Vodacom Durban July Belgarion

A lone security guard looks on while the racing continues at the behind-closed-doors 2020 Vodacom Durban July on Saturday.
Photo: Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media

Belgarion wins the 2020 Vodacom Durban July

Justin Snaith has his fifth Vodacom Durban July title after Belgarion won the richest race in Africa on Saturday 25 July at Greyville.

Vodacom Durban July Belgarion

A lone security guard looks on while the racing continues at the behind-closed-doors 2020 Vodacom Durban July on Saturday.
Photo: Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media

If you had heeded psychic Doreen Jacobs calls and put your money on Belgarion to take the 2020 Vodacom Durban July you will be smiling.

The five-year-old gelding romped home to the win at Greyville racecourse in Durban on Saturday.

Belgarion wins Vodacom Durban July

Trainer Justin Snaith had five horses in the race with Belgarion bringing him his third Durban July title.

Belgarion saw off defending champion, Do It Again, who was unable to live up to his name on this occassion in a year when trainer’s aimed to have the horse become the first to win the race three years in a row.

The favourites were hit by an unfavourable starting draw, Belgarion drew 17 and Do It Again drew widest of all in the 18-horse field.

Snaith bags the R1,5 million purse from the incredible race despite that little bit of misfortune.

A new experience

Racing in the historic 124th edition of the Vodacom Durban July got underway at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse shortly before midday on Saturday with the echo of the horses hooves providing a stark reminder of the first-ever July raceday held without any spectators in attendance.

The iconic sporting and social event traditionally attracts over 50 000 spectators but the prevailing COVID-19 regulations have allowed the racing programme to continue under strict conditions and limiting attendance to only a skeleton staff of essential personnel.

With racing fans forced to watch on television and live streaming at home, conditions for the year’s biggest horse racing event could not have been better, with the superb warm windless winter weather complimenting the excellent hard track making for optimal racing conditions.

The shortened ten race programme started and will finished with a race on the synthetic polytrack on the inside of the course, and while the first races on the card were completed, the superstars of the track were being quietly prepared for the running of the much anticipated Vodacom Durban July at 3:10pm.

Vodacom Durban July handicap – race 7 result

PosNoHorseOddsJockeyTrainer
1st17BELGARION11/2Richard FourieJustin Snaith
2nd13GOT THE GREENLIGHT8/1Muzi YniJoe Soma
3rd18DO IT AGAIN7/1Anthon MarcusJustin Snaith
4th1GOLDEN DUCAT33/1Donovan DillionEric Sands
5th12IT’S MY TURN25/1Sean VealeDean Kannemeyer
6th2RAINBOW BRIDGE4/1Warren KennedyEric Sands