Turfites are currently getting ready for what is gearing up to be a day of exciting races when the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) stages the Emancipation Meeting at their Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne Berbice facility on Sunday and from all appearance, the event will produce the usual fireworks associated with such events.
Justice Kennard (right) receives the cheque from Ms. Darshanie Yussuf.
Seven exciting races are scheduled for the day and the feature attraction will pit the skills of the nation’s best thoroughbreds going head to head in the ‘A & Lower’ race over a distance of one mile.
The winning jockey will ride off with one million dollars and the second place winner pocketing half that amount. The 3rd and 4th place finishers will receive $250,000 and $125, 000 respectively.
Yesterday morning, Ansa McAl agreed to sponsor this event and President of the KMTC, Cecil Kennard, visited the Betterverwagting headquarters of the donating company where Public Relations Officer, (Ansa McAl), DarshanieYussuf formalized the deal after handing over the sponsorship cheque.
She reaffirmed the support of her company to the development of sports in general and more particularly, horseracing even as she wished the organizers well. Mr. Kennard gratefully accepted the support package while expressing deep gratitude to his benefactors.
“Sponsorship is very important to the success of these events and I must express gratitude to Ansa McAl for their generosity,” said Mr Kennard.
Mr. Kennard also admitted that there were some problems within the horse racing fraternity that needed to be addressed. He said that administrators are attempting to have these issues resolved internally rather than to ‘wash its dirty linen’ in the public sphere.
“We are not prepared to encourage external forces to deal with our problems and are examining ways to an amicable (internal) resolution,” said Mr Kennard.
Meanwhile, the other races on the Emancipation meeting card are the J3 Maiden over 5 furlongs, J1 & Lower over a similar distance, D3 & Lower, G1 & Lower and the I & Lower, all over a distance of 6 furlongs.
Horse owners are also reminded that all rules applicable to races under the auspices of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), are applicable. Entries closed yesterday and no late entry will be accommodated.