DESPITE the global recession a capacity crowd of 50000 packed Durban's Greyville Racecourse to see the three-year-old colt Big City Life take the honours in this year's Vodacom Durban July on Saturday.

DESPITE the global recession a capacity crowd of 50000 packed Durban's Greyville Racecourse to see the three-year-old colt Big City Life take the honours in this year's Vodacom Durban July on Saturday.

The pre-race favourite, Pocket Power, failed to take first place as Big City Life, trained by Glenn Kotzen and ridden by Greg Cheyne, stole the spotlight and the R3million prize.

Amid the pomp and ceremony of the event - Africa's greatest horseracing contest - plugged as the most sought-after on the social and celebrity calendars, was President Jacob Zuma, who was accompanied by his wives Nompumelelo Ntuli and Sizakele Khumalo.

Among the many celebrities that turned out to be part of the glitz and glamour of the big race were Miss SA Tatum Keshwar and Mr SA Stephen Segal.

For punters, celebrities and socialites it was a case of flamboyance, with designer outfits that turned heads. It was a case of fashion, fine food and fancy hats.

A selection of Durban's elite designers had their garments on show in a theme entitled "The games that people play".

And it was no surprise that the outfits showing off the diamonds from a deck of cards to a chess board and dresses made from 300 Vodacom plastic bags were on display.

Local fashion designer Lindiwe Khuzwayo, whose students featured among the designers in black and white his and her outfits inspired by patterns found on Nguni cows, was over the moon.

"It took us months to come up with this design.

"I love the event as it gives young designers an opportunity to launch themselves and get noticed," Khuzwayo said.