The Connoisseur’s Diary

What to see and where to be seen this spring

3rd April
South Africa: Art Fair
The Jo’burg Art Fair takes place at the Convention Center in Sandton, the city’s shopping and financial district. Now in its second year, the fair exhibits the work of 24 galleries. Until 5 April.

4th April
Aintree: Racing
Forty of the world’s finest jockeys and horses battle it out to claim the £900,000 prize fund in the 163rd Grand National – the most valuable National Hunt race in the world. The 2008 race was won by Timmy Murphy riding nine-year-old Comply Or Die, trained by David Pipe.

5th April
Malaysia: Grand Prix
The Malaysian Grand Prix, first included in the F1 calendar in 1999, takes place at the very modern Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur. It is the first of three F1 races this month: China and Bahrain follow on 19 and 25 April.

9th April
US: Golf
The Masters is the first of the four major tournaments in men’s professional golf. Held at Augusta National in Georgia, it is the only major to be held at the same course every year. Last year’s tournament was won by South Africa’s Trevor Immelman.

14th April
Cannes: Photography
The Sony World Photography Awards are the culmination of a week-long celebration of photography. Exhibitions are held in hotels and on the streets and beaches, with the final awards ceremony taking place at the Palais des Festivals. Until 19 April.

26th April
London: Marathon
This year’s race will see 46,500 runners take on the 26-mile challenge to get to the finish line at Buckingham Palace. Since the first race in 1981, 711,260 people have completed the London Marathon.

30th April
London: Theatre
After a two-month tour of the UK, Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot arrives in the West End at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Ian McKellen stars as Estragon, with Patrick Stewart as Vladimir and Simon Callow as Pozzo.