GREYVILLE Racecourse and Gold Circle played host to a highly successful 2011 Vodacom Durban July Racemeeting in Durban on Saturday, reports ANDREW HARRISON.

The house full signs went up early as a capacity crowd of 55 000 people watch the favourite Igugu storm to victory ahead of Pierre Jourdan and English Garden in the 115th running of Africa’s greatest horserace.

The “full house” signs went up!

In spite of continuing difficult financial times for the company and the horseracing industry in general, turnovers showed a pleasing upswing with the tote showing a 8,44% increase in turnover on last year, falling just R400 000 short of R100 million.

Gold Circle’s taking on the Vodacom Durban July itself was up 13,6 % from R20,6 million to R23,8 million while Saftote’s turnover was up 15% on the main race from R33 million to R39,7 million.

Tote windows: Full as they should always be.

Turnover was R6 million above budget.

Gold Circle’s Chief Operating Officer, Graeme Hawkins, said he was extremely pleased with the tote turnover and pointed out that the bookmakers around the country will have taken similar amounts.

Vodacom’s Regional Manager in KwaZulu-Natal, Alberts Breedt, said that Saturday’s event had been the best ever with Greyville race course awash with Vodacom’s new red branding.

He said he shared this relationship with Gold Circle with great pride as it did so much for Vodacom while Hawkins echoed these sentiments saying that events such as the Vodacom Durban July hinged on good relationships with sponsors.