Durban July is the most prestigious horse racing event in South Africa. Moreover, the Durban July Handicap put national horse racing on the map.
This is an annual festival taking place on the first Saturday of July. So, if you are looking to bet on Durban July, 6 July is the date you are after. Our expert guide is a great way to prepare for the 2024 Durban July betting.
What You Need to Know to Bet on the Durban July?
The timeline for entries and declarations for the upcoming event is as follows:
- The first entries close at 11:00 on Monday, April 22, with the announcement scheduled for Wednesday, April 24.
- First declarations must be submitted by 11:00 on Monday, May 13.
- First supplementary entries are accepted until 11:00 on Tuesday, May 14.
- Second declarations close at 11:00 on Monday, June 3.
- Final supplementary entries are due by 11:00 on Tuesday, June 18.
- Weights will be made public on Tuesday, June 18.
- Final declarations must be submitted by 11:00 on Monday, June 24.
- The Final Field and Barrier Draws will be announced on Tuesday, June 25.
- Only 20 horses will be included, comprising 18 main entries and 2 reserves. The reserves will be withdrawn by 08:15 on Friday, July 5.
The event will take place on Saturday, 6 July, at Greyville Racecourse in Durban. Of course, the Hollywoodbet Durban July is the highlight and is the seventh race according to the schedule, starting at 16:00 South African Standard Time.
At this point, there is no information regarding which horses will run in this tournament edition. However, you should keep an eye on the updates and remember that the draw can have a significant impact on a horse’s chance of winning.
Finally, you will have a chance to place different types of bets on Durban July betting online sites. Some include Win, Place, Each Way, Handicap, Exacta, Trifecta, and Quartet.
So, before you move on to place a Durban July Handicap or any other type of wager, ensure you have a good understanding of it.
Durban July Betting Odds – Who’s Offering the Best Odds?
If you are looking to explore Durban July 2024 betting, it’s worth noting that Betway is often the first port of call for Durban July odds.
Moreover, the ante-post market is already open, meaning you can bet on the outright winner now. Ante-post odds are generally higher than those that will be offered when the tournament starts.
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| See It Again | 7/2 |
| Royal Victory | 7/1 |
| Green With Envy | 8/1 |
| Gimme A Nother | 8/1 |
| Mucho Dinero | 9/1 |
| Winchester Mansion | 10/1 |
| Bar | 10/1 |
Antepost betting
Betting for this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July opened in February and will conclude on June 23, two days before the final field is announced. This timeline allows bettors to place their bets well in advance based on the anticipated lineup of contenders before the final list is officially confirmed.
As the Hollywoodbets Durban July approaches, several races will serve as valuable indicators during the South African Champions Season at Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville racecourses. Despite the event being months away, early selections based on previous Gauteng and Western Cape Seasons offer insights for ante-post betting.
Our Ante-post Betting Selection
Green With Envy, a 3-year-old victor of the Politician Stakes and Grade 1 Cape Derby, boasts an impressive record with four wins in eight starts. His synergy with jockey Craig Zackey enhances his chances, backed by trainer Dean Kannemeyer’s history of significant race triumphs. Currently priced at 7/1, Green With Envy appears promising for the July trophy.
See It Again, a 4-year-old colt, narrowly missed victory last year but holds a strong track record at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Despite a setback at the Grade 1 Cape Met, his six wins in 15 races, including two Grade 1 victories, position him as a formidable contender. With jockey Piere Strydom, he aims to clinch another Grade 1 win, making him the current market favorite at 4-1.
Gimme A Nother, an undefeated 3-year-old filly, presents a unique challenge as she transitions to facing male competitors for the first time in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Her perfect record, coupled with her partnership with jockey JP van der Merwe and trainer Mike de Kock’s track record, makes her a contender to watch at 7/1 odds.
Purple Pitcher, displaying exceptional endurance with victories in Johannesburg’s Triple Crown legs, stands out for his staying power. With six wins in 12 starts under trainer Robyn Klaasen and jockey Kabelo Matsunyane, who secured the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July, Purple Pitcher presents an intriguing option at 16/1 in the ante-post market.
Handicap Betting on Durban July
Handicap is a popular betting type among horse racing bettors, particularly during Durban July. We tested this type of bet during one Durban July edition and found it easy to understand.
To start with, this type of bet enables horses of different forms to race competitively against one another. Simply enough, they are allocated weights to level the playing field.
The better the horse, the more weight it will carry. How much weight should be assigned to each horse is determined by their handicap ratings. In turn, they are based on their previous performances.
Thus, the weight the horse carries will impact its gallop speed, and the odds will be provided accordingly. Because of this, several horses can get equal odds.
