Loadshedding puts and early end to July Day

Despite a guarantee there would be no loadshedding around Hollywoodbets Greyville during the Hollywoodbets Durban July race meeting, the lights went out at 6pm and that brought an early end to the meeting.

Calls were made in an attempt to get the lights turned back on but after about an hour and they did come later but there was no certainty they would stay on.   

As a result the jockeys protested that it would be unsafe to race without a guarantee of lights, and that resulted in the decision to abandon Races 10, 11, and 12. 

Gold Circle put out the following media release:

"Gold Circle apologises unreservedly for the inconvenience to racing fans, stakeholders and all of our valued sponsors after a jockey protest led to the abandonment of the final three races on the Hollywoodbets Durban July card on Saturday.

"The unanticipated implementation of power outages was made contrary to arrangements with the City Of Durban which ultimately led to the jockeys citing unsafe conditions as the reason for their refusal to ride. This was entirely out of our control and a full investigation has been launched.

"The day remains an unqualified success with over 45,000 people in attendance."