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This past Saturday, 31 January 2026, Cape Town’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse once again became the backdrop for one of the country’s most anticipated cultural spectacles. The World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, this year, presented “Symphony of Style”. Ultimately, the event combined world-class horseracing, avant-garde fashion, music, and cultural flair. In conclusion, the Cape Town Met 2026 was far more than a race day, but a formative expression of style and social life in the Mother City.
The World Sports Betting Cape Town Met traces its roots back to 1883, making it one of South Africa’s most enduring sporting traditions. From the very beginning, it has balanced elite thoroughbred competition with a social carnival atmosphere. Thus, it is known for attracting racing enthusiasts, creatives, and fashion-forward crowds alike. Today it stands as a cornerstone of the national sporting and cultural calendar – the day circled on the calendar in red.
This year’s theme, “Symphony of Style,” elevated that sense of cultural celebration. Organisers invited attendees to interpret fashion as one would music — with harmony, rhythm, contrast and expressive performance. The result was a kaleidoscope of couture and individuality across the racecourse.
One of the defining features of the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met is its diverse hospitality offerings. One can always expect it all; from casual spectator enjoyment to premium, immersive race-day comforts.
General Admission & Trackside Views
Upgraded Viewing & Deck Packages
Premium Hospitality
Across the marquees, the vibe fluctuated between vibrant energy and chic sophistication. They stand as a testament to how the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met has evolved into a social destination rather than just a race meeting.
The 2026 card showcased twelve competitive races, with the racing programme anchored by two Grade 1 highlights: the Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes (1600m) and the flagship World Sports Betting Cape Town Met (2000m).
Favourites and Form
Heading into the feature World Sports Betting Cape Town Met race — a R5-million Grade 1 over 2000m — the anticipation was intense. The market framed the narrative around defending champion Eight On Eighteen (trained by Justin Snaith) and several top-flight challengers: See It Again, Sail The Seas, The Real Prince, Garrix and Cosmic Speed among others. These runners featured prominently on ante-post lists and expert previews, with many tipping a tight, tactical contest on the summer turf.
Trainer Justin Snaith made headlines with a bid for a historic fourth consecutive Met victory, saddling multiple contenders including the reigning champion. Meanwhile, The Real Prince — winner of recent big races — was widely expected to apply pressure in the closing stages.
The Victors
See It Again claimed the Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met 2026 under Andrew Fortune, whose return to top-tier racing has become one of the sport’s most compelling comeback stories.
“I’ve come back from addiction, from where nobody wanted me to now, where I stand on the biggest stage. See It Again and I both have comeback stories, and this win has just been amazing for both of us,” shared Fortune.
“If anyone out there is at their lowest point thinking nothing is possible, Andrew proves you can come back from anything. He’s been there every week, works flat out, and solely deserves this. It’s a case of right horse, right time, right person,” exclaimed Justin Snaith, trainer of See It Again.
If horse racing is the heartbeat of the event, fashion is its soul. From bold silhouettes and couture flair to elegant tailoring and unexpected avant-garde moments, attendees embraced the Symphony of Style theme with verve and creativity.
Best-dressed competitions, hat parades and impromptu photo-ops became iconic moments in their own right, with influence from classical motifs, rhythmic patterning and dramatic lines. Whether ornate or minimalistic, every look contributed to the visual symphony, echoing the event’s call for individual expression, singing the tune of a diverse nation.
Social media feeds filled with striking ensembles — hats festooned like flourishing instruments, gowns flowing like melodies, and sartorial duos echoing performance art.
Nina van Dina took first place in the Best Interpretation of the Theme Symphony of Style, Beaia Kgokong from Johannesburg was awarded the Style Icon award, while Sheara Murphy won the Designers’ Choice award, and Best Dressed Crew award went to Kevin Ellis and Tracey Maltman who interpreted the theme to perfection. Ellis and Maltman previously won the Best Dressed Crew award in 2007. All winners walked away with bumper prizes, including a Fieldbar Mini Bar, bottle of Johnnie Walker, R3,000 in sports betting vouchers and more.
The fashion landscape at the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met was once again a showcase in itself, rivalling everything on the track.
As the sun set behind Table Mountain the after-party came alive, with the likes of Mi Casa, ARK, DJ Kent, and DBN Gogo. The 2026 Cape Town Met confirmed its place not only as a premier sporting fixture, but as a cultural extravaganza where sport, fashion and lifestyle meet. From laughter in hospitality lounges to gasps at the finish line, the day offered something for every sensibility.
Looking forward to next year, organisers have hinted at further aspirations to expand the creative elements of the day — potentially incorporating more immersive art installations, live performance elementsand deeper cultural collaborations. If 2026 was anything to go by, Symphony of Style has set a high bar — one likely to inspire fresh themes well into the future.
There’s a quiet shift happening in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs. It feels less like another retail launch and more like a cultural awakening. And at the
This past Saturday, 31 January 2026, Cape Town’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse once again became the backdrop for one of the country’s most anticipated cultural spectacles.
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