Torginol Paints sponsors 1st race cash prizes
TORGINOL Paints, a member of the Continental Group of Companies yesterday handed over a cheque which will cover the prizes of the first event of the Annual Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club Boxing Day eight-race horse race meet.The event, which will be staged at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne Berbice facility, is expected to involve over 70 horses from different stables competing for cash prizes as well as trophies.
Speaking at a presentation ceremony yesterday in the office of Justice Cecil Kennard, the Police Complaints Authority head thanked the Continental Group of Companies for sponsoring the first event under its Torginol Paints brand on the planned day’s card, saying it is a significant contribution to the Boxing Day meet.
Justice Kennard said the Continental Group of Companies has been very supportive to the annual meet for the past 25 years, but this year’s sponsorship is greater than the previous years.
The sponsorship will cover the first- to fourth-place cash prizes for horses classified `J3 and L over six furlongs and will total $282 000.
The first-place finisher will receive $150 000, while the other three finishers will earn $75 000, $38 000 and $19 000 respectively.
Entrance fee per horse for the event is $15 000.
At yesterday’s ceremony, Justice Kennard said the Kennard Turf Club and Continental Group of Companies have a very close relationship and noted that sponsorship is very important for the staging of any event.
Kennard thanked Continental of Group of Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Rakesh Puri, saying he is very grateful for the sponsorship.
According to Kennard, preparations for the race meet are going fine and the weather would be ideal for horse racing.
He noted that the annual Boxing Day meet is very well attended and said this year would not be different in terms of spectator support.
Speaking on behalf of the sponsor (Continental), Company Secretary Percival Boyce Jr said his company is pleased to be associated with the Boxing Day meet and will continue to support the event yearly.
The feature event on the day’s card will be a one-mile event for horses classified `A’ and Lower, with a first prize of $1.5M. The second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will receive $750 000, $375 000 and $188 000 respectively. The entrance fee per horse is $165 000.
West Indian and local-bred three-year old horses will battle over one mile also for a first prize of $600 000. The second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will receive $300 000, $150 000 and $75 000 respectively. Entrance fee for the event is $70 000 per horse.
Three more six-furlong races as well as two seven-furlong races are also listed to be contested during the day.
The six-furlong races are for horses classified `G1’ and Lower, two-year-old Guyana and West Indian bred and `J1’ and Lower horses.
The two seven-furlong races will be contested by `D3’ maiden and `E’ Lower and `I’ and Lower horses.
(By Michael DaSilva)
