From humble beginnings to Africa's biggest race

THE postcard of old Durban this week suitably shows the very early days of Durban's Greyville Race Course, the scene of the Durban July race today.

- FRANK CHEMALY

The modern picture shows what a major event the Durban July has become a far cry from the first attendance of 3 000 people.

The history of Greyville dates as far back as 1844, when it hosted the province's first official horseracing event.

The 2800m pear-shaped course surrounds the Royal Durban Golf Club's championship course.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July run at Greyville Racecourse is internationally acknowledged as Africa's greatest horseracing event. It has been run without interruption every year since Saturday, July 17, 1897, when Campanajo crossed the line first from among seven runners in the Durban Turf Club Handicap over 1600m on the Western Vlei.