The biggest horseracing event in Africa
If England has Royal Ascot, Australia has the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and the USA has the Kentucky Derby, then Africa has the Hollywoodbets Durban July!
Durban July is the biggest social event on the Durban calendar and the biggest horseracing event in Africa. It is a South African thoroughbred horserace held on the first Saturday of July.
Durban July has been run without interruption every year since it started in the Durban Turf Club Handicap on Saturday, July 17, 1897. Not even two world wars have prevented the race from taking place… until the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
After its cancellation in 2020 and 2021, the greatest racing event on the African continent is back! No test requirements and no mask requirements have opened up this great South African event once again. South Africa allows fully vaccinated travelers to enter without mandatory testing.
The Greyville Racecourse in Durban was filled with people enjoying the re-opening of the biggest people-watching fashion event in South Africa! This year’s theme was “Show me the Honey.” The Philippines was represented once again with our contingent carrying a small Philippine flag.
Of course the races were also a highlight and Tessa Prieto Valdes, Yvette Fernandez and I all bet on one horse in one race and we all won (a very minimal amount because of a minimal bet)!
It was a day filled with watching the vibrant, colorful and unique fashion Africa has to offer. There was also so much food and drink in the different marquees surrounding the racetrack.
African fashion also took center stage with different young designers showcasing their work in several small fashion shows. Ismael Mchunu from the Durban University of Technology was the winner of the 2022 Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair. He used the event’s theme of “Show Me the Honey” on most of his clothes.
Durban Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda graced the occasion and we got a chance to talk to him at the Durban Tourism Marquee.
It was a wonderful day at the races and more about the city of Durban next week but for now, enjoy these photos and see what people wore with the resumption of Durban July!
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Check out @Durban Tourism on Facebook and @dbntourism on Instagram and Twitter.
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