Greyville Old Stand as it was back in the day
The Vodacom Durban July is an institution that creates legends. First run in 1897, the race has evolved from a simple horse race to a social and horseracing event with international acclaim. Oh, and let’s not forget a Facebook page that has close on 10 000 likes!
The tapestry of the old and the new is intertwined by firsts and lasts, heroes and heroics and a public fascination that is tangible. Through it all, great horses, great jockeys and great trainers have stepped up to the challenge. Here are a few anecdotes and statistics to get the mind racing and the excitement up as the countdown continues.
Timing
The Greyville stands as they are in the present
The race was first run over a mile for a stake of 500 sovereigns and called the Durban Turf Club Handicap. While we are used to it being run on the first Saturday in July, in 1897 it was run on 17 July. In 1899 the stake was increased to £1000. In 1902 the crowds could enjoy the new (mostly finished) grandstand.
In 1903 the stake jumped to £1250 and it was the first year that an official time was taken. Henry Nourse’s chestnut filly Peerless won it in 1 min 42.5 seconds. Her son Nobleman would go on to win it in 1911, becoming the first and last 2yo to ever win the July. Her grandson Full Dress won it in 1930.
Another notable mare in the history of this great race is Maritime, who was the dam of winners Sea Cottage and Naval Escort.
Silvano is the winning-most July sire with 4 winners (Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal, Power King and Marinaresco) and Jamaico takes second place with three – Jamaican Music, Jamaican Rumba and Gondolier.
Baby
The 2yo Nobleman was ridden by Alec Laird, father of the legendary Syd Laird and grandfather of the current trainer Alec Laird. The distance was increased to 1800m in 1913, when it was won by Caged Bird, giving owner/trainer Fred Murray his 4th consecutive win.
He first won with St Caulin in 1910, then Nobleman in 1911, Lombard in 1912. In 1915 the trip was increased again to 2000m and won by Winnipeg for the Hon HA Wyndham-who has written a history of horses in SA. The race was filmed for the first time in 1917.
1922 is significant for the winning apprentice jockey Fred McGrath being just 12 years old. Nooresh Juglall is this year’s youngest at 21, Karl Neisius who rides Capetown Noir, is the oldest. By 1927 the stake was £5000 when it was won by JWS (Willie) Langerman’s Hussein, trained by C Wade & ridden by Granville Gorton.
Names
The crowds gathered in all their finery to enjoy the prestigious race
1928 was the first year the race was officially named the Durban July Handicap. In 1941 the race was again increased to 2200m and won by owner/trainer Syd Garrett’s Sadri II, ridden by Stanley Amos. Incidentally Syd Garrett also rode 2 July winners of his own in Goldwing in 1919 and Pamphlet in 1920.
1946 was the first year jockeys’ silks were published in the Duff’s Turf Guide. The stake was now up to £7500 and soared to £10 000 in 1947. In the 1949 July meeting, the legendary Tiger Wright rode 5 winners from 9 rides, including the July. In 1952 the race was run over the subway for the first time.
1958 was the first year that the Stipes were able to contact one another from around the course by telephone. 1961 was the last year of pounds & shillings before we moved over to the decimal system and it was won for the first time by Syd Laird with Kerason. It was the first of his 7 victories.
Rothmans of Pall Mall joined as a sponsor in 1963 when Colorado King won. They continued their sponsorship until 2000. In 2001 the race was run as the Durban July. Vodacom stepped in as a new sponsor in 2002, the year it was won by 3yo filly Ipi Tombe for Mike de Kock.
Weather
Spectators circa 1909
In 1989 bad weather forced the club to take the unprecedented decision to abandon the first 6 races in favour of the July, which resumed at the normal starting time. It was won by Right Prerogative. In 1990 the stake was pushed up to R1 million. It was also the first year the race was run as ‘The Rothmans July’.
In 1991 Flaming Rock won the July from the 20 draw. Karl Neisius who won there has a similar challenge this year on the champion Capetown Noir who jumps from the 15 gate. Subsequently Dynasty won it from the 20 draw in 2003 and Pomodoro, who bids for the double, won it from the widest draw in 2012.
Jockeys
Winningmost jockeys are Tiger Wright, Anthony Delpech and Anton Marcus with 4 each. Wright won on Silver Phantom in 1942, Brookhill in 1947, Milesia Pride in 1949 and Preto’s Crown in 1955. Delpech won on Classic Flag in 1988, Greys Inn in 2004, Bold Silvano in 2010, Igugu in 2011.
Marcus won on Dancing Duel in 1993, El Picha in 2000, Dunford in 2005 and Hunting Tower in 2007. Then Bertie Hayden, Felix Coetzee and Piere Strydom boast 3 winners each. The greatest winning margin was notched up by Riboville in 1974. It was the year Jamaican Music clipped heels with another horse and dumped jockey Tom Rattley.
Millard Years
Spectators circa 1985
1986 was the year of the first Millard whitewash when he trained the first 3 past the post (Occult, Fools Holme and Enchanted Garden). The master did it again in 1990 with Illustrador, Olympic Duel and Jungle Warrior. Horses to win it in consecutive years were Campanajo (1897 & 1898), Corriecrian (1907 & 1908), Milesia Pride (1949 & 1950) and El Picha (1999 & 2000).
We’ve had 2 dead heats – Sea Cottage and Jollify in 1967 and Pocket Power and Dancer’s Daughter in 2008. The July has been won on objection twice. In 1975 Gatecrasher was disqualified and the race awarded to Principal Boy. In 1994 the objection against Surfing Home by Pas de Quoi was upheld, with the race awarded to Space Walk.
Have a wonderful day on Saturday.
