THE 2019 Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club Boxing Day horse race gathered some pace leading up to the annual meet, as long-time sponsors Torginol Paints continued their financial funding of the event.

Yesterday’s brief ceremony held at Torginol’s Industrial Site location, where turf club president, Justice Cecil Kennard, received the sponsorship cheque ahead of the upcoming iconic meet which is held every Boxing Day at the Bush Lot venue.

Justice Kennard thanked the company for its continued support of the horse racing fraternity – a partnership which has spanned decades and continues to blossom annually as the support is given.

Kennard also pointed out that roughly $7M has been injected into the restoration process of the turf club. He said the financial support the club attracts is usually put into refurbishing the venue while helping to offset expenses in other areas.

Seven different groups will feature a number of talented jockeys and horses who will compete for almost $2M in prize money. However, the real winner will be the one who rides away with the grand prize of $1M, from the ‘METRO MILLION MILE OPEN’ feature race.

Apart from the million-dollar, main event the other classes set for the event include: L NON-EARNER, H & L LOWER, 2-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN, L NON-WINNER, J & K LOWER and L OPEN. Each class fetches lucrative 1st to 4th place prizes which range from $250 000 to $130 000.

Continental Group of Companies Office Manager, Ravi Brijnandan, was also elated at the two entities continuing their relationship which he said is important to the culture of horse racing. Brijnandan said the company will not only throw its full support behind the upcoming meet, but will be a part of the club’s future endeavours to ensure that the sport maintains its pedigree.

Rules for the meet will fall under the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) mandate while entries are set to close on December 16, with all late entries being denied following the date of closure.

Meanwhile, Kennard tipped this year’s race to exceed those of the previous years, as more participants are expected. The strong, overseas Guyanese contingent, who have been supporting the event yearly, are set to return home for the Christmas holidays, thus making the race a bigger spectacle. (Clifton Ross)