THE 2026 TOYOTA SOUTH AFRICAN DERBY
South Africa’s much-loved equestrian show, The Toyota SA Derby, will run from Thursday, 1 October to Sunday, 4 October 2026, at the country’s premier equestrian venue, Kyalami Equestrian Park. It promises four days of world-class competition, entertainment and extraordinary equestrian experiences.
The Toyota South African Derby represents the ultimate test of athleticism, partnership, precision and communication between horse and rider. Its iconic 1 200-metre, 18-obstacle course has remained relatively unchanged since the event’s inception in 1965, preserving its status as one of the most demanding and prestigious titles in South African equestrian sport.
We caught up with Head Course designer Kate Launder, and here’s what she had to say;
“One of the things that makes the SA Derby so special is that the course has retained its character since the event began in 1965. It is not simply a collection of jumps; it is a course with its own identity and history. The obstacles and the way the course rides create a very different challenge from a conventional showjumping track. Horses must be incredibly brave, careful, and exceptionally fit. My responsibility is to ensure that the course is prepared to the highest possible standard and provides the right challenge for the horses and riders competing in the Derby. That involves much more than simply putting fences up. An important part of the preparation is ensuring that horses are properly introduced to the unique Derby obstacles during the two preceding qualifiers, so they are ready for the main class. With a course like the Derby, you also must respect its character and history, you don’t change something simply for the sake of changing it. My main goal is to present a Derby course that is challenging, fair, and safe, allowing the best horse‑and‑rider combinations to show what they can do. I want riders to leave the arena feeling that they have been properly tested, but that the questions asked were fair. One clear round is always the best result, but for spectators a jump‑off is more exciting. From a spectator’s point of view, I want the Derby to be thrilling to watch. It is such a unique competition, and part of our responsibility is to preserve that excitement and tradition for the next generation.”
Course builder for the 1m20 and 1m10 classes, is Milton Kgole, who was born and raised in a village called Maleboho in Limpopo, and now works full time at Kyalami Equestrian Park (KEP) as a Grounds Manager.
“My favourite sport was soccer but unfortunately I never got a chance to play it because every day after school I had to go home and look after my grandfather’s livestock. I started course building in 2011 – assisting Kate Launder with SANESA shows around the Gauteng Province. I am thrilled to say that I am upskilling myself as an Arena Specialist, with thanks to KEP – they give me many opportunities and I am I grateful. There are a lot of challenges when being a course builder – such as the weather. When it’s raining, you need to be cautious and careful how you build. Sometimes there hasn’t been rain for a while and the ground is dry. The equipment that you have at your disposal also varies depending on what level you’re building at. You also always need to juggle how many horses you have to get through every day and each class – which all affects the schedule which you are responsible for. Most importantly is that you must know what you want in life. I have always loved horses, I couldn’t stop talking about them and loved watching different disciplines, asking questions whenever I didn’t understand something. Lastly, I must stress that HARD WORK is very important – I have always worked very, very hard and I love what I do.”
Across four action-packed days, spectators can experience an exciting blend of disciplines, including Dressage, Showjumping, Showing and Compleat Horse, with the event once again set to deliver an atmosphere that makes the Toyota SA Derby a firm fixture on the equestrian calendar.
Ticketing and VIP Experiences
Entry is free from Thursday, 1 October to Saturday, 3 October, while tickets will be required for Sunday, 4 October.
Ticketing information and VIP experience details are available at www.kyalamipark.com and via the Kyalami Park Equestrian Facebook page.
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