Turfites get ready, the stage is set for the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) grand horse race meet which is scheduled to run off on Boxing Day at the club’s track at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.
The annual Boxing Day event has been one of the country’s traditions over the years and this year’s meet is being deemed the ‘biggest’ in recent years.
In excess of $9m in stakes and prizes will be up for grabs on the eight-race card.
The feature A and Lower, One mile event will see the top steed owner pocketing $1.5M.
In the co-feature Three Year-Old Guyana and West Indian Bred race, the first horse will take home $600,000 for its owner.
Other races for the Boxing Day meet include the D3 Maiden and E Lower ($600,000), G1 and Lower ($400,000), Two-Year-Old Guyana and West Indian Bred ($400,000), I and Lower ($250,000), the J1 and Lower ($200,000) and the J3 and K ($150,000).
International jockeys will be coming in from Barbados, Jamaica, Canada and other countries to participate in the meet and more horses are expected to compete in the races this year.
According to Secretary of the KMTC, Niketa Ross, she expects to see “90 to 100 horses competing on Boxing Day”.
Ross can be contacted on telephone number, 662-4668 for registration which closes on December 15.
Horses can also be entered with Roopnarine Matadial (Shine 325-3192), Ivan Dipnarine (331-0316), Justice Cecil Kennard (623-7609, 225-4818 or 226-1399), Isabella Beaton (693-7812) or Dennis DeRoop (609-9143 or 325-3301).
Conditions
1) The races will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.
2) In the event that there are less than five horses entered for any event, the club reserves the right to cancel or reframe the said event or reduce the prize money after consulting with the horse owners.
3) Owners of horses must pay at least $5000 for each horse at the time of entry. If not paid, the horse’s name would not appear on the official programme and the horse will not be permitted to run.
4) Five horses to start before a third place prize is paid.
5) Seven horses to start before a fourth place prize is paid.
(Emmerson Campbell)
