The Durban July Handicap is a South African Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first Saturday of July since 1897 at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Raced on turf, the Durban July Handicap is open to horses of all ages. It is South Africa’s premier horse racing event and currently offers a purse of R4.25 million. First held in July 1897 at a distance of 1 mile (approx 1600m), the distance was modified several times until 1970 when it was changed to its current 2200 meters (11 furlongs).
Only four horses have ever won the Durban July Handicap back-to-back.
- Campanajo (1897, 1898)
- Corriecrian (1907, 1908)
- Milesia Pride (1949, 1950)
- El Picha (1999, 2000)
Another horse named Pamphlet won twice in 1918 and 1920
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:
- Harold “Tiger” Wright – (1942, 1947, 1949, 1955),
- Anton Marcus (1993, 2000, 2005, 2007)
- Anthony Delpech (1998, 2004, 2010, 2011)
- Piere Strydom (2016, 2012, 2001, 1996)
- Bertie Hayden (1971, 1973, 1978),
- Felix Coetzee (1984, 1988, 1990)
Of note to North American racing fans, the 1963 race was won by Colorado King who subsequently raced in California and won the 1964 Hollywood Gold Cup plus set a World Record for nine furlongs in winning the American Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack. As well, the 2002 winner, Ipi Tombe, became the first horse bred in Zimbabwe to ever win a race at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
In 2013 S’manga Khumalo became the first black jockey to win the Durban July Handicap, South Africa’s top horse race, on his steed Heavy Metal at age 28. Born 29 November 1985 S’manga Khumalo is a South African Thoroughbred horse racing jockey and is a member of the Jockey Association of South Africa. He’s family is from KwaMashu Township near Durban; S’manga saw a horse for the first time when he was fourteen years old.
The 2018 Durban July will offer some of the Mzansi’s most talented artists from that will create a high energy experience offering top class sound stage and lighting for their guests to enjoy, from Jazztown to Boomtown artists like Thandiswa Mazwai, Vusi Nova, Babes Wodumo, DreamTeam to name a few are guaranteed to create an unforgettable race day experience.
