The Durban July: Africa’s Greatest Horse Racing Event

The Durban July, sometimes known as the Hollywoodbets Durban July, is a prestigious, Grade One horse racing event held each year at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse in Durban.

The prize purse for the event currently stands at R5 million.

The event, held every July, as the name suggests, has become one of South Africa’s biggest spectacles, expanding far beyond just horse racing. Now, the Hollywoodbets Durban July has positioned itself as a leading fashion and entertainment event, attracting visitors from around the world.

Each year, the theme for the event is announced in February or March, giving attendees plenty of opportunity to prepare.

The Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse

The Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse hosts nine Grade One races during the South African Champions Season. Located near the Durban Golden Mile beachfront and the Royal Durban Golf Club, the course is a right-handed, pear-shaped track.

The racecourse is named, in part, after its title sponsor, Hollywoodbets, a South African sports betting operator.

The Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse is home to an uphill section between the 2200m and 1800m mark, followed by a gentle downward slope until the 1200m point. Another uphill section can be found between the 1000m and the straight, which is relatively level and 450m long.

The Durban July in 2024

In 2024, the 128th Durban July will be held on Saturday 6th July, and the theme for the event is “Ride the Wave”.

There are eighteen runners on the final field, including some of the country’s best middle-distance horses. The horses and their jockeys include:

• Royal Victory – Muzi Yeni
• Barbaresco – Gavin Lerena
• Without Question – Rachel Venniker
• Future Swing – Richard Fourie
• Green With Envy – Craig Zackey
• Shoemaker – Diego De Gouveia
• Aragosta – Marco V’Rensburg
• Purple Pitcher – Philasande Mxoli
• Winchester Mansion – Kabelo Matsunyane
• See It Again – Pierre Strydom
• Oriental Charm – Juan Paul V’D Merwe
• Son of Raj – Calvin Habib
• Meridius – Athandiwe Mgudlwa
• Master Redoute – Corne Orffer
• Cousin Casey – S’Manga Khumalo
• Double Superlative – Daniel Muscutt
• Flag Man – Serino Moodley
• Future Pearl – Grant V’Niekerk
• Hluhluwe (Reserve)
• Hotarubi (Reserve)

The above list includes some notable names, including last year’s winner (Winchester Mansion) and runner-up (See It Again). Rachel Venniker, riding Without Question, will get her first opportunity to ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, after her intended horse was withdrawn at the last minute in 2023.

Other Races at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse (2024)

There are seven other supporting races taking place on July 6th, 2024 at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse, including:

• Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes (1600m)
• Post Merchants (1200m)
• Durban Golden Horseshoe (1400m)
• Golden Slipper (1400m)
• SplashOut 2200 (2200m)
• DStv Gold Vase (3000m)
• Compendium Insurance Brokers Thukela Handicap (1600m)

The History of the Durban July

The Hollywoodbets Durban July has been held every year since 1897, and the very first race, the Durban Turf Club Handicap (1600m), was won by a horse called Campanajo. The prize purse for the very first Durban July race was 500 sovereigns. Despite its current popularity, only 3,000 attendees were present at the inaugural event.

Fast forward to the present day and the Durban July is regularly attended by more than 50,000 visitors, who revel in the grandeur of the occasion.

The distance of the race has also increased since 1897, changing to 1670m in 1906, then to 1800m in 1913 and 2000m in 1915. It wasn’t until 1941 that the distance was changed again, this time to 2100m. In 1970m the race was set at 2200m, which is how it has remained since.

The most recent winners of the Durban July include:

• 2023 – Winchester Mansion
• 2022 – Sparkling Water
• 2021 – Kommetdieding
• 2020 – Belgarion
• 2019 – Do It Again
• 2018 – Do It Again
• 2017 – Marinaresco
• 2016 – The Conglomerate
• 2015 – Power King
• 2014 – Legislate

Hollywoodbets Durban July’s Most Famous Horses

Since the event’s inception, there have been several notable horses:

• Sea Cottage: Shot just weeks before the 1966 iteration of the event, Sea Cottage placed fourth, despite still having the bullet lodged in his hind quarter. Sea Cottage returned to the Durban July a year later, where he finished in a dead heat.
• El Picha: El Picha was the first horse in 50 years to win the Durban July twice, placing first in both 1999 and 2000.
• Do It Again: Trained by Justin Snaith, Do It Again won the Durban July consecutively in 2018 and 2019.

Interesting Facts About the Durban July

Given its extensive history, it’s hardly surprising that some fascinating bits of information have arisen from the event over the years. Did you know:

• Only one two-year-old horse has ever won the Durban July, and that was in 1911.
• Only five horses have ever won the event back-to-back: Campanajo (1897/98), Corriecrian (1907/1908), Milesia Pride (1949/50), El Picha (1999/2000) and Do It Again (2018/19).
• The biggest Durban July field was in 1917, when 33 horses lined up at the start.
• The smallest Durban July fields were in 1897 and 1908, when seven horses lined up at the start.
• There have only ever been two winning dead heats since the race was founded, once in 1967 (Jollify and Sea Cottage) and then again in 2008 (Pocket Power and Dancer’s Daughter).

Durban July: More Than Just a Horse Race

The Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience, as presented by the Durban Fashion Fair, sits alongside the racing event every year. The fashion extravaganza takes place both digitally and in print in the months leading up to July, but is also held as a “virtual experience” on the actual race day for DStv viewers. 

Once the event theme is announced each year, design students throughout KwaZulu-Natal compete for the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award.