The Durban July, internationally acknowledged as Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, has a new sponsor after the withdrawal of Vodacom. This year’s event will be sponsored by South Africa’s leading Sportsbook operator Hollywoodbets with effect from the 2022 renewal on Saturday 2 July.

The race also gets a 250% prize increase and will carry a stake of R5 million.

Hollywoodbets thus join Rothmans and Vodacom as only the third sponsor of the great race in
59 years.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July is the flagship event on the East Coast’s KZN Champion Season
roster, which will also be the recipient of a R13 million stakes injection. The increase in prize money for South Africa’s preeminent racing season will apply to both feature and minor races from 1 March to the end of the racing season.

In recognition of the vital role played by grooms in the racing industry, Hollywoodbets and Gold
Circle simultaneously announced an increase in the awards for the Grooms of winning horses
from R1 000 to R2 000 per race, for the months of March, April and May.