B celebrates its 31st anniversary as the sponsor as the J&B Met this year.

2. What started off a small sponsorship has become Justerini & Brooks` largest sponsorship worldwide and a huge economic generator for the city.

3. J&B`s participation in the Met is congruent with its brand positioning of inspiring vibrant connections among J&B Rare drinkers. The J&B Met is a social event that connects people with each other and with the brand. J&B Rare has the vibrant credentials to break out of traditional Scotch conventions and be different. The success of the J&B Met has rested on important sponsorship fundamentals that J&B Rare has created and refined over the years.

4. The early history of the J&B Met is linked to Lord Charles Somerset, Governor of the Cape during the early 1800s

5. The race was run on the Green Point Common. English soldiers attached to the Cape Garrison would race one another and the ladies of the Cape would come out in all their finery to watch the event.

6. The race moved to Kenilworth in the late 1800s and became the SA Turf Club`s main feature, held in summer each year.

7. It is the oldest horse race in the country.

8. J&B was introduced to the Met 30 years ago in 1977. They offered a stake of R40 000 - a record for horse racing at the time.

9. Today the J&B Met offers R2 000 000 stake.

10. The event has been postponed twice, in 1986 and 2004, due to equine flu and African Horse Sickness.

11. Sixteen of the country`s best horses contest the race over 2 000 meters.

12. Only one horse has won the race twice - Politician in 1978 and 1979.

13. The J&B Met is the largest annual outdoor social event in the country.

14. The J&B Met attracts about 55 000 people to the racecourse, a record for South African horse racing.

15. The J&B Met Hospitality Village boasts 30 corporate marquees, hosting over 5 200 guests to lunch, dinner and some even to breakfast on Sunday.

16. Five different parking lots within a radius of 1 km of the racecourse are used to cater for the +-20 000 vehicles used to bring spectators to the J&B Met.

17. Every white marquee in Cape Town is used on J&B Met Day.

18. Fashion designers open their studios early in the year to make outfits for clients to wear on J&B Met Day. Some launch specific J&B Met ranges.

19. Local shopping centres and fashion boutiques participate in various promotions assisting patrons in what to wear to the J&B Met. This stimulates the fashion industry in one of its quietest months.

20. In 2003 the Cape Town City Council - Cape of Great Events -commissioned an independent economic impact survey that showed that over R18 million of fashion sales in the Western Cape were directly attributed to the J&B Met. The entire event generates R52 million for the Western Cape economy.

21. Every major newspaper in the country is represented at Kenilworth on J&B Met Day.

22. Every horse groom is supplied a J&B overall on Met Day and wears it with pride for the entire year.

23. A team of specialist agencies contracted by Brandhouse together with Gold Circle racing staff takes seven months to plan and put together this event.

24. Kenilworth Racecourse is unique in that it has three racetracks, all-finishing in front of the grandstands with one pull-up area.

25. The land inside Kenilworth Racecourse has no less than 22 Red Data plant species - those, which are internationally recognised as being, threatened with extinction - the highest number anywhere on the globe for an area that size.

26. J&B use The Met to raise awareness about the environmental uniqueness of Kenilworth racecourse and to make sure the right steps are taken to protect the sensitive vegetation during the event.

27. Tickets for the J&B Met are available through designated Gold Circle`s tote offices around Cape Town and at the reception offices of the Kenilworth Race Course. Ticket enquires can be made by calling Kenilworth Race Course on 021 7001600.

28. In terms of the liquor legislation, the J&B Met is a no persons under 18 event.

29. No liquor is allowed into the Kenilworth Race Course on Race Day. Various on-course liquor outlets retail an extensive range of brands and mixers.

30. Numerous promotions pre-empt the J&B Met. A huge sales drive attached to an incentive program runs over the festive season and culminates around the J&B Met.

31. A huge branding exercise ensures that Cape Town is covered with J&B Met livery. The City of Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront carry flags on the street poles. Many of the shopping centers create centre court displays while over 400 individual stores participate in the branding promotion in Cape Town and Durban.

32. Numerous J&B Met pre-Met parties take place many of them outside Cape Town and on race day many taverns throughout the country host J&B Met parties.

33. A strong relationship marketing strategy, culminating in exclusive tickets to the J&B Marquee is implemented.