This year’s KZN Champions Season will again end with a bang!
After careful deliberation following the unqualified success of the Vodacom Durban July Racemeeting being moved to the final Saturday of July last year, the KZN Chapter Board of Gold Circle has agreed that the Canon Gold Cup should find a new home on this day. But in addition, the country’s top race for stayers will form part of a “Super Saturday” with the end-of-season championship races, traditionally run on the last Saturday in July at Clairwood, combining with the Gold Cup at Greyville.
As previously announced, the Vodacom Durban July reverts to its traditional slot of the first Saturday in July.
Gold Circle’s Chief Operating Officer Graeme Hawkins said that although this was a break from Gold Cup tradition the success of last year’s Vodacom Durban July meeting showed that here was an opportunity not to be missed.
“By combining the two meetings we hope to increase tote turnover and on-course attendance. In addition the day will offer us an opportunity to grow the meeting into another major event on the Durban social and sporting calendar.”
The “Super Saturday” meeting will consist of seven feature races including four Grade 1’s. In addition to the R1 million Canon Gold Cup, other Grade 1 features on the day will be the R700 000 Champions Cup, the R500 000 Premiers Champion Juvenile Stakes and the R500 000 Thekwini Fillies Stakes.
Other supporting features on a 12-race card will be the Grade 2 R200 000 Gold Bracelet and two Listed races, the Umgeni Handicap and the Darley Arabian.
Hawkins said that the racing programme will remain relatively unaffected and the switch to Greyville of the Champions Cup races to combine with the Canon Gold Cup will provide a massive marketing opportunity.
“It will also provide a fitting end to the national racing season,” he said.
The Canon Gold Cup Racemeeting will still have a charity flavour and Gold Circle will again host about 20 charities in a “Tent City” on the inside of the racecourse. “In time we could “invade” the golf course twice a year,” Hawkins added.
