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Durban - Thousands of the country’s most glamorous have begun streaming into Durban’s Greyville Racecourse for the 119th running of the Vodacom Durban July.
The fashion and horseracing fare is a major draw for the city of Durban, with punters and the fashion forward flocking to the city. Glitzy marquees line the fairways of the Royal Durban Gold Club, transformed into the epicentre of the city for the day with the event expected to draw a capacity crowd set by the theme "The Captain's Table".
The main event race, with the R3.5m ticket, is expected shortly before 17:00 on Saturday, with the field of 18 thundering down the 2.2km track.
Since the full ambit of betting opened on Monday there has been widespread interest in the final field, with five horses enjoying most of the punters attention - early favourite Legal Eagle, Australian bred Majmu, French Navy, Futura, and the horse that finished first last year, only to be relegated to second after a protest was upheld, Wylie Hall.
Over R100m is expected to be paid out in winning bets, and the spend on betting on course and off-course will top R220m, with the French tote formally co-mingling with the local tote for the main race for the first time.
The event itself contributes over R220m in direct spend into the local economy, most of which eminates from the Gauteng visitors who drive down for the weekend, making up more than half of the 55 000 strong crowd at Greyville Racecourse, and contributing over R150m just through transport, accommodation, tickets, entertainment, restaurants and clothing for the race day.
