FOR THE PAST 25 years, the Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, Hadi’s City Mall and 241 South Road and Bourda Street, has joined forces with the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC), by donating the Champion Jockey, Stable and Trainer trophies for their Annual Boxing Day horse race meeting.Hence it was no surprise yesterday morning, when Managing Director of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, presented to honorary president of KMTC and Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, the trophies for this year’s meeting which will be held on Thursday at the club’s Bush Lot, Corentyne track.

Prior to handing over the Champion Jockey trophy, a smiling Sunich said he was delighted to be associated with the KMTC for such a long period of time, making it the oldest partnership for his business and he looks forward every year to this event.
In accepting the trophy, Kennard thanked Sunich for his timely donation once again, adding that Thursday’s meet will be an exciting one since over 50 horses have been entered to compete, with more entries expected because the Club had extended the deadline for submission of entries to yesterday.
Quizzed on some of the horses classified ‘A’ and Lower and who will be facing the starter for the main event which covers a distance of one mile and has a first place prize of $1.5M, Kennard said turfites and horse-racing fans can expect the likes of Dubai Duchess, Score’s Even, Settle in Seattle, Donut Prince, Fairy Landing and Grande Roja, just to name a few, to battle it out.
“The weather has been great at the track and we are expecting the top horses in the country to come out and compete on that day, giving horse-racing fans a treat and stables such as Jumbo Jet, Colin Elcock, Shariff, Simple Royal and Chris Jagdeo have also indicated their intentions to have their charges showcase their talent at the country’s oldest turf club on Thursday,” said Kennard.
Several sponsors have been lined up to be a part of the day’s proceedings, led by beverage distribution giants Ansa McAl (Guyana) Limited and Demerara Distillers Limited, the Kharag family of USA and owners of Metro Computer and Office Supplies in Guyana, along with Republic Bank, Neal and Massy (Guyana) Ltd, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Winston and George Baijnauth (Sawmillers).
Among the other sponsors on board are: Digicel, Pomeroon Oil Mill, Nand Persaud and Company, Berbice Bridge Company Inc, Gobin Agriculture Spares Center, Goodwood and Horse Shoe Racing Services, N. Mattai and Co, Ariel Enterprise, P and P Insurance Brokers, Kanhai Guyana Electrical Agency, Torginol Paints Inc, Giftland OfficeMax and Guyoil.
The co-feature event is for 3-year-old West Indian maidens and Guyana-bred horses, also over a distance of one mile.
The other events are the races for E and Lower horses, the D3 maiden gallop, which will also see the animals cover a distance of six furlongs, the race for two- year-old animals, the G1 and Lower race, I3 and Lower and the J and Lower. (Calvin Roberts)