Greyville Racecourse and Gold Circle played host to a highly successful Vodacom Durban July race meeting on Saturday.

Greyville Racecourse and Gold Circle played host to a highly successful Vodacom Durban July race meeting on Saturday.

Official public attendance was 49633 but with staff factored in the total on-course attendance was estimated at about 60000 people.

In spite of a serious downturn in the national economy, Gold Circle chief executive Michel Nairac said he was very happy with the tote turnover for the race meeting though it had been "flat".

The on-course tote takings were R49,6million, up on last year, and takings on the national tote was also slightly up at R93,6 million as opposed to last year's R92,1 million.

Main race takings were slightly down at R35,4 million as opposed to R36,4 million last year.

Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal regional manager Alberts Breedt said that he was extremely happy with Saturday's event.

He said he shared this relationship with Gold Circle with great pride because it did so much for Vodacom.

For the first time in 41 years, since the legendary Sea Cottage, the race finished in a dead-heat with the top weight and favourite Pocket Power sharing the spoils with the grey filly Dancer's Daughter.

Under masterful rides by jockeys Bernard Fayd'herbe and Kevin Shea, respectively, the judges were unable to separate the two.

Close behind in third place was Bound By Honour, with River Jetez in fourth place.