Durban July 2023

The Durban July is the most famous horse race to be run in South Africa. This Grade One was first staged at Greyville racecourse in 1897 and has been won by many of South Africa’s most famous horses. The Durban July is a handicap race run over a distance of 2200m.

The Durban July is reserved for the best horses in South Africa. Sparkling Water will likely return to Greyville in 2023 to try and defend her crown. This season’s top three-year-olds, Safe Passage and Pomp And Power will be four by the time next year’s race rolls around. Kommetdieding, Linebacker and Do It Again could also run again.

The 2023 Durban July will be shown on several global television stations, but the easiest way would be to strea, the race live. If you plan on watching the racing via your mobile or tablet, then bookmakers such as bet365 will allow you to stream the race live.

The first running of the July Handicap was in 1897 and it is commonly held on the first Saturday of July.

The Durban July Handicap is raced on turf and is South Africa’s best thoroughbred horse race.

It was originally run over 1600m but was changed to 2200m in 1970 when Court Day took out the Group 1 prize for connections.

Trainer Mike de Kock, who trained champion sprinter Rocket Man, has had good success in the July Handicap with four winners.

De Kock trained Ipi Tombe, Greys Inn and Igugu. The South African-born trainer doesn’t hold the record for most wins, however, with Sydney C. Laird winning seven times.

Terence M. Millard trainer six winners in eight years during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Four jockeys have scored multiple wins in the race but Piere Strydom has had the most recent success, winning in 2016 with The Conglomerate for Australian-born trainer Joey Ramsden.

International success came with Colorado King winning in 1963. It would later win the Hollywood Gold Cup and set a world record for 1800m when winning the American Handicap.

Three-year-old runners have a great success rate in the Durban July Handicap.

60 percent of races run since 1998 have been won by three-year-olds and four-year-old runners are also worth noting.

Favourites haven’t fared well in recent times for various reasons.

Only three favourites have won in the last 13 years and there has never been an odds-on winner of the Durban July Handicap, with the shortest-priced winner, Sea Cottage, paying 11/10 ($2.10) with bookmakers.

There have been four back-to-back winners which is a good betting trends for punters to take note of.

Wide draws haven’t helped in the past but there has been some recent winners drawing out wide.

Bookmakers always offer a wide-open betting field and that allows punters to lock up great each way value.