Fabulous Days of Fashion and Fillies
For fashionistas, a top class horse race is an excuse to get decked out in all their finery and unveil their latest decadent millinery creations. For horse owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys, a major horse race is the culmination of years of hard work and an opportunity to test the speed and stamina of their prized thoroughbreds. But regardless of whether you prefer the fashion or the fillies, the country’s top horse races are charged with an electric air of anticipation and excitement, which is enticing and infectious.
The Vodacom Durban July
Widely regarded as Africa’s greatest horse racing event – and undoubtedly its richest, with a staggering R3 million pot up for grabs during the main event – it’s little wonder that the country is gripped by “July Fever” in the weeks leading up to The Vodacom Durban July. Held on the first Saturday in July, over 50,000 people are said to cram into Durban’s Greyville Racecourse, while millions more watch the action on TV. It is estimated that a staggering R120 million is spent backing the horses on the day, which is considerably more than was probably first wagered during the race’s inaugural running in 1897. That said, if you can only make one horse race this year, then this is the one, thanks to its distinguished history, the sweet smell of cash and only the best horses in the country.
The J&B Met
Although the J&B Met has a comparatively shorter history (the first Met was run just under four decades ago) and slightly less prize money (although few would turn their noses up at R2.5 million), it garners almost as much excitement as the July, as well as an equal number of fashion forward punters. In fact the fashion on the day often steals the show from the four legged competitors, especially as the Met’s themes encourage the flamboyant, colourful and avante garde. This year’s J&B Met is scheduled for 28th January at Cape Town’s Kenilworth Racecourse, and with a 5,000 capacity marquee village and close to 200 picnic sites, there are opportunities aplenty to rub shoulders with the country’s elite and show off your designer attire at the same time.
The Triple Crown
The SASCOC Triple Crown is the elusive hat trick of South African horse racing; the metaphorical brass ring that every thoroughbred trainer or owner would give his eye teeth to see hanging on his wall. It’s no easy feat, however, as the Triple Crown is known to be one of the sport’s toughest tests. It consists of three races (1,600 m, 1,800 m and 2,450 m) in the space of just eight weeks. All three races are run at Johannesburg’s Turffontein Racecourse, and while each leg boasts prize money ranging from R1 million to R2 million, what everyone is after is the R2 million bonus (and the bragging rights) of winning all three. So far, only one horse has succeeded since the start of the Triple Crown, the legendary Horse Chestnut. It will take a stellar thoroughbred indeed to topple his record.
The Sansui Summer Cup
This 2,000 m race is Joburg’s answer to the Durban July, and can even brag to being a whole decade older. Its first run was in 1887, just after gold was first discovered on the mines that the racecourse overlooks today. During the city’s gold rush days, the race was the highlight of Johannesburg’s social calendar. Today, it is still a widely anticipated opportunity for the country’s elite to showcase their fashions and their fillies. Renowned trainer Mike de Kock has won the race a record nine times, and come November each year, the racing world watches keenly to see if his winning streak will continue uncontested.
Story by Rebecca Johnson
