Durban July Handicap
| Group I race | |
| 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) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | 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 R3.5 million (app. US$285,000).[1]
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).
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)
Another horse named Pamphlet won twice in 1918 and 1920
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)Anthony Delpech (1998, 2004, 2010, 2011)
- 3 : Bertie Hayden (1971, 1973, 1978), Felix Coetzee (1984, 1988, 1990) Piere Strydom (2012, 2001, 1996)
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.
Winners of the Durban July Handicap since 1978
Earlier winners
- 1977 : Lightning Shot
- 1976 : Jamaican Music
- 1975 : Principal Boy (Robbie Thompson - jockeyequip.co.za)
- 1974 : Riboville
- 1973 : Yataghan
- 1972 : In Full Flight
- 1971 : Mazarin
- 1970 : Court Day
- 1969 : Naval Escort
- 1968 : Chimboraa
- 1967 : Jollify & Sea Cottage (DH)
- 1966 : Java Head
- 1965 : King Willow
- 1964 : Numeral
- 1963 : Colorado King
- 1962 : Diza
- 1961 : Kerason
- 1960 : Left Wing
- 1959 : Tiger Fish
- 1958 : Excise
- 1957 : Migraine
- 1956 : Spey Bridge (Jockey: Cyril Buckham)
- 1955 : Preto's Crown
- 1954 : C'est Si Bon
- 1953 : Flash On
- 1952 : Mowgli
- 1951 : Gay Jane
- 1950 : Milesia Pride
- 1949 : Milesia Pride
- 1948 : Monasterevan (Jockey: Cyril Buckham)
- 1947 : Brookhill
- 1946 : St Pauls
- 1945 : St Seiriol
- 1944 : Monteith
- 1943 : Piccadilly Jim
- 1942 : Silver Phantom
- 1941 : Sandri ll
- 1940 : Kipling
- 1939 : Silver Spear
- 1938 : Extinguisher ll
- 1937 : Ballyjamesduff
- 1936 : Pietersfield ll
- 1935 : Eccentric
- 1934 : Sun Tor
- 1933 : Legacy
- 1932 : Findhorn
- 1931 : Agrippa
- 1930 : Full Dress
- 1929 : Gifted
- 1928 : Glen Albyn
- 1927 : Hussein
- 1926 : Moosme
- 1925 : Bird of Prey
- 1924 : Oriel
- 1923 : Eunomea
- 1922 : Collet
- 1921 : Longstop
- 1920 : Pamphlet
- 1919 : Goldwing
- 1918 : Pamphlet
- 1917 : Fanous
- 1916 : Margin
- 1915 : Winnipeg
- 1914 : Rhanleigh
- 1913 : Caged Bird
- 1912 : Lombard
- 1911 : Nobleman
- 1910 : Sir Caulin
- 1909 : King's Favourite
- 1908 : Corriecrian
- 1907 : Corriecrian
- 1906 : Bonnie Dundee
- 1905 : Chere Amie
- 1904 : Nymagee
- 1903 : Peerless
- 1902 : Chaos
- 1901 : Apollo
- 1900 : Verdant Green
- 1899 : Talma
- 1898 : Campanajo
- 1897 : Campanajo