Racing Venues

Only a few minutes from Johannesburg city centre, there are two grass tracks at Turffontein. The Standside Track is an oval grass track with a 2800m circumference. All races over 800m, 1000m and 1200m are run on the straight course, which joins the oval circuit at about the 800m mark. Races beyond 1200m are run clockwise round the turn. The track rises sharply on the final bend from the 1400m mark to the 800m mark, making it the most testing racecourse in the country. Starting stall draws are on no account in races down the straight. Low numbers are slightly favoured in races round the turn, particularly over 1400m and to a lesser extent over 1600m. The existing track at Turffontein is regarded as the fairest racecourse in South Africa. The Inside Track is inside the existing track. All races are run round the turn, which is cambered and not as steep on the final bend as the existing track. According to a Phumelela spokesman, the draw will not be at all important on the second grass track.

VAAL CLASSIC
Turf. 2800m oval track. Races up to 1000m straight course; beyond 1000m clockwise round turn with 1000m run-in. Draw: Low-number draws favoured over 1200m and 1450m.

VAAL TURF
Turf. 3000m oval circuit. Races up to 1600m straight course; beyond 1600m clockwise round turn with 1000m run-in. Outside and Inside tracks. Outside Track comprises outside half of 1600m straight course only. Inside Track comprises inside half of 1600m straight course and the turn joins the straight course at the 1000m mark. Inside Track has longest circumference, run-in and straight course in SA. Draw: Low-number draws slightly favoured in 1700m races.

The track: Turf.
2700m near oval.
Races up to 1200m straight course; beyond 1200m clockwise round turn with 800m run-in.

High-number draws best in races down the straight (mostly downhill); low numbers favoured over 1400m and 1600m.