Will the recent floods affect the 2022 Durban July?

The Durban July will take place at Greyville Racecourse on the first Saturday in July.

This meeting is one of South Africa’s most important sporting and social events, and a stunning prize pot of R5m has been put up for this year’s renewal of the Durban July. However, could the recent flooding cause this year’s race to be cancelled?

The South African Department of Environment warned in 2019 that climate change could cause weather conditions on the continent to become more extreme. At the time, the government announced plans to combat the changing climate but sadly, it seems that their worst fears are starting to become a reality.

Last month, Durban was hit by a barrage of torrential rain. Thousands of residents evacuated their homes as floods swept through KwaZulu-Natal. Tragically, more than 400 are thought to have lost their lives during this turbulent period.

Major sporting events in Durban and all along the east coast of South Africa have been abandoned due to adverse weather on a regular basis.

Back in November, Turffontein Racecourse had been gearing up to stage the Gauteng Summer Cup, the first major Grade One meeting of the South African season. However, conditions reached such a level of ferocity that weekend, organisers were forced to move the Gauteng Summer Cup card to a midweek slot, meaning many spectators were unable to use their tickets.

Greyville Racecourse, where the Durban July is held, is notoriously poor when it comes to drainage. In both 2020 and 2021, several meetings at Greyville were abandoned due to a waterlogged track. In February of this year, an entire card was moved from Greyville to Scottsville Racecourse following a torrential downpour overnight.

We’re now just weeks away from the 2022 Durban July. Thankfully, the flooding in Durban has relented and temperatures are due to rise as we move into May and June. Yet, it’s growing harder and harder to predict the weather in South Africa, especially along the Eastern Coast. Organisers and racing tipsters of the Durban July have reason to be optimistic but a contingency plan will surely be in place, in case the weather gods wreak more havoc in the build-up to Greyville’s showpiece event.

Meanwhile, the latest stage of entries for the 2022 Durban July has been released. Last year’s winner, Kommetdieding remains the favourite to successfully defend his crown at Greyvillle. Yet, Muzi Yeni’s mount will head into the July on the back of two high-profile defeats, giving hope to the likes of Linebacker, Sparkling Water and Safe Passage, who also sit prominently in the early betting.