The handicapper will be hoping for a blanket July finish like the one in 1973 (pictured above), which was won by Yataghan
The Hollywoodbets Durban July weights were officially published today (Monday) and were alotted strictly according to the merit ratings of the entries.
The handicapper, as usual, chose to not excercise the condition of the race that states: “Weights shall be framed by the Handicapper in his sole discretion and without necessarily having regard for the horses’ merit ratings …”
The new weight structure used for the first time this year has a spread of 10kg with the highest net merit rated horse allocated 62kg and bottom weight is 52kg.
The horses who are thus under sufferance are:
Tenpenny (0,5kg);
Copper Eagle (1kg);
Regulation (1kg);
La Pulga (1,5kg);
Curious Girl (6kg);
The weights (pictured at the bottom of this article) were published together with the Race Coast press release below:
The publication of the official weights for the 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July marks another significant milestone on the road to Africa’s Greatest Horse Racing and Social Event. With the final field beginning to take shape, handicappers have now revealed how the remaining contenders will line up under the race’s revised handicap conditions, designed to create a broader weight spread and an even more competitive contest. The weights provide the first clear indication of which runners may have earned a favourable position ahead of the R10 million Grade 1 showdown at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 4 July, and are certain to fuel debate among racing fans, punters and connections alike as the countdown to the 130th running of the iconic race gathers momentum.
