The Greyville July Day race programme has been rocked by last minute changes.
Rain continues to bedevil preparations for the 2013 Vodacom Durban July and the official track condition is likely to be on the heavy side. As a precautionary measure, Gold Circle advises that a decision has been made to abandon the first two races and the race meeting will get under way with the running of the 3rd race, the Mango 2200 (Gr3), which is also the first leg of the Place Accumulator.
In addition, the distance for Race 4, the Mercedes Benz Gold Vase, has been shortened from 3000 to 2400 metres.
Gold Circle’s Racing Executive, Graeme Hawkins, explained that the track cross-over at Gate 16, which facilitates the delivery of hospitality infrastructure to the infield, has been damaged to the extent to render it unsafe for the horses and as a consequence the only option was to reduce the distance of the race.
The false rail for Races 3,4,5 and 6 will be set at 14 metres and for the remainder of the programme at 9 metres. The R3,5 million Vodacom Durban July, which is due to be run at 16:20 as race 7 on the card, will thus be run on fresh ground.
SABC 3 will broadcast the events live from Greyville between 14:30 and 17:00.
