Hot coffee, sticky buns and thundering hooves, these are the elements of the Greyville prelude to Africa ’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the Vodacom Durban July.

 

They are the “July gallops” which are once again a major feature of the big race build-up and draw thousands of people to Greyville Racecourse for the early morning final public viewing of the runners. The gallops will be held at the central city course on Thursday, June 23, from 7am and everyone is invited.

 

The final acceptors in the R2-million Grade 1 event are obliged, in terms of the conditions of the race, to participate in timed gallops and all runners based in Durban at the time will have to be put through their paces at Greyville.

 

Horses stabled outside of the area must participate in a timed gallop prior to June 23 so the gallop can be screened on June 23.

 

The Greyville gallops are very popular and will be timed and televised on Tellytrack and a panel discussion on the gallops will be held on their completion.

 

The gallops are free as are the traditional hot coffee and sticky buns.