THE unseasonal inclement weather has left organisers of the first-ever Triple Crown with no alternative, but to reschedule the opening leg.

Originally set for Sunday at the Rising Sun Turf Club, the race meet is now shifted to March 4, according to a member of the organising committee.

The second leg will now take place on Easter Sunday, April 1 at the Port Mourant Turf Club, while the third and final stage will see the action returning to Rising Sun on April 29.

According to the committee member, the original program remains the same with over $20M in cash prizes along with trophies.

Both days at the Rising Sun facility, there will be the following first place cash prizes in the respective classes: `C’ Class and Lower $1M; `F’ Class and Lower/’E’ Class non-earners/last start $400 000; three-year-old Guyana-bred $350 000; `H1’ and Lower $300 000; `J/K’ and Lower $240,000; `K’ Class non-earner/last start $230 000; `L’ and Lower $200 000.

Cash prizes will be awarded from first- to fifth-place.
For the Corentyne (Port Mourant) leg, the stakes will be higher and are as follows;: `C’ and Lower $1.2M; `F’ and Lower/`E’ Class non-earners/last start $500 000; Three-year-old Guyana bred $400 000; `H1’ and Lower $350 000; `J’/`K’ and Lower $240 000; `K’ Class non-earners/last start $200 000; and `L’ and Lower $150 000.

There will be bonuses for any horse that wins all three of their races in the `Triple Crown’ event with a maximum bonus payout of $500,000.

Meanwhile, the grand drawing of the mega raffle is also pushed back to the final leg on April 29, where the winners of the Nissan Tida motor car and other top prizes will be known.

For further information, race horse owners/trainers can contact Chandra Ramkissoon (624-9063, 608-9063, 232-0633); Alan Padmore (232-9115, 619-1909) or Nikita Ross on 662-4668.