Not-so-swanky side of the Durban July
Many befuddled by the ‘Posh, Oh My Gosh’ theme
THE horse-racing fraternity, the rich, the famous and the ordinary all converged on the Greyville Racecourse for the annual Vodacom Durban July last Saturday.
It was a day characterised by elegant and outrageous fashion, festive fare of food and drink and, of course, punters backing their favourite horses. LESS POSH . . . MORE OH MY GOSH!
Some adhered well to this year’s theme of understated elegance. Actress and socialite Sorisha Naidoo turned heads for the right reasons in a Haroun Hansrot creation. TV presenter Bonang Matheba impressed in a floor-length, canary-yellow frock.
However, the bedazzled and feathered throng showed that many were befuddled by the meaning of the “Posh, Oh My Gosh” theme.
Many a fashionista left racegoers gobsmacked with their somewhat bizarre outfits.
A peach chiffon ensemble dripping in beadwork sparked debate about whether or not it resembled a meringue.
Not to be outdone were two suit-clad young men accessorised with palm-sized disco balls on industrial metal chains around their necks. A woman in a sequined, glow-in-the-dark leopard-print outfit drew horrified glances. Babu Nunan, a Gold Circle regional director, perfectly channelled the Victorian gentleman. He wore a charcoal grey ensemble — complete with a top hat, white gloves and a wooden walking stick.
BACK AT THE TRACK:
Serious horse fundis clustered around the parade area hoping to stumble on last-minute tips that would help them back the winning horses. Even a Nelson Mandela slide show could not quiet the anxious chatter permeating the 67 seconds of what should have been silence before the main race at 4.20pm.
The crowd’s enthusiasm grew slightly when Bongani Tembe belted out the national anthem. It quickly waned, however, when his vocal gymnastics turned out to be a little too fancy for the masses.
Those who bothered to keep singing found themselves either too far ahead or lagging behind Tembe’s operatic rendition.
A TALE OF TWO FILLIES:
The only mare in the main race — delightfully named Do You Remember — secured third place. Many of the clothes horses were unable to make the “finish line” in their towering footwear.
By 11am, two hours before the first race was set to start, we came across one fashionista who went on to spend the rest of the day trudging across Greyville Racecourse barefoot.
MUD AND PACKS:
After trudging through claustrophobia-inducing underground tunnels and muddy fields, many revellers sought complimentary solace in the hands of masseuses at a spa’s promotional tent. It was part of a small pamper village that also offered free hair and makeup services by a leading cosmetic brand.
KZN radio station Gagasi FM’s tent was a fun house, complete with a quirky photo booth and a suitcase full of props.
OVERALL:
Despite being skilfully executed, the event brought nothing unexpected. As in the years before, the fashion took centre stage, the horses came second and revellers were united in their need for a good party.
TSOGO Sun hosted a perfect dry run of the July complete with fashion, fabulous food and glam celebrities at its recently renovated Elangeni pool deck on the eve of the race.
Top Billing’s Simba, Isidingo’s Jack Devnarain, Miss Earth Tamarin Jardine and Eastern
Mosaic’s Jailoshini Naidoo were among those who enjoyed the hospitality usually dished out in tent city at the racecourse. The horses were missing, but I’d wager no one missed them.