Hollywoodbets Kenilworth burst into life on Saturday at the ‘Festive Fair’ featuring the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas when visitors were treated to a full day of festive shopping, live entertainment and Cape culture.
Families and friends took in thrilling horse racing action and lingered between artisan stalls, seasonal flavours and photo-worthy backdrops, soaking up a relaxed summer atmosphere that felt more like a city festival than a feature race day.
Later, the energy dialled up even further when the Kaapse Klopse Voorsmakie turned the venue into a display of music, colour and Cape Town heritage.
As afternoon turned to evening, more than 8 000 performers from 16 Kaapse Klopse troupes paraded along the track in a kaleidoscope of sequins and smiles.
The Voorsmakie offered a high-energy taste of the upcoming Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade on 5 January 2026, with brass bands, harmonies and choreographed moves drawing spectators to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Vibrant cultural traditions
The Kaapse Klopse, with roots tracing back to the mid-19th century among Cape Malay communities, has grown into one of South Africa’s most vibrant cultural traditions, celebrated through joyful music, lively dance and colourful costumes during the annual Cape Town Minstrel Carnival.
“The Voorsmakie is a relatively new innovation that allows the Troupes to come out and to offer a teaser show of their colours and their music for the season,” shared Muneeb Gambeno, Director of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA).
“Belonging to the Kaapse Klopse has become a sport. Although it’s competitive, these Troupes are active community clubs, helping to keep the youth off the streets by empowering and educating them, as well as fostering harmony and togetherness in our communities,” Gambeno added.
Family fun, food and music
Throughout the day, visitors browsed a bustling festive market showcasing local makers and unique gifts, making last-minute holiday shopping part of the outing.
Live sets from DJ Sophie, DJ Vinny and singer Jarrad Ricketts kept the soundtrack upbeat, while a dedicated Kids’ Zone with games, inflatables and treats ensured younger guests were just as entertained as the adults.
Racegoers didn’t go hungry either, with gourmet street food offerings from local food trucks.
The result was a destination day out that blended fashion, food, music and culture, with the track forming the backdrop to a bigger summer experience.
“The combination of the ‘Festive Fair’ feat. Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the Klopse Voorsmakie showcases our commitment to vibrant, inclusive experiences that build momentum into the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and World Sports Betting Cape Town Met,” highlighted Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager for Hollywoodbets.
Racing on the day
Against this lively scene, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth delivered its own brand of excitement on the turf as the nuggety three-year-old colt Jan van Goyen streaked to glory in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas feature.
The compact yet supremely athletic son of Master Of My Mate won by a clear margin of 2.75 lengths over the 1 600m distance.
In the preceding race, former Horse of the Year Dave the King took strategic advantage of the fast-running track and calm conditions to win the Grade 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes against a very classy field.
These two victories made it a ‘red-letter’ day for the father-and-son training partnership of Mike and Mathew de Kock who, together with jockey Callan Murray, captured the day’s two major races, elevating Jan van Goyen and Dave the King to early favouritism for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate on 10 January 2026.
“Despite Jan van Goyen being a champion two-year-old last year, there were a few doubts as to whether he’d stand up to some of the best in the Cape in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.
“However, he did so with absolute aplomb, winning by two and a half lengths. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a Dave the King and Jan van Goyen match race in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate on 10 January,“ said Stephen Marshall, Events & Marketing Executive at Race Coast.
Roll of honour
The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, first run in 1924, has a roll of honour filled with some of South Africa’s most celebrated champions.
In 2024, the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas was won by One Stripe, who was also first over the line in the 2024 Cape Punters Cup and 2025 L’Ormarins King’s Plate. The bay colt went on to make his North American debut in September 2025.
Themed ‘Festive Fair’, the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas is one of the cornerstones of Race Coast’s Summer Festival of Racing that reimagines a race day as a lifestyle destination rather than a single sporting event.
Over the coming weeks, the festival will continue with must-attend featured days: the L’Ormarins King’s Plate on 10 January 2026, the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met presents Symphony of Style on 31 January 2026, and the Seafood & Jazz Festival featuring the Lucky Fish Cape Derby on 28 February 2026.
Whether visitors arrive as seasoned punters, content creators, fashion lovers or families looking for a memorable day out, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is Cape Town’s summer playground where racing, culture and entertainment meet.
For more information on the line-up of events, visit www.caperacing.co.za
