Greyville gears up to cater for the Vodacom Durban

Durban - With over 50 000 people expected at Greyville Racecourse for the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday 4 July, the team at Gold Circle is gearing up to ensure the needs of the thousands of horse racing fans in the marquees, suites, picnic sites and the grandstands are met in a style befitting Africa's Greatest Horseracing Event.


While the thoroughbreds bask in the limelight on the track, behind the scenes there’s an army of dedicated staff furiously cooking meals, serving up an array of beverages and manning the hospitality venues to ensure the masses of eager racegoers receive the best racing experience on the continent.

A favourite for guests desiring an exclusive race day experience are the VIP and VVIP marquees in the fabled Marquee Village. Their bespoke decor and private facilities, like a foot spa and massage, hair and make-up touch up stations, photo booths and selfie stations are just some of the perks available.

Service is paramount in the luxury hospitality options. Almost one thousand committed staff will attend to the guests of one particular luxurious marquee set-up on the golf course, with a waitron per table dedicated to their needs.

Guests can watch all the racing action on plasma TV’s from the luxury of their marquees while sipping on some bubbly, with tens of thousands of other beverages being served. Performances by household name musicians and DJs plus the high chance of bumping into local celebrities make these venues a first class option.


Another popular hospitality marquee boasts almost 100m of fully stocked bars while others offer private viewing balconies.

The Marquee Village now boasts three double-decker marquees, making it the biggest event hospitality village on the African continent.

While the well-heeled punters soak up the opulence of their luxurious suites and marquees, plenty of regular racegoers enjoy the ‘July Fever’ alongside the track or in the grandstands or while munching on a full lunch or a buffet meal at Gold Circle’s various sit-down venues.

Undoubtedly the biggest event on South Africa’s racing calendar, the company’s catering department plans way in advance to provide countless meals to satisfy even the hungriest racegoer.


From Thursday onwards 40 chefs will be carefully preparing to make over 15 000 meals for the big day. Their work ethic amps up on the Friday with an 11 hour work day, and then they’re up at 1am on race day to ensure all meals are ready and prepped for the thousands of feet passing through their restaurant doors and other food outlets.


A steady stream of 390 waiters and barmen serve up 17 000 bottles of beer, 256 000 containers of minerals, 2 500 bottles of spirits and 900 bottles of wine to thirsty patrons. The catering manager also orders an additional 80 litres of orange juice as well as 450 litres of milk to accompany the countless cups of coffee and tea to serve up to the thirsty guests.


A definite culinary highlight for many, 8 000 delicious portions of curry and rice are lovingly cooked for the hungry guests and are made up of 2 200kg of meat, 750kg of chicken, 280kg of prawns and 300kg of crayfish. A horse-racing event in a coastal town wouldn’t be complete without some delectable seafood, the 2 600 delicate pieces of sushi and 1 200 oysters going down a treat.


For those diners looking for something a little more familiar on their plates the hardworking kitchen also serves up 2 500 pies, 2 000 hamburgers and 350 litres of ice cream for dessert.


And all those extras required to complement the mouth-watering meals Gold Circle orders in 7 000 bread rolls, 80kg of butter, 100 dozen eggs, 150kg of mushrooms, 120 pockets of potatoes and 280kg of cheese, 20 pockets of sugar, and 550kg of steaming rice – and this is just for the facilities that fall directly under Greyville Racecourse.

Whatever hospitality option racegoers choose for the grand event, they’re sure to leave feeling well and truly satisfied.

The 2015 Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday 4 July. More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za

hope track holds up for the 8 Turf races.
would not want to sit at any of the inner track Tents. No close up experience with the Polytrack in the way. Hope thy are much cheaper now.

Met/Queens Plate now the only great social Race days

Nonsense Sylvester, gauging on social media and with the extra interest on abc , there is only one race that creates a buzz and that`s the JULY...

Your not going to be any further away from the action and the place will be mobbed

Sylvester wrote: hope track holds up for the 8 Turf races.
would not want to sit at any of the inner track Tents. No close up experience with the Polytrack in the way. Hope thy are much cheaper now.

Met/Queens Plate now the only great social Race days

I inquired about some of these facilities - I was astounded at the cost - I could not find anything below R2,000 per person - and for that some of them did not even include drinks :sick:

So I'll be watching from the comfort of my lounge in my holiday unit in Uvongo - that's if there is no load shedding that day. :ohmy:

But to be fair the Met 'experience' was not a whole lot cheaper and was extremely disappointing - can't comment on the Queens Plate -but Elvis has been complimentary about that one

going to my first rothmans since igugu won and been lucky to be invited to a table in the view room right on the line so looking forward to the day especially as the company will be top class ..its a long day come night and I feel for people that haven't got some type of base whereby they can enjoy the day from...still have clear memories of the great rothmans july I have attended and the part I miss the most is when the winner used to go on a victory lap with the rothmans sash on him or her and the jingle that was played when he did the victory lap..if you didn't get a lump in your throat then you not human...

Rothmans, the greatest name in cigarettes

Hey Mac you forget it's illegal to advertise fags?

pirates wrote: going to my first rothmans since igugu won and been lucky to be invited to a table in the view room right on the line so looking forward to the day especially as the company will be top class ..its a long day come night and I feel for people that haven't got some type of base whereby they can enjoy the day from...still have clear memories of the great rothmans july I have attended and the part I miss the most is when the winner used to go on a victory lap with the rothmans sash on him or her and the jingle that was played when he did the victory lap..if you didn't get a lump in your throat then you not human...

sitting at the same table as Pirates for July day. We gonna discuss stats and Julie the whole afternoon.

@Sylvester...maybe you can get Julie to complete the trifecta !! :whistle:

Jules will be found freezing at Turffies TN

ColinP wrote: Jules will be found freezing at Turffies TN

With @Sylvester more than willing to warm her up !!

I'm a youngster pirates and I still call it the rothmans

However , if anyone thinks you can out perform this day you are very naive . Best racing day ever. Yes I would love a box ticket but I normally have to settle for tent and settling means wined and dined to the nines. My bets are on long before so I need not worry about missing a bet as its all fun on the day.

Frodo - if you stuck and really want to
Come message me and I'll sort you out. I've made more than my fair share off your knowledge and am lucky enough that I have tent tickets.