Alec Laird, upon the recent retirement of his cousin Dennis Drier, became the last trainer standing of a  dynasty that has had more success in the Hollywoodbets Durban July than any other extended family.

 

Therefore it would be fitting if Billy Bowlegs won the big race on July 2 as that would make it July win number 17 for the  racing dynasty.

 

Alec has himself won the July once with the top horse London News in 1996.

 

His late great father Syd holds the record of seven July wins as a trainer, which saw him recently becoming the first trainer to be inducted into SA’s Hall Of Fame.

 

Syd’s July winners were Kerason (1961), Colorado King (1963), Java Head (1966), Sea Cottage (1967 dead-heat with Jollify), Mazarin (1971), Yataghan (1973) and Politician (1978).

 

Alec’s cousins Dennis Drier and Charles Laird have each won the July once apiece with Spanish Galliard in 1992 and Hunting Tower in 2007 respectively.

 

Alec’s great Uncle Syd Garrett won five Julys, two as a jockey (Goldwing 1919, Pamphlet 1920) and three as a trainer (Full Dress 1930, Sadri II 1941, Left Wing 1960)

 

It all started with Alec’s grandfather, also known as Alec Laird, who rode the winner Nobleman to victory in the 1911 July. The Fred Murray-trained winner was the only two-year-old to ever win the July.

 

Billy Bowlegs, a three-year-old gelding by The United States, has a lively chance of winning the July as he has two key assets – he stays the trip and he has a good turn of foot.