Durban July, sometimes known as the Hollywoodbets Durban July, is a prestigious Grade One horse racing event held annually at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse in Durban.
The prize purse for the event currently stands at R5 million.
Held every July, as the name suggests, the event has become one of South Africa’s biggest spectacles, extending far beyond horse racing. Now, Hollywoodbets Durban July has positioned itself as a premier fashion and entertainment event, attracting visitors from around the world.
Each year, the theme of the event is announced in February or March, giving attendees plenty of opportunities to prepare.
Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse
Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse hosts nine Grade One races during the South African Champions season. Located near the Durban Golden Mile beach and the Royal Durban Golf Club, the course is a right-handed, pear-shaped course.
The racecourse was named, in part, by its title sponsor, HollywoodbetsSouth African sports betting company.
Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse features an uphill section between 2200m and 1800m, followed by a gentle downhill to the 1200m mark. Another uphill section is found between 1000m and the straight, which is relatively flat and has a length of 450m.
Durban July 2024
In 2024, the 128th Durban July will be held on Saturday 6 July and the theme of the event is ‘Ride the Wave’.
There are eighteen runners in the final field, including some of the best middle distance horses in the country. Horses and their riders include:
- Royal Victory – Muzi Yeni
- Barbaresco – Gavin Lerena
- No question – Rachel Weniker
- Future Swing – Richard Fourie
- He turned green with jealousy – Craig Zacky
- Shoemaker – Diego De Gouveia
- Lobster – Marco V’Rensburg
- Purple pitcher – Philasante Mxoli
- Winchester Manor – Kabelo Matsuniane
- Watch it again – Pierre Strydom
- Oriental charm – Juan Paul V’D Merwe
- Son of Raj – Calvin Habib
- Meridius – Athandiwe Mgudlwa
- Master Redoubt – 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 list above includes some notable names, including last year’s winner (Winchester Mansion) and runner-up (See It Again). Rachel Venniker riding No Doubt will get her first chance to ride at July’s Hollywoodbets Durban after her intended horse withdrew at the last minute in 2023.
Other Races at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse (2024)
There are seven other supporting races taking place on July 6, 2024 at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse, including:
- Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes (1600m)
- Post Merchants (1200m)
- Durban Golden Horseshoe (1400m.)
- Golden Slipper (1400m.)
- SplashOut 2200 (2200m)
- DStv Gold Jar (3000m)
- Compendium Insurance Brokers Thukela Handicap (1600m)
The story of Durban July
The Hollywoodbets Durban July has been held every year since 1897 and the first race, the Durban Turf Club Handicap (1600m), was won by a horse called Campanajo. The purse for the first Durban July race was 500 sovereigns. Despite its current popularity, only 3,000 attendees were present at the inaugural event.
Fast forward to today and July Durban is regularly attended by more than 50,000 visitors, who enjoy the grandeur of the occasion.
The distance of the race has also increased since 1897 and was changed to 1670 meters in 1906, then 1800 meters in 1913 and 2000 meters in 1915. It was not until 1941 that the distance was changed again, this time to 2100 meters. In 1970 the race was set at 2200m, and it has remained so ever since.
Most recent Durban July winners include:
- 2023 – Winchester Mansion
- 2022 – Sparkling Water
- 2021 – Kommetdieding
- 2020 – Bulgarian
- 2019 – Do it again
- 2018 – Do it again
- 2017 – Marinaresco
- 2016 – The Conglomerate
- 2015 – Power King
- 2014 – Legislative
Hollywoodbets Durban July The most famous horses
Since the event’s inception, there have been several notable horses:
- Sea Cottage: Shot just weeks before the 1966 rerun, Sea Cottage finished fourth despite still having the bullet in the rear quarter. Sea Cottage returned to Durban in July a year later where he finished in a dead heat.
- El Pizza: El Picha was the first horse in 50 years to win the Durban July twice, winning the first in both 1999 and 2000.
- Do it again: Trained by Justin Snaith, Do It Again won the Durban July back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.
Interesting facts about Durban July
Given its extensive history, it’s no surprise that some fascinating bits of information have emerged from the event over the years. You knew that:
- Only one two-year-old horse has ever won the Durban July, and that was in 1911.
- Only five horses have won the event consecutively: Campanajo (1897/98), Corriecrian (1907/1908), Milesia Pride (1949/50), El Picha (1999/2000) and Do It Again (2018/19).
- The largest Durban July field was in 1917 when 33 horses lined the start.
- The smallest Durban July fields were in 1897 and 1908, when seven horses lined up at the start.
- There have only been two wins since the race was established, 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 Show, runs alongside the racing event each year. The fashion extravaganza takes place both digitally and in print in the months leading up to July, but also takes place as a ‘virtual experience’ on the actual matchday for DStv viewers.
Once the theme of the event is announced each year, design students across KwaZulu-Natal compete for the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award.