Durban July Without Fans, South Africa's Star Runner

It's hard to imagine the Vodacom Durban July (G1) without the fans. It's the fans who've turned the race into an event for many years, taking over Greyville Racecourse, parading in their themed finery—this year's theme was to have been "Butterflies"—and generally adopting the event as their own.

Greyville has welcomed the effective takeover, even giving a wink and a nod to the annual "13th race"—a dash down the stretch after the last real race by scantily clad, and often totally unclad, young revelers.

Clothing plays a more positive role to the contestants in the annual fashion show, held on a huge infield stage during the race day. In a normal year, designers compete for prizes including a trip to New York's fashion week.

All of that and more is why the Durban July is billed by the racing and wagering jurisdiction Gold Circle not just as Africa's greatest race but, rather, "Africa's Greatest Horse Racing Event."

This year, the pandemic keeps fans away from the race, which also was delayed three weeks to July 25.

"Even through the war years, this event was never canceled, and thanks to the positive interaction with government, we have been able to return horse racing to active race meetings under very strict conditions and protocols," Steve Marshall, the event and marketing official of Gold Circle, told Sporting Post.

"At a time when everyone is battling with the lockdown implications, we hope the 2020 Vodacom Durban July can provide an afternoon of entertainment that can serve as a beacon of hope as the country battles this pandemic."

As disappointing as it is to envision the race without fans, it's also tough to imagine the race without Hawwaam, the dominant and popular force in South African racing for the past year or so. Sheik Hamdan's star has entered into quarantine prior to export because of draconian horse transport restrictions that might have been eased had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic.

European Union officials were to have been in South Africa early this year to assess proposed new export protocols. Expectations were high that the new rules would be approved and significantly shorten quarantine requirements for horses leaving the country—now as much as six months, with stops in at least two nations. The visit was preempted by pandemic travel bans and South African racing and government officials are scrambling to get the process back in gear.

Trainer Mike de Kock said Hawwaam's owner, Sheikh Hamdan, is eager to get the 4-year-old Silvano colt into international competition, mentioning specifically the Arlington Million Stakes (G1T), which his sire won in 2001. Facing the long quarantine delay, owner and trainer opted not to give Hawwaam one last shot at local glory, instead setting the colt out on his torturous journey to new challenges.

Hawwaam's premature departure leaves his de Kock stablemate Soqrat to shoulder the burden in the Durban July. The 4-year-old Epaulette colt finished second to Hawwaam in his last outing at Turffontein Standside and in Saturday's Durban July faces a full field.

Among those is Do It Again, the Justin Snaith-trained Twice Over gelding who has won the past two editions of the race and bids to become the only three-time winner. The 5-year-old will need a reversal of form, though, not having tasted victory since last year's July.

Rainbow Bridge and Vardy return after finishing 1-2 in the HollywoodBets Gold Challenge (G1) on the course, in which Do It Again was third. Tierra del Fuego stands out among the 4-year-olds, having finished third and fourth, each time behind Hawwaam, in his past two starts. 

With a full field, as always, and a narrow stretch run down the Greyville turf course, traffic often plays a role in the outcome of the July, producing unexpected results.

The hope, if not the expectation, is that by 2021, fans will be back in the stands and horses will be able to enter and exit South Africa more expeditiously.