By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE SEASON'S first classics, the Track Price Plus Jamaica 1000 and 2000 Guineas, will be run at Caymanas Park on Saturday, April 5 and, similar to last year, a $400,000 Sweepstakes will accompany the event.
Plans for the raceday were outlined by representatives of Track Price Plus and CTL at the Guineas press launch in the North Lounge at Caymanas Park yesterday.
The 1000 Guineas is confined to native bred three-year-olds fillies while the 2000 Guineas is for colts and geldings. Both one mile classics offer total purses of $1.75 million along with magnificent trophies.
Xavier Chin, CEO of Track Price Plus the island's largest bookmaking concern, said in addition to the $400,000 sweepstakes, the twin classics offer a number of incentives to the winning trainers, jockeys and grooms as well as to a number of child support organisations.
Chin disclosed that Track Price Plus will be making special donations of $25,000 each to Maxfield Park Children Home, Mustard Seed Communities, St. Patrick's Foundation, Mona Rehabilitation Centre and the Kidney Support Foundation. These institutions will also be given the opportunity to exhibit products on the balcony of the North Lounge during the course of the meet.
"The board of directors, management and staff of Track Price Plus welcome this opportunity to once again display our commitment to the sustainable development of racing in Jamaica and to the viability of Caymanas Track in particular.
"In this our 40th anniversary and our fourth year of sponsorship of the very successful Guineas 1000 and 2000 races, we again pledge our assistance ...
"The popular Kiddies Stables will again accommodate and pamper children from these institutions," the CEO further disclosed. Full details were provided by CTL's executive manager - marketing, Millicent Lynch.
Regarding the sweepstakes, Chin said this time around there would be total prizemoney of $400,000, including a main prize of $240,000 to be drawn on Guineas Day at Caymanas Park.
He disclosed that Track Price has had thousands of entries, and the mini-draw of $40,000 was won by Dennis Allen of Spanish Town. There will also be a Pick The Winner competition ($10,000 prize) for patrons at Caymanas Park on Guineas Day.
Continuing, Chin said: "This year we have introduced Carib-Tel Limited, the providers of our 'Your Best Bet' calling cards to this exciting racing promotion and hope our informal partnership will result in their taking a full sponsorship in the future". A plaque will be donated for a joint Track Price Plus/Carib-Tel race.
Track Price Plus will also underwrite the printing of the On-Track Magazine, which will also feature its 40th anniversary celebrations.
CTL's racing secretary, Denzil Miller Jr. in outlining details on the races, listed the Thornbird Trial Stakes winner NAUGHTY BY NATURE, AERO COMMANDER, INCORPORATE, SHE'S A RANKING, RISING STAR and XTRA ROYAL as leading lights in the fillies Guineas.
A KING IS BORN, who Miller said "blew a hole in the track in his seasonal debut over 1400 metres in 1:25.0 last Saturday", is the top contender for the 2000 Guineas, but others such as REAR ADMIRAL, Prince Consort Trial Stakes winner ARCHANGEL, GOOD COMPANY, ZAHBO and BANJUHAR are worthy contenders.