So, you need to do thorough betting research to make an informed selection. You should consider a horse’s previous Handicap runs, rating, how good a jockey and a trainer are, etc.
For example, See It Again, Mucho Dinero, and Gimme a Nother could all have odds of 4.25. The weights listed for each horse will tell you which has the best Handicap rating.
Finally, you should research their previous performances and other relevant details to make an informed Durban July Handicap wager.
Durban July Favourites
Runners haven’t been confirmed yet but will be announced on Tuesday 25 June. However, we know for certain that this event is only for the top horses in South Africa.
The defending champion Winchester Mansion may return to Greyville this year. Additionally, Without a Question, placed third in the 2024 Cape Town Met and See it Again, placed fourth, may make an appearance.
But keep an eye on the update of this Durban July 2024 guide to find the runners. Current favourites on sites with an open ante-post are Green With Envy, followed by See It Again.
Hollywoodbets and the Durban July Race
Hollywoodbets is not only the sponsor of the 2024 Durban July but also one of the top bookmakers to bet on horse races. It features competitive odds, ante-post betting, live streams of races, and more.
Our research team also discovered horse sports blogs, racing analyses, and tips on the website. So, punters can extract plenty of valuable details to make more informed Hollywoodbets Durban July predictions.
Best Sites to Bet on the Durban July
Apart from Hollywoodbets, several other bookies offer a variety of Durban July betting possibilities. Hopefully, our investigations allow you to make an informed choice about where to bet on Hollywoodbets Durban July 2024.
To begin with, there is Fafabet, the sportsbook with some of the most competitive Durban July betting odds. It also features a page with the race results punters can use when planning their bets.
If you are looking for Tote betting, Betway is a great website. Like World Sports Betting, it enables you to place ante-post bets on the Durban July Handicap.
At Betfred, you can select a wide range of bet types, like Win, Place, Show, and Exacta. It covers races from Greyville, Kenilworth, Fairview, and other racetracks in South Africa.
To learn more about the best horse racing betting sites, check out our dedicated guide.
Best Offers to Bet on the Durban July
Our expert team has reviewed various sites and found the ones with the top horse racing offers for punters.
First on the list is Betfred. It features Racing Happy Hour (odds boosts on races between 11:00 and 12:00), Extra Place, and Runner-Up Refund. Occasionally, the bookie may offer a Favourite vs Field offer on some races.
Betway has a unique offer for horse racing bettors. It may pay your winning tax at its discretion, so the 6% won’t be deducted from your return. You can also claim Win Boost and potentially receive a 300% boost on your successful multi-bets.
Lastly, Hollywoodbets features the Punters’ Challenge, covering race meetings in South Africa. You can potentially get more than R1M for tipping all the winners on the card. Or, you can receive a share of R10,000 if you place in the top 20 on a daily leaderboard.
Although the analysis we made hasn’t revealed any exclusive Durban July offers, the operators will probably introduce them as the competition draws nearer.
Our Durban July Betting Tips
Before you place a wager on the event, consider these Durban July betting tips:
- Understand how the races work.
- Choose a familiar bet type.
- Examine and compare the Durban July betting odds.
- Consider other predictions and sports news.
- If your horse is not in the best form, back another.
- If you place a live bet, cash out wisely.
- Potentially claim horse racing offers.
Finally, remember to follow responsible betting practices during the Durban July Handicap. This also includes managing your bankroll wisely.
Recap of Durban July 2022 & Durban July 2023
If you haven’t participated in the Durban July betting online the previous two seasons, find out what happened in the sections below.
Durban July 2022
The 126th edition of the tournament was special because the lone filly participating won the race. Moreover, Sparkling Water is the first filly to come first in more than a decade. It even managed to win the race by an astonishing four lengths.
It secured the fifth win for the trainer Mike de Kock and the second for the jockey S’Manga Khumalo. Interestingly, the Durban July betting tips suggested Aragosta and Do It Again were the most likely to win. Sparkling Water was way below but exceeded all the expectations.
Durban July 2023
The Hollywoodbets Durban July 2023 saw Winchester Mansion beating the hometown favourite See It Again in a race of firsts. Pierre Strydom was aiming at the fifth win before his retirement, but Kabelo got the better of him.
Furthermore, this was his first Grade 1 victory. It was also the first for trainer Brett Crawford and the owner Gaynor Rupert.
This win is even more remarkable, considering this horse had a neck injury as a youngster. Despite low expectations, it won the most prestigious horse race in South Africa. What’s more, it will make an appearance in the 2024 Summer Cup.