The Grade 1 contest held on July 4 carried a record R10m (US$615,000) prize fund, with R6m (US$369,000) awarded to the winning connections. According to a Hollywoodbets statement, the event was projected to surpass the estimated R840m (US$51.7m) socio-economic contribution<\/strong> generated in 2025, up from R690m (US$42.4m) in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ridden by Richard Fourie, Note To Self won the 130th Hollywoodbets Durban July by a nose from stablemate Wish List, giving trainer Justin Snaith his sixth Durban July victory<\/strong> and moving him to within one win of Syd Laird’s record of seven. King Pelles finished third, followed by Viva’s Libert\u00e9 and Isivivane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The betting market shifted before the race after favourites Star Major and The Ultimate King were late scratchings, allowing reserve runners Choisaanada and Curious Girl into the field. Despite the late changes, Note To Self justified strong betting support by defeating stablemate Wish List to complete a one-two for trainer Justin Snaith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Separately, Hollywoodbets said its cumulative investment<\/strong> in South African horse racing is approaching R1bn (US$61.5m), funding upgrades to the Hollywoodbets Greyville, Scottsville, Kenilworth and Durbanville racecourses, the Milnerton and Summerveld training centres, and the South African Jockey Academy. The company has also expanded its breeding programme, growing the Hollywood Racing stable to 275 thoroughbreds and importing 21 horses from Australia, New Zealand and Argentina to strengthen South Africa’s breeding stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Hollywoodbets, the growth of the event reflects the recovery of South Africa’s horse racing industry after years of financial challenges compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. The company’s involvement began with its support for Gold Circle in 2019 before later expanding through the acquisitions of Cape Racing and Gold Circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hollywoodbets Brand and Communications Manager Devin Heffer said the company continued investing through the pandemic to help stabilise South African horse racing. He said Hollywoodbets later spent two years securing ownership of Cape Racing while investing in infrastructure and renovations<\/strong> that encouraged owners back into the sport, while continuing to support Gold Circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond infrastructure investment, Heffer said the funding has also supported participants across the industry. Since August 2024 in the Western Cape and January 2025 in KwaZulu-Natal, the Race Coast Incentive Scheme has paid R11m (US$676,000) in trainer incentives, R3.5m (US$215,000) to jockeys and more than R8.5m (US$523,000) to grooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heffer said protecting employment remained the company’s primary objective, with its acquisitions helping preserve around 15,000 jobs<\/strong>. The wider horse racing industry supports more than 60,000 jobs across South Africa and an estimated 300,000 dependants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heffer said the industry’s turnaround was reflected in the Hollywoodbets Durban July’s growing sponsorship and economic impact between 2024 and 2025. He added that the event’s payment of R50m (US$3.1m) in taxes for a single day demonstrated that South African horse racing had moved from recovery to growth. <\/p>\n\n\nInvestment drives industry recovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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