This is a general overview of the Durban July which is one of South Africa’s big horse races has been running for over 100 years. We have included a history of the event, an age analysis of the winners and a list of all the previous winners of this race.
A bit of History
Greyville Old Stand as it was back in the day
The race was first run in 1897 over 1600m for a stake of 500 sovereigns and named 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, the third Saturday that month.
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 & 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).
The most successful July-producing mare was Pauline, who produced the winner for 3 consecutive years Apollo (1901), Chaos (1902) and Peerless (1903). In her turn, Peerless produced Nobleman, who went on to win the race in 1911, becoming the first and last 2yo to ever win the July. Nobleman was ridden by Alec Laird, father of the legendary Syd Laird & grandfather of the current Alec Laird. Peerless’ grandson Full Dress won it in 1930. Not bad to have 3 generations of winners from a single family ! Another notable mare in the July history was Maritime, who was the dam to winners Sea Cottage and Naval Escort.
Other horses to have won the July who have gone on to produce offspring to win it are Sadri II (1941) with his daughter Gay Jane (1951) & son C’est Si Bon (1954), Kipling (1940) with son Mowgli (1952) and Bush Telegraph (1987) with his son London News (1996).
Silvano – successful Durban July Sire
Jamaico was one of the successful July sires, having sired Jamaican Music, Jamaican Rumba and Gondolier. Others with multiple winners are Silvano (Heavy Metal & Bold Silvano), Jet Master (Pomodoro & Pocket Power), Fort Wood (Hunting Tower – out of a daughter of Royal Chalice who won in 1988 – & Dynasty), Dancing Champ (Space Walk & Dancing Duel), Royal Prerogative (Right Prerogative & Royal Chalice), Beau Charles (Big Charles, Beau Art), New South Wales (Over The Air & In Full Flight), Abadan II (Chimboraa & Kerason), Fairthorn (Sea Cottage & Left Wing), Montrose (twice with Milesia Pride and also with Monasterevan), Morganatic (King’s Favourite & Fanous) and Greatorex (Collet & Nobleman).
The July has been won on objection twice. In 1975 Gatecrasher was disqualified & 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.
In 1904 the stake was £1500. In 1906 it decreased to £1000 again.
The distance was extended to 1800m in 1913 (when it was won by Caged Bird, giving owner/trainer Frederick William (Fred) Murray his 4th consecutive win. He first won with St Caulin in 1910, then Nobleman in 1911, Lombard in 1912 & Caged Bird in 1913.
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).
1917 was the first year the race was filmed. The stake increased to £1250 again, it was £1775 in 1918 & £2125 in 1919 & climbed steadily after that.
1922 is significant for the winning apprentice jockey (Fred McGrath) being 12 years old.
By 1926 the stake was £4000 & £5000 in 1927 (when it was won by JWS (Willie) Langerman’s Hussein, trained by C Wade & ridden by Granville Gorton.
1928 was the first year the race was officially named the Durban July Handicap.
1934 saw the implementation of the Benjamin starting gates.
In 1941 the race was again increased to 2200m & won by owner/trainer Syd Garrett’s Sadri II, ridden by Stanley Amos. Incidentally Syd Garrett also rode 2 July wins of his own (Goldwing in 1919 & 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 & jumped to £10 000 in 1947.
In the 1949 meeting, out of 9 engagements for the day, Tiger Wright rode 5 winners (including the July), a second & a third on the card.
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 & it was won for the first time by Syd Laird with Kerason.
Syd Laird
It was the first of Syd’s 7 victories:
- Kerason in 1961
- Colorado King 1963 (first year of the Rothmans sponsorship)
- Java Head in 1966 (the year Sea Cottage was shot & still finished 4th)
- 1964 deadheat with Sea Cottage & Jollify (even though Sea Cottage carried 12,5 kg more than Jollify)
- 1971 with Mazarin (setting a new class record of 2 min 14sec)
- 1973 with Yataghan (even though Yataghan had stopped down the straight)
- 1978 was his last win with the great Politician
Rothmans of Pall Mall joined as a sponsor in 1963 (when it was won by Colorado King) & the prize money was R33 800. They continued their sponsorship until 2000. In 2001 (when it was won by Trademark) the race was run as the Durban July. Vodacom stepped in as a new sponsor in 2002, the year it was won by Ipi Tombe & Mike de Kock.
1966 was the first year the horses’ weights were recorded in pounds only.
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.
1990 Durban July – Illustrator
In 1990 the stake was pushed up to R1 million. It was also the first year the race was run as ‘The Rothmans July’ (not the Rothmans July Handicap).
In 1991 Flaming Rock won the July from the 20 draw. Subsequently Dynasty won it from the 20 draw in 2003 and Pomodoro won it from the widest draw in 2012.
Winningmost jockeys are Tiger Wright, Anthony Delpech & Anton Marcus with 4 each. Wright won on Silver Phantom in 1942, Brookhill in 1947, Milesia Pride in 1949 & 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 & Hunting Tower in 2007.
