Gold Circle Horseracing and Betting
Racing at Clairwood
Gold Circle is part of a multi-faceted industry, organizing thoroughbred horseracing events throughout KwaZulu-Natal. Gold Circle has two racecourses in Durban and one in Pietermaritzburg, owns world-class thoroughbred training centres at Clairwood, Summerveld and Ashburton, as well asa network of 40 company-owned tabGOLD betting outlets and 80 independently-owned tabGOLD outlets. With an annual turnover in excess of R1.3 billion, Gold Circle is a key player in the national horseracing industry.
The company was created by the amalgamation of several Racing Clubs and organizations representing breeders, owners and trainers and is a licensed gaming operator, regulated by the KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Gaming. Horseracing staged by Gold Circle is conducted under the rules of the National Horseracing Authority of South Africa.
Gold Circle is renowned for staging two of the major horseracing events in the country, the Vodacom Durban July and the Gold Cup, both held at Greyville Racecourse in July of each year.
Greyville Racecourse
The Greyville Racecourse surrounds the Royal Durban Golf Club's Championship course, which provides a picture of green grass and foliage throughout the year. Greyville became the first track in the country to successfully install floodlights, introducing night racing at all its midweek meetings.
The track is pear-shaped and covers a distance of 2 800 metres, and includes an uphill section from the 2400 metre mark up to1 800 metres, a gentle downward slope for about 800 metres, another uphill section followed by an almost level 500 metre final straight to the winning post.
Africa's Greatest Horseracing Event
On the first Saturday of each July, the Vodacom Durban July is run at Greyville Racecourse. This race meeting attracts both local and international luminaries with tens of thousands vying for an invitation to one of the most talked-about social gatherings in South Africa or perhaps just for a view of the thoroughbreds from the packed grandstands.
Every year the running of the country's premier race for thoroughbreds is bursting at the seams with celebrities, socialites and followers of fashion.
The prize money for the race at the moment stands at R3,5 million creating fierce competition in racing circles. Besides the stake money, winning this race is the pinnacle of achievement for any owner, trainer, breeder or jockey.
New Development
Gold Circle is on the threshold of a huge development project at Greyville Racecourse involving the construction of a synthetic racing surface on the inside of the grass racetrack. This will enable Greyville to race in all weather conditions throughout the year and hold a possible 100% more racemeetings. The building of the track opens the way for a programme of development and refurbishment of all the grandstand facilities. The first of these, which is under construction at the moment, is a 1000 capacity conference centre.
Scottsville Racecourse
With facilities linked to the Golden Horse Casino in Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville Racecourse offers all the very best in racecourse comfort, elegance and intimacy, and patrons are offered a wide choice of restaurants and bars in which to enjoy top class racing.
