Race Coast
One of Cape Town’s most celebrated summer occasions returns to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 9 January 2027, when the 166th running of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate brings together world-class racing, signature blue-and-white style and one of the city’s great social traditions.
Steeped in history and synonymous with the Cape summer, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate has evolved into far more than one of South Africa’s most prestigious race days. It is an occasion where racing, fashion, food, entertainment and celebration come together, transforming Hollywoodbets Kenilworth into a spectacular sea of blue and white.
At the heart of the day, however, remains an extraordinary racing tradition.
More than 150 years of history have seen some of the greatest thoroughbreds in South African racing add their names to the King’s Plate honour roll, including Charles Dickens, Sea Cottage, Politician, Jet Master and four-time winner Pocket Power.
Won in 2026 by The Real Prince, the 2027 renewal is already shaping up as another exceptional contest. See It Again, Eight On Eighteen, Note To Self, Jan Van Goyen and Questioning are among the current stars likely to lock horns over the famous Hollywoodbets Kenilworth mile, adding another chapter to one of South African racing’s most celebrated contests.
The L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 (1600m) also carries international significance, with the winner earning an invitation to the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile in the United States, providing a pathway from Cape Town to one of racing’s biggest global stages.
The action extends well beyond the headline race. The day features three elite Group 1 contests, with the World Pool Cape Flying Championship Gr 1 (1000m) and Cartier Paddock Stakes Gr 1 (1800m) joining the L’Ormarins King’s Plate on an outstanding programme of racing.
Away from the track, the event’s unmistakable blue-and-white theme has become part of Cape Town’s summer identity, with thousands of racegoers embracing the dress code and turning the lawns and hospitality areas of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth into a showcase of style.
Fashion will once again play a major role, with prizes for Best Dressed and Best Hat, while food, entertainment and hospitality will ensure there is plenty to experience between races and beyond the final event of the day.
Guests can choose from a range of experiences, from Style Village and the atmosphere of the lawns to premium hospitality offering exceptional dining, exclusive lounges and prime views of the racing.
As the afternoon moves into evening, the racing may finish, but the celebration does not. Music and entertainment will carry the festivities into the night, continuing a tradition that has made the L’Ormarins King’s Plate as much a fixture on Cape Town’s social calendar as it is on its sporting one.
Whether you come for the champions, the fashion, the food, the friends or simply the unmistakable atmosphere of a Cape Town summer day, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate offers something beyond the ordinary.
World-class racing. Iconic style. Cape Town in summer. More Than Just Racing.
The 166th L’Ormarins King’s Plate takes place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 9 January 2027.
For more information: lormarinskingsplate.co.za
Tickets are on sale now from Computicket.
