Turffontein Racecourse Profile

Turffontein racecourse has hosted horse racing since 1887. It is located in the suburbs of Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province of South Africa. It consists of an inner and outer circuit, both of which have a turf surface.

The outer circuit, known as Turffontein Standside is a 2700m (approx 1 mile 5 and a half furlongs) oval. It also has a chute providing a straight course for races of up to 1160m (approx 6 furlongs). Longer races take place around the oval, racing right-handed. The course rises 12 meters between the 1600m (1 mile) and 800m (4 furlong) markers, making the course a true test of stamina.

Horses drawn low tend to have an advantage in races of 1400m (7 furlongs) and to a lesser extent over 1600m (1 mile). The draw has little effect in sprint races of up to 6 furlongs over the straight course.

The inner circuit, known as Turffontein Inner is a right-handed oval of 2500m (approx 1 mile 4 and a half furlongs). Without the chute, all races run round the turn with a short run in of approximately 500 metres (2 and a half furlongs). The course rises 10 metres between the 1400m (7 furlong) mark and the 500m mark, levelling out on the run in.

An early turn means that horses drawn low have an advantage in races of 1400m (7 furlongs) to 1600m (1 mile).

Turffontein is home to some of the most important races in the South African racing calendar, most notably the Grade One South Africa Derby (2450m) and Summer Cup (2000m).

Other Grade One races are:

South Africa Classic 1800m
Horse Chestnut Stakes 1600m
South Africa Fillies Classic 1800m
Empress Club Stakes 1600m
Champions Challenge 2000m
Computaform Sprint 1000m
South Africa Nursery 1160m
South Africa Oaks 2450m

SA Derby (G1) (2010), won by Irish Flame: