Horse Racing events to bet on this Summer
Horse racing in South Africa is alive and kicking and our sunny summer months are the perfect time to host these stylish and lavish events. These are the biggest and the best horse races coming up in Mzansi.
All of the races take place in the major cities around South Africa, which gives everyone the chance to bet and enjoy the races. They are all Grade 1, so you can expect the best jockeys and horses from around the country to compete. Grade 1 races also carry the biggest purses and the few Grade 1 events that remain have historical importance as well. Therefore let us have a closer look what the Summer Horse Racing Betting will look like.
The L’Ormarins King’s Plate
The L’Ormarins King’s Plate is SA’s oldest horse race and has been on the go since 1861. It is not only the oldest horse race in South Africa but has also been the Western Cape’s must attend social event ever since its inception. The King’s Plate is a 1600m race that takes place at Kenilworth in Cape Town. The upcoming L’Ormarins will be the 165th edition of the race and is scheduled for Saturday the 10th of January.
Patrons of the race will know that the colour scheme has always been white and blue. Attendees of the event (both men and women) aim to be the best dressed and best hat on the day. Judges walk around and scout for potential winners which is announces after the races take place. The best dressed and best hat will receive a Cartier pen and bracelet. The prize pool for the horses is R3 million.
Favourite horses at The L’Ormarins King’s Plate
Looking at the previous race results can give a bit of insight into which horses to place a bet on. These are some of the favourite horses coming into the race.
- “One Stripe” is a favourite horse among punters and is also the current title holder after winning in January.
- “See it again” is in contention and is seen as a strong contender to win.
- “Gimme a Prince” has been consistent this year and has a high rating of 129.
- “Dave The King” arrives in strong recent form and lines up under jockey Ryan Munger. The six-year-old now faces the key question, does he have the stamina to outlast the rest of the field? Many pundits believe he does.
- “Eight On Eighteen” is another runner generating plenty of buzz. The four-year-old will be ridden by British jockey Oisin Murphy, a booking that could significantly boost the horse’s chances.
The Cape Met 2026
The Cape Met 2026 or World Sports Betting Cape Town Met is one of the biggest dates on the horse racing calender. The next date for the event is on the 31st of January 2026 at Kenilworth. The Met is a Grade 1, 2000m race with many other races taking place during the day. The theme for this Cape Met is the Symphony of Style which aims to blend movement, horse racing, music and fashion. The purse for the event is R5 million.
Front Runners to Win the Race
- “See it again” is a name that you see everywhere in the horse racing world. See it again was a strong contender in the Durban July earlier this year.
- “Eight on eighteen” is the current title holder after winning it earlier this year.
- “Oriental Charm” is another name that pundits mention and is in contention to win the next Cape Met.
The Durban July
The Hollywoodbets Durban July is an iconic horse race. The race takes place on the first Saturday of July, at the Greyvillle racecourse in Durban. The Durban July 2026 is a Grade 1 Handicap race of 2200m. The atmosphere at this iconic race is legendary with the party continuing long after the races have finished. Dressing up for the race is a pre-requisite if you plan to stay for the party. Race 7 is the main event and starts at 16:00. The Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge is a favourite among betting fans. It can give huge payouts by predicting the right horse in five races.
Favourites to place at the Durban July
- “Do it again” is a back to back winner of the race in 2018/2019 and a has the most appearances at the race.
- “Gladatorian” has been coming up in the ranks and performed well this year.
- “Winchester mansion” strong performance during the 2025 season.
Summer Horse Race Betting
There are many smaller horse racing events that take place every week and our betting partners like Betway, Gbets and Hollywoodbets offer great odds on these races. Always get to know the horse that you are betting on before placing a bet. Horse race betting offers many different types of best such as Trifectas and Pick Six which has great returns if the bet comes in.
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