Glamorous start to Champions season
The first 67 horses to take part in the Champions Season was announced last week.
THE Champions Season of horse racing was launched at a glamorous event at Greyville Racecourse last week.
This marked the start of Vodacom Durban July fever, with the announcement of the 67 horses which will be racing in the season from May to July. The top horses from these races will take part in the main event on Saturday, 4 July.
Speaking at the launch, Graeme Hawkins, marketing and racing executive, said the Champions Season was the national championship of horseracing in South Africa. He said Gold Circle was blessed to welcome to KZN the top horses, trainers, jockey and the racing fans, for one of the greatest racing carnivals. “The season spans from May to July and through this new heroes emerge and champions are crowned. We sincerely wish for top quality racing in the spirit of true sportsmanship over the next few months,” he said.
Robert Mauvis, chairman of Gold Circle, said Gold Circle was proud to host the racing extravaganza, adding that visiting and local owners, trainers and jockeys were essential to making the season a success.
“The face of racing is changing. We aim to prepare a path for future generations. Gold Circle is embracing the changes and moving forward for the betterment of the sport. We look forward to the participation of top horses in the 2015 Champions Season. We are sitting at the captain’s table and are ready to set sail for the greatest racing spectacle on the continent,” he said, alluding to the nautical theme of this year’s Vodacom Durban July.
Among the changes this season was the first 20/20 race meeting with a difference on 17 April where there was 20 minutes between each race.
“We’ve also introduced an inter-provincial jockey challenge where the best jockeys are going head-to-head on 18 July,” said Hawkins.
Gold Circle has also widened the back straight by two-and-a-half metres, with land being granted to Gold Circle by the city. This means the field has been extended to 18 horses and two reserves to race in the 2015 Vodacom Durban July.
Hawkins introduced the first 67 horses to be taking part in the Champions Season. There will be two further rounds of entries.
