The event has become famous as a public gathering ten days before Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event supported by thousands of punters who enjoy complimentary coffee and sticky buns as they watch each Vodacom Durban July runner gallop, either individually or with a stablemate.

This year the event was watched by a handful of trainers as all but four of the locally-based thoroughbreds in the field of eighteen runners and two reserve runners named on Tuesday completed their televised gallops on the track. Gauteng-based runners Divine Odyssey, Tierra de Fuego, Soqrat, got the Greenlight and Hero’s Honour will complete their Gallops on the highveld before making the trip to Durban for next weekend’s big race day.

Locally-based runners Vardy, Twist of Fate, It’s My Turn and Capoeira will complete their Vodacom Durban July Gallops in front of the television cameras at Summerveld on Thursday morning. Gold Circle and the racing yards and trainers went to great lengths to ensure they were fully compliant with the Covid-19 lockdown regulations at the Gallops, as every person admitted to Hollywoodbets Greyville had been pre-approved, had their temperature taken and completed the required medical history and tracing details.

The 2020 Vodacom Durban July will feature a race card shortened to ten races on the track and Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville and will be geared towards meeting the needs of the substantial audience that will follow the event on television, many hosting small Vodacom Durban July functions at their homes.

The 2020 Vodacom Durban July took place at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on July 25. More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za.