Early hype for Big Cap and its starting ‘slots’

There’s big thinking behind the R5 million Big Cap. Hype and hoopla are already rolling for the country’s most valuable sales race — a full six months before the off.

- Mike Moon

Operator Race Coast issued a press release this week declaring “the racing world is bracing for one of the most anticipated events on the 2026 calendar”.

Bracing might be exaggeration at this stage, but some early interest has been stirred for the event to be raced over 1 400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in Durban on 12 April 2026.

The Big Cap is a “slots” race, with 14 starting gates being sold off at R350 000 a pop to anyone interested, well before any entry stage. These buyers, or speculators, can either use their slots for their own horses, or sell them for on to connections of other horses that become eligible for the final lineup.