The Hollywoodbets Durban July, also called the Durban July and the July handicap, is one of South Africa’s classic races, along with the WSB Cape Town Met in the Western Cape and the WSB Summer Cup in Gauteng.
With a field open to horses of all ages, colts, geldings, fillies and mares. The Hollywoodbets Durban July is run on turf on the first Saturday in July over 2200 meters, at Hollywoodbets Greyville in Durban.
The first recorded race dates to 1897 which was over a mile (1600 meters) and was later changed to 2200 meters in 1970.
Like other elite horse race days in the world, the Hollywoodbets July has grown into a multiday festival, featuring musical acts and events in addition to the race itself. Pre-COVID, the Durban July Race Day attracted close to 60 000 people which included celebrities, Ministers, Presidents and multitudes of excited punters.
Hollywoodbets July day is more formal than most contemporary sporting events: the Durban July maintains a dress code for spectators and there is a unique theme each year, with this year’s theme announced as Show Me the Honey.
Winners of the Durban July Handicap since 1978
Year Horsre Age Jockey Trainer
2021 | Kommetdieding | 3 | Gavin Lerena | Harold Crawford & Michelle Rix |
2020 | Belgarion | 4 | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith |
2019 | Do It Again | 4 | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith |
2018 | Do It Again | 3 | Anton Marcus | Justin Snaith |
2017 | Marinaresco | 4 | Bernard Fayd’Herbe | Candice Bass-Robinson |
2016 | The Conglomerate | 4 | Piere Strydom | Joey Ramsden |
2015 | Power King | 4 | Stuart Randolph | Dean Kannemayer |
2014 | Legislate | 4 | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith |
2013 | Heavy Metal | 5 | S’manga Khumalo | S G Tarry |
2012 | Pomodoro | 3 | Piere Strydom | S G Tarry |
2011 | Igugu | 4 | Anthony Delpech | Mike de Kock |
2010 | Bold Silvano | 3 | Anthony Delpech | Mike de Kock |
2009 | Big City Life | 3 | G. Cheyne | Glen Kotzen |
2008 | Pocket Power/Dancers Daughter | 5/4 | Bernard Fayd’herbe/Kevin Shea | Mike W. Bass/Justin Snaith |
2007 | Hunting Tower | 5 | Anton Marcus | Charles S. Laird |
2006 | Eyeofthetiger | 4 | Gerrit Schlechter | Dean Kannermeyer |
2005 | Dunford | 5 | Anton Marcus | Mike W. Bass |
2004 | Greys Inn | 4 | Anthony Delpech | Mike de Kock |
2003 | Dynasty | 4 | Robbie Fradd | Dean Kannemeyer |
2002 | Ipi Tombe | 4 | Kevin Shea | Mike de Kock |
2001 | Trademark | 5 | Piere Strydom | Mike W. Bass |
2000 | El Picha | 6 | Anton Marcus | Geoff V. Woodruff |
1999 | El Picha | 5 | Robbie Hill | Geoff V. Woodruff |
1998 | Classic Flag | 4 | Anthony Delpech | David Ferraris |
1997 | Super Quality | 5 | Michael Roberts | David Ferraris |
1996 | London News | 4 | Piere Strydom | Alec G. Laird |
1995 | Teal | 4 | Johnny Geroudis | Patrick B. Shaw |
1994 | Space Walk | 6 | Robbie Fradd | M. H. “Ricky” Maingard |
1993 | Dancing Duel | 4 | Anton Marcus | Anthony T. Millard |
1992 | Spanish Galliard | 8 | Robbie Sham | Dennis R. Drier |
1991 | Flaming Rock | 4 | Karl Neisius | R. Chris Snaith |
1990 | Ilustrador | 4 | Felix Coetzee | Terence M. Millard |
1989 | Right Prerogative | 4 | M. A. Sutherland | Terence M. Millard |
1988 | Royal Chalice | 4 | Felix Coetzee | Terence M. Millard |
1987 | Bush Telegraph | 4 | Garth Puller | Bert Abercrombie |
1986 | Occult | 5 | Bartie Leisher | Terence M. Millard |
1985 | Gondolier | 6 | W. Harvey | M. P. Antelme |
1984 | Devon Air | 5 | Felix Coetzee | Terence M. Millard |
1983 | Tecla Bluff | 5 | M. A. Sutherland | Terence M. Millard |
1982 | Jamaican Rumba | 5 | Patrick Wynne | G. Thompson |
1981 | Big Charles | 5 | J. Anderson | Dr. L. F. Naude |
1980 | Beau Art | 7 | Freddy Macaskill | J. Nicholson |
1979 | Over The Air | 5 | Garth Puller | P. G. Kannemeyer |
1978 | Politician | 5 | Bertie Hayden | Sydney C. Laird |
Most wins by a trainer:
Sydney C. Laird – 7 : (1961, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1978)
Terence M. Millard – 6 : (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990)
Trainer F. Murray won the race four years in a row from 1910 through 1913.
Most wins by a jockey:
Anton Marcus (1993, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2018)
Harold “Tiger” Wright – (1942, 1947, 1949, 1955),
Anthony Delpech (1998, 2004, 2010, 2011)
Piere Strydom (2016,2012, 2001, 1996)
Bertie Hayden (1971, 1973, 1978),
Felix Coetzee (1984, 1988, 1990),
Richard Fourie (2014, 2019, 2020)
Only five horses have ever won the Durban July back-to-back
Campanajo (1897, 1898)
Corriecrian (1907, 1908)
Milesia Pride (1949, 1950)
El Picha (1999, 2000)
Do It Again (2018, 2019)
In 2013, S’manga Khumalo became the first black African jockey to win the Durban July when riding Heavy Metal to victory for trainer Sean Tarry.
In 2017, Candice Bass-Robinson became the first female trainer to win this prestigious race with Marinaresco.
The 2021 victory by Kommetdieding ensured, Michelle Rix became the second female trainer to win the Durban July, though she partnered with her father Harold Crawford.
The win was also a historic one as it confirmed Ashwin Reynolds as the first owner of colour to win the race.
KOMMETDIEDING @gavlerena07 widest draw equals 2021 @VodacomDbnJuly Gr1
— SAHorseracing.COM (@SAHorseracing) July 3, 2021
Owner - Mr A Reynolds @MichelleRix1 you deserve everything. You came, You stayed in KZN, you sacrificed, you won. Ideas turn into dreams. pic.twitter.com/iaZMHJFOF6
