Turffontein racecourse will see its biggest crowd in years at the R2-million Steinhoff Summer Cup on Saturday.

Almost 10000 people have booked out all the on-course venues — rooms in the grandstand, marquees and picnic sites.

Racing operator Phumelela’s racing executive, Patrick Davis, said yesterday that racing officials would be “absolutely delighted” with a crowd of about 15000, which now seems very likely.

He said a professional marketing drive had been undertaken to rebuild the popularity of the Highveld’s premier race meeting. “The eventual target is to place Steinhoff Summer Cup day on a par with the Vodacom Durban July and the J&B Met in terms of attendance and public awareness,” said Davis.

Bands, a R1-million draw and fashion contests are among the attractions, but the biggest boost to the marketing effort is the visit of six international champion jockeys to participate in the International Jockeys’ Challenge. It is held in parallel with the Steinhoff Summer Cup and four other feature races on the day.

The international team is captained by Italy’s Frankie Dettori, widely regarded as the world’s best jockey. The South African team is led by local champion jockey Mark Khan, with former champion Muis Roberts as manager.

One of the most popular venues will be the branded Fashion TV marquee, featuring fashion shows and competitions, among other s. This marquee is also the venue of the official after-party, with First Project, Ryan Dent, Ricardo da Costa, Guy Herman, Brett Jackson and Thalita performing.

An innovation is a decked dining area on the first level of the grandstand, in use for the first time on Saturday and which has a prime view of the new track-side parade ring and winner’s circle.

The Summer Cup was first run in 1887, a year after the founding of Johannesburg, and its popularity peaked in the 1970s with crowds of well over 50 000.

In recent years there has been a fall-off in racecourse attendance around the world. In South Africa it has been ascribed to the advent of casinos and lotteries, a 24-hour racing and betting TV channel, and a plethora of televised international sports.

While large crowds at ordinary meetings might be a thing of the past, racing authorities, encouraged by the huge success of the July and Met, are determined to restore the Summer Cup as a highlight on Johannesburg’s social agenda.

The first race starts at 11.45am and the Summer Cup is the 8th race at 4.25pm. The four International Jockeys’ Challenge races are interspersed with the features and are races 3, 5, 7 and 9 on the 10-event card.

For details of bookings and competitions go to

Mike Moon

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