Then Bertie Hayden, Felix Coetzee & Piere Strydom with 3 each.
The greatest winning margin was notched up by Riboville in 1974. It was the year Jamaican Music clipped heels with another horse & dumped Tom Ratley 350m from the start. In fact, despite Riboville’s historic winning margin of 4.5 lengths, the unburdened Jamaican Music beat him home with ease! Jamaican Music won the July the following year.
1986 was the year of the first Millard whitewash when he trained the first 3 past the post (Occult, Fools Holme & Enchanted Garden). He did it again in 1990 with Illustrador, Olympic Duel & Jungle Warrior.
Pamphlet won it twice (1918 & 1920) and several horses won it in consecutive years including Campanajo (1897 & 1898), Corriecrian (1907 & 1908), Milesia Pride (1949 & 1950) & El Picha (1999 & 2000). Incidentally, El Picha is still alive and well and retired in Geoff Woodruff’s back garden.
We’ve had 2 dead heats – Sea Cottage & Jollify in 1967 & Pocket Power & Dancer’s Daughter in 2008.
In 2004 SA celebrated 10 years of democracy & the no 10 horse carried a SA flag on its saddle cloth. The horse (Greys Inn) duly won.
In 2013, the July stake was increased to R3,5 million when Vodacom committed to a further 3 year sponsorship. The race was won by the ‘Accidental Silvano’ Heavy Metal, for the second time in succession by Chris van Niekerk (who won it with Pomodoro in 2012).
Since the distance of the race changed to 2200m in 1970 few horses carrying 55kgs or more have won.
The exceptions are:
- 1978 Politician 57kgs
- 1980 Beau Art 55,5kgs
- 2000 El Picha 58kgs
- 2007 Hunting Tower 55kgs
- 2008 Pocket Power 58kgs
- 2010 Bold Silvano 55,5kgs
- 2011 Igugu 55kgs
- 2012 Pomodoro 55kgs
- 2013 Heavy Metal 59,5 kgs
Videos
Watch a selection of previous races online
An age analysis of the winners
- Two-year-olds – One win only – in 1911.
- Three-year-olds – 33 wins but 55% of the last 20 years.
- Four-year-olds – 43 wins but 35% of the last 20 years.
- Five-year-olds have taken the honours 26 times.
- Six-year-olds – 11 have won, the last six-year-old winner was in 1980.
- Seven-year-olds have won five times
All the Previous July Winners:
| YEAR | HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINER |
| 2013 | Heavy Metal | S Khumalo | S Tarry |
| 2012 | Pomodoro | P.Strydom | S Tarry |
| 2011 | Igugu | A. Delpech | M de Kock |
| 2010 | Bold Silvano | A. Delpech | M de Kock |
| 2009 | Big City Life | G. Cheyne | G.Kotzen |
| 2008 | Pocket Power/Dancers Daughter | B.Fayd’Herbe/K. Shea | M.Bass/J. Snaith |
| 2007 | Hunting Tower | A.Marcus | C. Laird |
| 2006 | Eyeofthetiger | G.Schlechter | D.Kannemeyer |
| 2005 | Dunford | A.Marcus | M.Bass |
| 2004 | Greys Inn | A. Delpech | M de Kock |
| 2003 | Dynasty | R Fradd | D Kannemeyer |
| 2002 | Ipi Tombe | K Shea | M de Kock |
| 2001 | Trademark | P Strydom | M Bass |
| 2000 | El Picha | A Marcus | GV Woodruff |
| 1999 | El Picha | R Hill | GV Woodruff |
| 1998 | Classic Flag | A Delpech | DE Ferraris |
| 1997 | Super Quality | M Roberts | DE Ferraris |
| 1996 | London News | P Strydom | AG Laird |
| 1995 | Teal | J Geroudis | PB Shaw |
| 1994 | Space Walk | R Fradd | MH Maingard |
| 1993 | Dancing Duel | A Marcus | AT Millard |
| 1992 | Spanish Galliard | R Sham | DR Drier |
| 1991 | Flaming Rock | K Niesius | RC Snaith |
| 1990 | Ilustrador | F Coetzee | TM Millard |
| 1989 | Right Prerogative | M Sutherland | TM Millard |
| 1988 | Royal Chalice | F Coetzee | TM Millard |
| 1987 | Bush Telegraph | G Puller | B Abercrombie |
| 1986 | Occult | B Leisher | TM Millard |
| 1985 | Gondolier | W Harvey | MP Antelme |
| 1984 | Devon Air | F Coetzee | TM Millard |
| 1983 | Tecla Bluff | M Sutherland | TM Millard |
| 1982 | Jamaican Rumba | P Wynne | G Thompson |
