On July 20th, the annual Dundee July horserace will return to the Dundee racetrack in Endumeni Municipality, hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport (DSR) and Recreation in conjunction with Umzinyathi District Municipality. In a decision that reflects the event’s increasingly high profile, this year will see Vodacom coming in as one of the Dundee July’s major sponsors.
The company is excited to be a part of the hype surrounding the event, which is swiftly reaching fever pitch in the local area. Since its inception eight years ago, the event has earned a reputation as the biggest sporting event in northern KwaZulu-Natal, with last year’s race attracting over 10,000 guests from all over the country. This year’s turnout looks set to be better than ever, a fact that directly correlates with the variety and calibre of the entertainment on offer.
There will be six races hosted throughout the day, with riders and horses coming from as far afield as Lesotho. The event is designed along the same lines as the world-famous Vodacom Durban July race, although the races at the Dundee are tripling ones rather than galloping ones, and its participants are drawn primarily from local talent.
Top ranked jockeys from each district municipality are selected, and then graded according to previous wins before being entered into the Dundee July event. This year, a record 21 breeders will enter their horses onto the field, with the owner of the winning horse winning R75,000 cash prize. The safety of the horses will be top priority, with continuous improvements being made to the track before the big day.
While the equestrian aspect of the event is clearly its defining feature, there are also plenty of other attractions around the racetrack to keep guests entertained. For those with a taste for fashion, the Dundee July has become a significant opportunity for designers of both local and national fame to showcase their talent, with boutique stalls making up a large part of the retail arena. In addition, the event will close with a concert featuring popular artists and local musicians in equal measure. The Dundee July is therefore a wonderful day out for everyone, which caters to the tastes of all comers.
Vodacom states that its support for the Dundee July came about because of the company’s belief in “supporting business and development in all of the areas and municipalities that make up KwaZulu-Natal. The Dundee July also allows Vodacom to support the Department of Sports and Recreation in their bid to promote, transform and develop sport and recreation as well as local talent and rural development”. Gold Circle, Umzinyathi District Municipality and Endumeni Local Municipality join Vodacom as the event’s primary partners.
For more information call:
Sandile Qwabe
Cell: 078 169 4063
