Corporate community pumps cash into Kennard Memorial Turf Club Independence Meet

May 15, 2013 Sports

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It’s just 4 days to race time when the nation’s best thoroughbreds will take to the track while the jockeys will garner bragging rights when the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) presents its Independence horserace meet at the Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne headquarters, Sunday May 19 next.

Several corporate entities have pitched in with valuable support to make the occasion a successful one and Justice Cecil Kennard was kept busy for most of yesterday. He first trooped to the office of the CEO of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc, Omadat Samaroo, moments before returning to his Brickdam office to accommodate Manager of Events and Sponsorship (Digicel), Gavin Hope and Brand Executive (DDL), Larry Wills. All three individuals acted as representatives of their respective organizations and contributed varying sums to the success of the event.
Despite its involvement in several other activities, the management of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc acquiesced to a favourable package to facilitate the event and donated the prizes for three events, the I and Lower, J2 and Lower and the K and Lower. That organization also donated a beautiful trophy. DDL has supported the race in the F and Lower category under the Five O label while Digicel will offset the cost for the race in the G3 & Lower category inclusive of a large trophy.
All of those representatives echoed their pleasure in supporting the event; “DDL has always been comfortable with the way the competition is executed yearly and as such had no hesitation in saying yes when approached to sponsor the races,” said Mr. Wills.
“The Berbice Bridge is utilized by a wide cross section of Guyanese including those attending the horserace meet and as such, my executives feel that apart from fulfilling a corporate responsibility, the gesture is also reciprocal in nature,” exhorted Mr. Samaroo.
Mr. Hope expressed delight on behalf of Digicel and wished the organizers well.

He said that his company serves the entire country and feels constrained to support the events so that turfites and other horserace lovers enjoy a day of exciting races. Ansa McAl and Pomeroon Oil also supported with donations for the DI and Lower event, but those representatives had handed over their contributions at another forum.
Honorary President of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, Justice Cecil Kennard, was grateful for the assistance and thanked his benefactors. “Once again I wish to reiterate the importance of such support and on behalf of my organization I would like to extend gratitude to those corporate entities that continue to render support to the sport,” he said. Mr. Kennard further revealed that irrespective of how small, his executives are always grateful for such contributions.
Meanwhile, more than 50 thoroughbreds will be on show in the seven races that are carded for the day and combined, these prizes total more than three million dollars. There will be 7 exciting races among the country’s top horses with the feature attraction, the D1 & Lower over a distance of 7 furlongs, touted to be a sizzler. In this race, the winner carts off $500,000 while the runner up wins half that amount. The third and fourth place finishers receive $125,000 and $63,000 respectively.
Turfites would not want to miss the G and Lower Class over a distance of 7 furlongs where the best horses, straddled by competent jockeys, battle for a top prize of $300,000, while the second place finisher receives $150,000. The third and fourth place finishers win $75,000 and $38,000, respectively. The action continues in the J2 and Lower over a distance of 6 furlongs. The winning purse is $150,000 while the second place finisher gets $75,000. The third and fourth place finishers receive $38, 000 and $19, 000 respectively.
The other races consist of K & Lower over 5 furlongs for a first prize of $100,000, the F & Lower, over a similar distance, where the winner carts off $320,000. The race among the 3 years old horses over a distance of 6 furlongs will also net the winner $340,000 and the second place finisher $170,000. The 3rd and 4th places receive $85,000 and $43,000 respectively. The day’s activities end with the ‘I & Lower’ event over 6 furlongs for a first prize of $180,000 with $90,000 going to the second position. The 3rd and 4th places will win $45,000 and $23,000 respectively.

The tracks have recently been renovated and a stable of well-bred animals will be on show. These include Grand Roje, Dubai Judges, Jet Set Go, The Message, Whadaluck and Ferry Landing among others.
The event is being conducted under the aegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and all of the rules would be applied. Additional information can be had by contacting Justice Cecil Kennard (226-1399, 225-4818, or 623-7609) or Roopnarine Matadial aka Shine (325-3192). Horse owners are also asked to have their animals examined by the vet by 11:00hrs on race day.

 

 

 

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