Marcos Dabdoub (right), managing director of Amalgamated Distributors Limited, hands over the Superstakes Trophy to Ryan White (centre), general manager of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), and deputy chairman Raphael Gordon at yesterday's Superstakes launch at the Hilton hotel, New Kingston. At left is CTL director Chris Armond. Looking on is Kelly-Ann Diedrick (second right). - Contributed

Amalgamated Distributors Limited (ADL), in association with Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), has pooled its resources for the first time to stage the highly ambitious 'Super Thoroughbred Weekend', featuring back-to-back race meets on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14.

The big weekend will climax on Sunday, November 15, with the annual Thoroughbred Yearling Sale, promoted by the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (TOBA).

Plans for the Super Weekend were outlined by representatives of the main sponsors, ADL, Power Wine, Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited and Exotic Stone Creations at yesterday's launch, at the Hilton hotel, New Kingston.

Record purse

The four major sponsored races on Superstakes Saturday are the 31st running of the ADL 'Blanca Nieves' Superstakes (Grade I Invitational), for native-bred three-year-olds and up over 2000 metres with a record purse of $6 million; the $2.7 million Tetley Caribbean Sprint Championship (Grade 1 Invitational) over 1200 metres; the $2.1 million 'BOP' Imported Mile (Grade IH Invitational); and the $1.5 million Caribbean Dreams 2-Y-O Juvenile Sprint (Grade 111R) over 1300 metres, confined to native-bred youngsters.

Managing director of ADL, Marcos Dabdoub, disclosed that prize money of just under $18 million will be offered on Superstakes Day - $3.7 million contributed by ADL to purses for the day.

The racing kicks off on the Friday with a special feature, the Legends and Veteran Race over the straight five course, with a purse of $1 million. This will be sponsored by Exotic Stone Creations.

Noted broadcaster Ed Barnes, who was responsible for coordinating the race by making contacts with many of the veteran jockeys now living overseas, said it was a fitting way to start the weekend.

He said the race would feature 14 veterans, including former big-time jockeys Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriquez, Neville Anderson and Fitzroy 'Pumpkin' Glispie, now a trainer.

The other invitees confirmed are Winston 'Narmi' Ford, Rory 'Satta' Brown, Donovan 'Bugs' Lindo, Carl 'Duce' Morgan, Tensang Chung, James Douthall, Linton Calder and Gladstone Williams, as well as Vassell 'Jollyman' Najair and David 'Scorcher' McKenzie, who ride sparingly at Caymanas Park these days.

New board

Also speaking were Senator Arthur Williams, minister of state in the Ministry of Finance, Chris Armond, director of CTL, as well as chairman of racing's Advisory Council and racing secretary Denzil Miller Jr.

Armond noted that when the new board was appointed in March, it was charged by then Minister, Don Wehby to improve the image of horse racing.

"We have tried to rebrand the image of horse racing and it has come down to this weekend," said Armond.

Meanwhile, Power Wine will sponsor the race in which a lucky punter, whose name will be drawn at the track, will be given the opportunity to own a racehorse for six months.