Horse-racing, trade fair, fashion and food at the Dundee July

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The Northern KwaZulu-Natal town of Dundee will resound with hooves pounding the racetrack and the frenzied shouts of excited crowds as horses and jockeys race to the finish line when the annual rural race meeting comes to town.

The event, which always takes place towards the end of July, is one of three events that makes July in KwaZulu-Natal an important horse racing month. Dundee is the venue of choice as it has a newly upgraded race track and is well positioned inland allowing for access by the majority of race participants.

Rural horse owners and jockeys from KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Lesotho will compete against each other for the winner’s title and stake money.

When it started in its current form in 2005 there were 30 participants and 1500 spectators. Each year since then, the Dundee July has seen phenomenal growth in the number of race-goers.

 This year a crowd of around 20 000 horse racing enthusiasts are expected to converge on Dundee for the 2018 festivities which start on Thursday 19 July in a two-day build-up to the big race day on Saturday 21 July. This is not to be missed and includes two high profile international races, a ladies race and a choreographed fashion show.

This rural horse tripling (bareback trotting) race event is one of KZN Department of Sport and Recreation’s flagship events and is run in collaboration with the Endumeni Local and UMzinyathi District municipalities.
Most districts within KZN participate and this year over 320 horse owners and 200 Jockeys are expected to compete in eight events.
The event has enough entertainment to satisfy even the most discerning spectator. Fashion shows, music, dance and food tasting are just some of the activities on the three-day programme.
A trade and exhibition fair kicks off the Dundee July festivities giving locals and visitors an opportunity to see the different products offered by the event’s partners; and to buy clothing, crafts, food, horse grooming products and souvenirs.
A colourful street carnival procession sets the vibe on day two (Friday, 20 July). Led by bikers, the horses and jockeys will be paraded, followed by an exhibition of traditional clothing, fashion from KZN’s upcoming designers, traditional dancing and more. Delicious food will get taste buds tingling and there will be plenty of music to keep spectators entertained.

The MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Bongi Sithole-Moloi will launch the event next month (July) where she is expected to unveil the Dundee July’s new look and feel, details about stake money as well as other new innovations aimed at improving the overall experience of racegoers.
This is an event to be pencilled in on race goers’ calendar and one not to be missed.
You can follow all the Dundee July action on social media #DundeeJuly18 #ImFree

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