The July,Comparisons.

How would you compareThe race to a UK race?
Regarding kudos,history and importance.Is there a race that compares?

Not in the UK....<

Never experienced a similar vibe except to a degree the Grand National in the days of Red Rum...when it influenced South African sentiments...

The roar from the crowd when the horses turn into the straight gives you goosebumps. Especially when the commentator mentions the favourite!

Definately on par with the Epsom Derby

Don't think South Africa gets as excited about July as the UK does about the National or the Australians do about the Cup

I used to think the July was 'it'. Until I went to Cheltenham festival - the first day and the crowd roaring at the off of the first - now that gave me goose bumps.

When I was a kid, it seemed like everyone (in Durban) got excited about the July.
We had things like the newspaper running competitions that got us to fill in dozens of postcards predicting the quartet for some prize or other.

It doesn't seem like the hype is the same now, but maybe it was just that I was living in a racing mad household back then, and I'm a bit more out of touch nowadays.

I don't have any international experience to compare it with, so can't comment directly to the original question.