Durban July Handicap

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Group I race
Durban July Handicap
Location	Greyville Racecourse Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Inaugurated	1897
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Durban July history
Race information
Distance	2200 meters (10.94 furlongs)
Track	Grass, right-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds & Up
Weight	Handicap
Purse	R2.5 million

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 R2.5 million (app. US$360,000).

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).

Contents 1 Records 2 Winners of the Durban July Handicap since 1978 3 Earlier winners 4 References

[edit] Records

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)

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:

• 4 : Harold "Tiger" Wright - (1942, 1947, 1949, 1955), Anton Marcus (1993, 2000, 2005, 2007)
• 3 : 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.

[edit] Winners of the Durban July Handicap since 1978

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer
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 E. Ferraris
1997	Super Quality	5	Michael Roberts	David E. 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

[edit] Earlier winners

[edit] References

• Website for the Durban July
• SAHorseRacing.com