| 1981 | Big Charles | J Anderson | LF Naude |
| 1980 | Beau Art | F Macaskill | J Nicholson |
| 1979 | Over The Air | G Puller | P Kannemeyer |
| 1978 | Politician | B Hayden | SC Laird |
| 1977 | Lightning Shot | D Mustard | D Rich |
| 1976 | Jamaican Music | B Abercrombie | R Rixon |
| 1975 | Principal Boy | R Thompson | J Breval |
| 1974 | Riboville | M Schoeman | G Azzie |
| 1973 | Yataghan | B Hayden | SC Laird |
| 1972 | In Full Flight | R Rhodes | D Payne |
| 1971 | Mazarin | B Hayden | SC Laird |
| 1970 | Court Day | C Maree | R Knight |
| 1969 | Naval Escort | A Reid | F Rickaby |
| 1968 | Chimboraa | D Payne | B Cherry |
| 1967 | Sea Cottage/Jollify | R Sivewright/J Gorton | SC Laird/F Rickaby |
| 1966 | Java Head | H Cawcutt | SC Laird |
| 1965 | King Willow | J Bailey | J Breval |
| 1964 | Numeral | R Rhodes | G Azzie |
| 1963 | Colorado King | R Sivewright | SC Laird |
| 1962 | Diza | A Roberts | J Gorton |
| 1961 | Kerason | G Walker | S Laird |
| 1960 | Left Wing | P Cayeux | S Garrett |
| 1959 | Tiger Fish | B Little | T Furness |
| 1958 | Excise | H Cawcutt | W Cawcutt |
| 1957 | Migraine | H Passmore | F Chappell |
| 1956 | Spey Bridge | C Buckham | H Amos |
| 1955 | Preto’s Crown | H Wright | G Azzie |
| 1954 | C’est Si Bon | J Byrnes | D Labistour |
| 1953 | Flash On | J Westwater | W Hucknell |
| 1952 | Mowgli | B Lewis | G Ellis |
| 1951 | Gay Jane | V McMurtry | D Labistour |
| 1950 | Milesia Pride | B Lewis | J Morrison |
| 1949 | Milesia Pride | H Wright | J Morrison |
| 1948 | Monasterevan | C Buckham | E Shaw |
| 1947 | Brookhill | H Wright | T Potgeiter |
| 1946 | St Pauls | G Foster | D Talbert |
| 1945 | St Seiriol | J Butler | C Longhurst |
| 1944 | Monteith | H Berry | C Clutterbuck |
| 1943 | Piccadilly Jim | H Feldman | C Wade |
| 1942 | Silver Phantom | H Wright | E Shaw |
| 1941 | Sandri ll | S Amos | S Garrett |
| 1940 | Kipling | A Gorton | A Cruickshank |
| 1939 | Silver Spear | H Feldman | L Howe |
| 1938 | Extinguisher ll | C Barends | W Krog |
| 1937 | Ballyjamesduff | G Masterson | J Azzie |
| 1936 | Petersfield ll | L Fernandes | E Shaw |
| 1935 | Eccentric | G Askew | A Rowe |
| 1934 | Sun Tor | A Rugg | J Angles |
| 1933 | Legacy | E Lariviere | P Henwood |
| 1932 | Findhorn | S Johnson | E Ryan |
| 1931 | Agrippa | R de Valle | W Pickering |
| 1930 | Full Dress | H Amos | S Garrett |
| 1929 | Gifted | G Lariviere | W Jackson |
| 1928 | Glen Albyn | A Herschell | G Weale |
| 1927 | Hussein | G Gorton | C Wade |
| 1926 | Moosme | E Jacobie | W Knapp |
| 1925 | Bird of Prey | I Strydom | W Randall |
| 1924 | Oriel | J Lieveaux | E Ryan |
| 1923 | Eunomea | J Otto | J Russell |
| 1922 | Collet | F McGrath | J Gard |
| 1921 | Longstop | L Fernades | G Weale |
| 1920 | Pamphlet | S Garrett | J Russell |
| 1919 | Goldwing | S Garrett | J Russell |
| 1918 | Pamphlet | C Bowles | J Russell |
| 1917 | Fanous | W Crew | P Liddle |
| 1916 | Margin | W Clements | A Townsend |
| 1915 | Winnipeg | R Forsyth | H de Mestre |
| 1914 | Rhanleigh | R Dine | W Randall |
| 1913 | Caged Bird | W Crew | F Murray |
| 1912 | Lombard | I Strydom | F Murray |
| 1911 | Nobleman | A Laird | F Murray |
| 1910 | Sir Caulin | E Hardy | F Murray |
| 1909 | King’s Favourite | C Clark | H de Mestre |
| 1908 | Corriecrian | W Pickering | F Wase |
| 1907 | Corriecrian | C Yarnlee | F Wade |
| 1906 | Bonnie Dundee | W Pickering | W Pickering |
| 1905 | Chere Amie | J McLauchlan | R Wooton |
| 1904 | Nymagee | W Clements | W Meredith |
| 1903 | Peerless | J White | J White |
| 1902 | Chaos | G Bowker | W Henwood |
| 1901 | Apollo | C MacDonald | H Croon |
| 1900 | Verdant Green | C MacDonald | H Croon |
| 1899 | Talma | J Boardman | H Taylor |
| 1898 | Campanajo | G Tonge | R Scott |
| 1897 | Campanajo | R Scott | E Murray |