Bray July, Africa’s best horse riding event in a small dorpie
Bokone Bophirima Tourism in conjunction with the Provincial Gambling Board has secured funding to the tune of one million rand for the activation of the Bray July House Racing as part of the Are Yeng Bokone Bophirima Brand Platform. The 19th edition will take place in Bray from 26 – 28 June 2015. This biggest bush horse race is also viewed as a potential tourism attraction event by the provincial Gambling Board and it has been designated as an annual event.
Although this event traditionally takes place in July every year, this year it will take place in June due to some logistical challenges. Having been consistent for almost 18 years the event has now been granted a temporary totalizator license and a special permission to hold a horse race meeting on the 27th of June 2015 in terms of section 56 and 59 of the North West Gambling act of 2001 (Act No.2 of 2001) .
Since its establishment, primarily Bray July has been about the traditional horse race with a natural turf of red sand soil of the Kalahari. The event has also been providing a short left experience for the tourism, outdoor life and camping fanatics with a life away from everything. Touted by its organizers as the biggest horse bush race, Bray July will this year boast about fashion and glamour as compared to the popular and well established Vodacom Durban July which has now become a National event. The Red Kalahari sand track is unique and horse owners from all over the country bring their top jockeys to compete in this race.
Bokone Bophirima MEC for Tourism, Desbo Mohono, announced during her budget vote speech the department’s intentions to support the event and called for the ACT departments (Agriculture, Culture and Tourism) together with the department of Finance, Enterprise and Economic Development (FEED) to also support this brand property.
“Our vision is to grow the Bray July Brand Property to be the largest horse racing event in a Small Dorpie in South Africa, Africa and the Continent by 2020 in line with the Provincial Tourism Sector Strategy Vision 2020”, said MEC Mohono.
Furthermore MEC Mohono confirmed that for the first time in the history of this event, the prize money for the Horse Racing, the fashion show, Miss Bray beauty contest and the Bray Soccer Challenge has been secured.
The MEC for Tourism therefore invite members of the media to be part of the festivities which will be taking place as follows:
Date: 26 - 28 June 2015
Time: 14h00
Venue: Bray
Enquiries:
Dineo Lolokwane
Spokesperson
Cell: 072 542 8444
Tel: 018 388 2081
Email: dlolokwane@nwpg.gov.za
