Tales of the Durban July

We all know racing has a colourful, and sometimes chequered, history.

When it comes to arguably the biggest race in South Africa there are bound to be some tall stories and fabled tales.

Would love to hear them, call it research.

I'm also curious as to who the best jockeys South Africa has produced to never have won a July. Jeff Lloyd and Brett Smith are two names that spring to mind. Others? And their best finishes?

Not sure Fortune has won a July ?

Fast track 1999, the jockey club rewrote a rule after noticing Mike de Kock taking advantage of that rule concerning top weights who are withdrawn from the publication of weights. MDK was telling the whole country that Horse Chestnut was to be exported. HC even had a farewell at Gosforth(?). But MDK continued to include HC in the subsequent nomination stages.The weights were published and HC was handicapped the top weight. The jockey club de Kock smelt a rat and changed the rule that the other horses' weights shall be adjusted accordingly should the top weight be scratched following the 1st publication of weights. MDK threatened to go to the courts but it all petered out in the end. MDK was strategising a low weight for Fort Defiance.

www.julyhandicap.info

Don wrote: www.julyhandicap.info

Brilliant tool. Thanks

Apologies to most of you who know this but some might have forgotten :lol: :

In 2004, 10 years after South African independence, Greyville decided to have that July's #10 saddle cloth emblazoned in the South African flag. Grey's Inn won the July and his saddle cloth # was, yip you guessed right.

At mickey - are these the sort of tales you're looking for because I am the only one telling stories? (I wasnt around in the days of Sea Cottage, someone else can say that).

The July was not always run on the 1st Sat of the 7th month.
The year that rain wreaked havoc and the July was run on the Monday.
Won by Terence Millard trained Right Prerogative held on in the slush and beat Tropicante by a short head,the runner up trained by brother in law Ralph Rixon.

A jubilant Tony Taberer shouted " we got it " when the number went up!!!

mikesack wrote: The July was not always run on the 1st Sat of the 7th month.
The year that rain wreaked havoc and the July was run on the Monday.
Won by Terence Millard trained Right Prerogative held on in the slush and beat Tropicante by a short head,the runner up trained by brother in law Ralph Rixon.

A jubilant Tony Taberer shouted " we got it " when the number went up!!!

I'm almost certain it was run on that Saturday, however they only ran the main race because of the weather - reason I say this, I remember watching the race at a friend's place, if it was a Monday I would have missed seeing the race because I would have been at work. Apologies if I've got it wrong Mike.

bayern wrote:

mikesack wrote: The July was not always run on the 1st Sat of the 7th month.
The year that rain wreaked havoc and the July was run on the Monday.
Won by Terence Millard trained Right Prerogative held on in the slush and beat Tropicante by a short head,the runner up trained by brother in law Ralph Rixon.

A jubilant Tony Taberer shouted " we got it " when the number went up!!!

I'm almost certain it was run on that Saturday, however they only ran the main race because of the weather - reason I say this, I remember watching the race at a friend's place, if it was a Monday I would have missed seeing the race because I would have been at work. Apologies if I've got it wrong Mike.

Race was definitely run on that Saturday.....I was on course, co owner of the winner Brian Sylvester lost his shoes in the mud on the track when the horse was lead back out for the victory parade, Tony Tauberer was indeed involved as his then very young wife Lindy was the other share holder.....

.....and thanks to the TOOL that was posted on this thread.....the only time in recent July history for the July not being run on the 1st Saturday in July was as recent as 2010.....the July was postponed to the last Saturday in July being the 31st and was won by Bold Silvano
.....I have a recolection as to the reason for the postponement but it does not make any sense now.....does any one venture a guess why.....

It was due to the SWC taking place and they had an agreement that no other major sporting event could take place at the same time, or something on those lines.

A silk stocking was once the winner of the July.

So too was a silver bullet (but that's easy).

And there was the victory of the ugly duckling and a coincidental story about Left Wing.

Someone who was around then can chat whom they were