Vodacom Durban July

"It sneaks up on you and spreads like wildfire to soon engulf the entire country. You don’t know you’ve got it till you start searching for more and more information and the desire for greater knowledge becomes a passion.

It is the annual outbreak of “July Fever” which makes its regular appearance in mid-April and grows in intensity as the days pass, becoming a national epidemic and rejecting all known cures but one.

That cure will become available on the afternoon of the first Saturday of July at Greyville Racecourse in Durban when South Africa’s best thoroughbreds storm down the home straight to the finish of the R4,25 million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July.

The cure is instantaneous, whether you are among the 55 000 people who cram the confines of Greyville Racecourse or the millions of others who will watch the annual spectacle on television.

For maximum effect, however, there is nothing better than to be at the heart of the excitement, among the crowds who line the track, who relax in the many restaurant facilities or enjoy the day as guests in the corporate suites and the numerous venues in Greyville’s legendary Marquee Village.

Most facilities are booked out months in advance but the “Sold Out” signs should not deter those who have failed to secure reservations. There will always be the casual restaurants including Greyville’s popular al fresco area, “The Paddock”, in the main grandstand concourse and the popular Shorthead Restaurant on the first floor.

A variety of packages are also available in hospitality areas throughout Greyville Racecourse and these should be secured in advance.

For the more casual racegoer there will be bars and food vendors throughout the course serving a wide variety of meal options.

The Red Carpet area returns to the event for the fourth year running. It is a public area situated on the golf course behind the main stage, where you can grab a bite to eat and something to drink, watch the racing and entertainment on the big screen and take a bet in your own tote facilities.

The excitement of Vodacom Durban July Day surpasses that of any other event on the African continent. With huge crowds expected on course and millions of others around the country taking serious bets or having their annual flutter, the totes and bookmakers will be under tremendous pressure dealing with the estimated betting splurge of over R200 million!

To ensure that your cure is complete, get your bets on early and avoid the risk of continually feeling ill because you missed the cure. Watching your fancy pass the winning post first in the country’s greatest race is the only remedy." - vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za