Power Outages Cause Premature End to the Hollywoodbets Durban July

It was my 26th time on course for the July. During those 26 times I was in Tent Towns, Durban View Room, Box Suites, etc.

I enjoyed myself this year and every other year prior. You and your friends make your own vibe and atmosphere. It is what you make of it. The Tent Town side seemed to be buzzing albeit they will be punting at a minimal.

I will definitely go back. Hopefully to 30, 40 and 50 times!!!!

To many of the true racing people I spoke to, many won't be back. Too much noise. Cannot hear the commentator when horse's are parading. Terrible loud music when horse's are going down. The general feeling is that it first and foremost should be a race meeting and not a fashion show with all the noise and people that have absolutely no interest in the races. Same can be said for a few of the other big meetings.

I had a great time,fashion has always been a part of the july. One thing for sure,there will be 50 plus thousand next year.

The continued focus on 50 000 people attending and using that number as the measure of success is simply foolish. The number of attendees cannot be the measure of success for horseracing as COVID 19 proved this.

The fashion etc. is part and parcel of THE JULY however the noise level from the music and non-racing announcers seems to grow louder every year. Why not move the non-core racing functions to a different area with the sound aimed away from the horses.

The focus should be on owners & punters for the day, the people that pay for the wheels to turn in racing.

Time for Bortz to take over and make this a classy event like Royal Ascot. Nairac should go back to Mauritius as they may need him there!!! The GC Board should be independent and not filled with only owners.

Get rid of the funny tent town marquees and bring back the picnic sites at the Winning Post.

I would make the Durban July the last race on the card at around 4:30 pm

7 or 8 races. Then let the party begin!

I know that fashion is part and parcel of the July but have the fashion designers event earlier and have the winners presenration on the day. Make it classy and not this noisy event that very few enjoy. Normal people will still dress up and have a on the day winner. Ascot was class. Where the stage was was probably 10m or so from where the horses walk down the schute onto the course. The noise from the stage could probably have been heard at the old Clairwood course!

Craig Eudey wrote:

I know that fashion is part and parcel of the July but have the fashion designers event earlier and have the winners presenration on the day. Make it classy and not this noisy event that very few enjoy. Normal people will still dress up and have a on the day winner. Ascot was class. Where the stage was was probably 10m or so from where the horses walk down the schute onto the course. The noise from the stage could probably have been heard at the old Clairwood course!

Mr. Eudey, i really appreciate your constructive comments having been in the game for so long. Everything has it's place and time and hopefully the powers that be will take to heart these constructive comments from the everyday punters that keep this beautiful sport alive and plan accordingly. One can only hope.

If one looks at the different stories doing the rounds currently regarding this situation and especially the NHA setting the record straight about who was throwing whom under the bus, I feel that some important questions have not been asked and answered.

1. The main reason given is that the jockeys asked for a guarantee that the lights would not go off which could not be given by GC.
2. For safety reasons I fully agree with them however the reason they asked for the guarantee was because the 4 minute safety power supply to the lights did not work.
3. There has been no confirmation of this by GC or the NHA which is strange and also in my mind the most important factor.
4. The 4 minute safety would have provided the guarantee.
5. So was it working? When was the test done prior to the meeting? Where is the signed document by GC and the NHA?

In order for any night racing to continue in SA the only guarantee would be an independent power supply to ensure that 4-5 minutes was covered in the event that there is a disruption of supply from ESKOM.

If the mayor did his job there would not have been a jockeys’ protest.


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Granted Mac however there is far more at play here than just that fact;
1. Was the 4 minute safety working?
2. Was it tested and signed off prior to the meeting by GC & NHA?
3. The Stewards had a meeting with the jockeys however they have not answered the above.
4. All future night racing will depend on the safety being available or announce that there will no longer be night racing in SA.

We need to have this dealt with properly as a two day festival will not work. The second Jack Pot on the day is exciting for the punters following how you did in the main race. The day itself is unique so why try and dream up new formats rather than improving what we have?

The officials are there to perform their jobs, if this is not questioned then any change you make will have the same net effect.

While we are on this, Bob please could you enquire about the evidence used in Race 1 to award the race to 2. BETULA.

The interference at a critical stage of the race was clear to the lay person so I was taken back when the objection was overruled. The intimation is that the bump took place after the winning line. If this is the case where is the film and photo's to prove this? Or is this going to go into the large book of non-transparent and confusing decisions?

How many cameras, both film & photo are there at and over the finish line at Greyville? With the technology available why are decisions like this left to the subjectivity of the officials on duty?

BTW, I took the exacta so not talking from my pocket.