RTC’S ANNUAL SPRING HORSE RACING FESTIVAL ON APRIL 2, 16 AND 29
The Nuwara Eliya Race Course will be the venue for the ‘Clash of The Titans’ – the Annual Spring Horse Racing Festival which will be held on April 2, 16 and 29.
The Royal Turf Club (RTC) estimates that between 45 and 50 Thoroughbreds will participate in the races.
This season will see the participation of several new owners-dr. M. Dhanawardene Guruge, Haseeb Mohamed, Renuka Damayanthi and Charini Suriyage among others, ably challenged by Eresha Weerasinghe’s Fearless Stables which placed an all-time record by winning the first ever race it participated in, in Sri Lanka, with the unbeatable Honorius.
Commenting on the races Wayne Wood, CEO, RTC stated: “The races will commence at 10 a.m on all three days and are scheduled to end at 2 p.m. It is estimated that six to seven races will be held on each day.”
He added: “Following through with RTC’S zero tolerance policy against animal cruelty and full commitment to animal welfare, all races will be tested for doping as usual by the Sri Lanka Anti-doping Agency (SLADA).”
Consultant of animal welfare Jeyentra Balaji, Consultant Veterinarian, RTC stated: “RTC has taken further steps in that direction, with the importation of Sri Lanka’s very first Horse Ambulance, at a great cost, which now compliments the Equine Hospital, another first in Sri Lanka.” The mood among trainers and owners which is one of cautious optimism and competition is expected to be hot with Mehran owned by Gamini Jayaratne, and Wind Stream owned by Hasanga Jayaratne coming into form, ably challenged by Charlemagne owned by James Mathews and Al Cazaba owned b y
Not to be outdone Anura Delgoda’s Torpedo, Honorius owned by Fearless Stables and Spearhead and Glittering owned by Purni and Rienzie Edwards have also shown form.
Commenting on the array of competitors, Nikhil Punna, Events Coordinator, Stipendiary Steward and Starter stated, “The one million races are going to be anything but easy. This season will have many competitions in which the spectators will be able to participate. We will have the Pony Welfare Fund Raffle, where spectators can buy raffle tickets for their favourite horse and will be given 15 to 20 opportunities to win prizes up to Rs. 75,000.”
Panduka Keerthinanda, President, RTC stated that the April 2017 Spring Festival will have several new features. “Firstly, RTC will be conducting two races this season where the first prize would be Rs. 1 million, ‘The Selvaratnam Challenge Trophy’ on April 2 and the customary RTC signature race ‘RTC Magic Million’ on April 16.’
Veteran Sinclair Marshall, Clerk of the Course, Jockey Trainer and Stipendiary Steward stated: “RTC is looking at organising an international jockey competition for the April 29 races. Discussions are underway with our overseas counterparts to see whether this could be made a reality.”
Marshall also stated that Sri Lankan Jockeys who left Sri Lanka for better prospects in Japan, London, Dubai and other countries are expected back to participate in races during this season. He also stated that Class-5 races will be reserved for Sri Lankan jockeys.
Keerthinanda also said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank RTC’S media partners, Wijeya Group, Hospitality Partner the Luxurious Black Pool Hotel, Sporting Star, Sporting Times, Edwards Collections, Hilton Hotel, Hill Club, Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya, Alpine Hotel, Mount Lavinia Hotel, Suriya Resorts, Hameedias and Numerous other sponsors who have supported this event generously.”