Horse races are back as RTC saddles up for Nov., Dec.
Officials of the Royal Turf Club (RTC) and a delegation of Thoroughbred Horse Owners (THO) have had an urgent discussion on the progress of Horse racing, which is presently at a complete standstill, due to 'unsupportive' weather conditions in Nuwara Eliya. The discussion was on the absence of activities on the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse, where Races were last held in April.
According to reliable information, the THOs had questioned the RTC officials as to why Races could not be held in August as planned. They also have asked for RTC's willingness to move forward with the remaining Race-days. The RTC had scheduled Races for August, September and October, but rainy weather conditions during the past months forced the abandonment of Races.
"I explained that the rainy weather had heavily hampered our proposed plans, which the THOs too agreed. I further explained of the difficulties we face to prepare the track with the given conditions. They too are well aware of the developments and pledged their fullest support to the RTC in the coming months, to conduct Races," said RTC President Panduka Keerthinanda.
Prior to this meeting, the RTC had a discussion among its officials and Horse trainers last week, on the conditions, and it was decided to run Races on Nov.4 and Dec.2. Keerthinanda confirmed the 2 dates are fixed and the RTC is doing its utmost to have them before end 2017.
Accordingly, the THOs have come forward to assist the RTC in conducting the 2 Races by forming a Joint Committee, which has given a much needed boost for Horse racing. The Races slotted for Nov. and Dec. will now have the backing of the entire Horse racing fraternity, after a lapse of many years. Interestingly, this will be the very first occasion such a development has taken place, after the forming of the RTC, and the desertion of the century- old Sri Lanka Turf Club (SLTC).
"We, as owners of thoroughbred horses, had a healthy and fruitful meeting with the RTC. Our concern was why Races were not run as planned, and we know the weather was not as bad as it is now, before August. Conditions have deteriorated now, more than before, and we are well aware, as horse owners, of the difficulties in running horses on such conditions. Now, new dates have been confirmed for Races and, in addition, the RTC sought our assistance to conduct the 2 Races, to which we willingly agreed," said SLTC President and THO Gamini Jayaratne.
The new, yet makeshift formation will have the 2 Racedays running without any financial constrains, another unknown reason for the RTC to delay its planned races. The upcoming Race-days will have 7 Races each and the THOs have taken on the burden of finding sponsorships for 4 of them, while the onus is on the RTC for the other 3, and the major responsibility of organising the events.
RTC President Keerthinanda took this development as a positive sign, with a deadline set for them to conduct races prior to the end of 2017, after which their agreement on the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse with the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority ( SNSCA) expires. The SNSCA, from 2018, will call for tenders, with agreements signed for a period of 6 months only.
Keerthinanda feels the period granted by the SNSCA is insufficient, considering the development projects carried out by the RTC and their plans for the future. However, he was optimistic of the positive turnarounds that have taken place, which gives the RTC the comfort of conducting at least 2 Races, with support coming from all around, including the trainers.
"Trainers voiced their concern that the current soggy track conditions may not give them enough time to prepare their horses for the November race. They fully agreed that the Nuwara Eliya track was not conductive for training in the past few weeks, and requested the track to be opened by at least October 1. RTC's Deputy CEO, Sinclair Marshal assured the trainers if the weather improves and stays with bright sunshine, the track shall be made available as soon as possible," Keerthinanda added.
According to the latest update, the rainy weather pattern in Nuwara Eliya is expected to continue for some time from now. Despite the weather turning back on horseracing, the RTC, horse owners and trainers are gearing up from now itself for the two races in November and December.