Fairview Racecourse: Tracks, Draw and Big Races
Fairview Racecourse is the home of racing in Gqeberha, once known as Port Elizabeth. So here is how the turf and Polytrack race, how the draw works and where to bet.
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How Fairview Racecourse Races
Fairview is mostly downhill, so most races go at a true pace. Also, the draw matters on the straight, but less is clear round the turn.
The straight joins the round course at about the 800m mark. In fact, high draws have a clear advantage over the straight course.
The downhill run home means most races go at a true pace. As a result, horses from well off the pace have every chance.
The turf drains slowly, so the going often stays soft or heavy for a while after rain. Therefore, check the going before you bet.
The inner Polytrack has been there since 2013 and is a near oval with a 400m run-in. However, reports say low draws do best in races up to 1600m.
Track details come from Sporting Post, South Africa Horse Racing and AmWager. On the turf, sources disagree about the draw in races around the turn, so we leave it out.
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Big Races at Fairview Racecourse
Full calendar →First, a 2000m race and one of the best known at the course.
Then comes the 2400m classic, usually in May alongside the Oaks.
Finally, a 1400m race for two year olds.
However, we will add exact dates once the fixture list is out.
Where to Bet on Fairview Racecourse
All racing sites →Offers were checked 5 Nov 2026, so they can change. 18+ only.
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Follow the channelThe Course and the City
The current course opened in 1977 at Greenbushes, off Draaifontein Road. Meanwhile, racing in Gqeberha goes back to 1857, on a site that now holds a shopping mall.
Also, the course laid a Polytrack in 2013, so racing can go on in wet weather. For every big date, see the South African horse racing calendar.
Top photo: the Donkin Reserve in Gqeberha by Stefan Schäfer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fairview Racecourse FAQ
Where is Fairview Racecourse?
Fairview Racecourse is on Draaifontein Road in Greenbushes, Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape. Also, people used to call the city Port Elizabeth.
Is Fairview left or right handed?
Overall, Fairview is right handed. In fact, the turf is a near oval of about 2700m, with an 800m run-in.
How long is the Fairview straight?
First, the straight course is 1200m. Then it joins the round course at about the 800m mark, and it is mostly downhill.
Does Fairview have a draw bias?
High draws have a clear advantage over the straight course. However, sources disagree about races round the turn, so treat the draw lightly there.
Does Fairview have an all weather track?
Yes, the course has had a Polytrack since 2013. It is an 1800m near oval with a 400m run-in, so racing can go on in wet weather.