Three previous winners will line up as part of a 20-runner field for the 126th edition of the Durban July. Amanda Duckworth with a special focus on the celebrated South African highlight
Every racing jurisdiction around the world has major weekends that simply mean more than others—those trademark races which have shaped the region’s history and are embedded in the memories of racegoers.
For South Africa, the first Saturday in July is one such special day, as it is the traditional date for the Durban July Handicap, which was first run 125 years ago.
Held at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the famed race routinely drew in a crowd of 50,000 before the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Returning to full strength and with a new and highly motivated sponsor, the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July on July 2 is setting up to be a memorable occasion with three previous winners of the race expected to compete.
“First run in 1897, outside of the soccer World Cup year, the Durban July’s date has been fixed as the first Saturday in July,” explained Andrew Harrison, the publishing manager for Gold Circle, which is responsible for running the sport in KwaZulu-Natal.
“It is the one race that every owner, trainer, jockey, and groom wants to win—possibly because of its long, unbroken and illustrious history.
“The fact that most of the country’s leading middle-distance runners meet on a level playing field helps – as well as the fact that it has been won by some of the biggest names in the sport both human and equine. It is also the only race that receives national coverage in all sections of the media.”
On that first Saturday in July in 1897, seven runners lined up, and Campanajo etched his name at the top of a list of historical names in South African racing history. The first edition was a mile contest, but since 1970, it has been contested at 2,200 metres.
Perhaps no other July winner is as historically revered as Sea Cottage, although he probably would have preferred to have skipped the ordeal that led to his infamy—being shot by a henchman because a bookie was going to lose too much money if he won. Of course, many other popular winners had more traditional paths to fame.
“The story of Sea Cottage, fourth in 1966 with a sniper’s bullet lodged in his rump as a three-year-old and dead-heating the following year with Jollify, giving his rival 12kg, is stuff of July legend,” said Harrison.
“My favorite was the Syd Laird-trained Politician, who won in 1978. He was beaten into fourth when favorite as a three-year-old the previous year. He won two Mets and two Queen’s Plates and was unbeaten in the Cape.”
The Met to which Harrison refers is the Cape Metropolitan Stakes, a famous G1 event currently run as the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met. It is a 2,000-metre contest held at Kenilworth in Cape Town, and it is routinely viewed as the July’s top rival for the title of biggest race in South Africa.
“Both races attract top-class fields,” explained Harrison. “For the purists, the Met is weight-for-age, the July a bastardised handicap. Attendees don’t care – it’s the raceday experience that sets them apart.
“The Indian population in KZN is the lifeblood of our racing,” he went on. “Even lowly midweek meetings attract a fair attendance. The July is the pinnacle of the year and entrance tickets are sold out in spite of the relatively high price, given that entrance is normally free.”
In addition to the race itself, there is always a theme attached to the day to encourage racegoers’ choice in dress. For those who go all out, the results are somewhat a cross between Royal Ascot and the Met Gala. This year’s theme is ‘Show Me the Honey’.
A theme that is a play on ‘show me the money’ is appropriate on multiple levels. Obviously, the gambling aspect is of importance, but this year the July also has a new sponsor in Hollywoodbets, replacing long-time sponsor Vodacom.
“Owen Heffer, the founder and CEO of the betting company Hollywoodbets, has always been a dyed-in-the-wool horse racing man who started off selling horse racing tips from his garage,” said Harrison. “His strategy is to pander to the small punter, and his many outlets, some in the remotest rural towns, are thriving.
“When Vodacom asked for an early termination of their sponsorship of the July, Owen was quick to put up his hand and also raise the stake from a reduced SAR2.5 million ($158,000) to the current SAR5m ($316,000).
“Their marketing under the management of Owen’s son Devin is a well-oiled machine. In short, Hollywoodbets was and is a lifesaver for the July and Gold Circle.”
It is not just the purse of the July that is receiving a financial boost. Hollywoodbets instituted the Grooms’ Initiative, handed out on top of normal earnings throughout the season. More than SAR1m ($632,000) has been awarded since its inception in October 2019.
“Owen is also a firm believer in giving back to the community, and he was behind the Grooms’ Initiative, along with Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac,” said Harrison. “The groom of each winning horse gets a check for SAR1,000 ($63) for the three-month Champions Season.”
As for this year’s July, a field of 20 is expected to compete, including three previous winners. Last year’s winner Kommetdieding, whose name loosely translates to ‘Bring It On’ in Afrikaans, made history in multiple ways with his victory.
Michelle Rix became just the second female trainer, after Candice Bass-Robinson, to win the July, while owner Ashwin Reynolds became the first Black owner to take the famed race.
In January, Kommetdieding won the Met over Jet Dark, who is also entered. Last year’s July runner-up Linebacker will try to go one better this time, while fourth-place finisher Do It Again will try to live up to his name again, having previously won the July in both 2018 and 2019.
Others to keep an eye on include Belgarion, winner of the 2020 July; Pomp And Power, winner of the G1 Cape Derby; G1 Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Astrix; and last year’s G1 Summer Cup winner Flying Carpet.
“The July will always be the July,” said Harrison. “It is Africa’s greatest and most famous horserace. It is one of the biggest social events on the country’s sporting calendar. It is South Africa’s equivalent of the Melbourne Cup and with Hollywoodbets driving this year’s narrative you can expect a cracker.”
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