A day filled with excitement and lots of fun is expected when insurance giants Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) runs off its second ‘Day of Races’ at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) on  August 24 from 13:30hrs. At a simple ceremony held in the company’s boardroom, Sales and Marketing Manager of CLICO Venita Bovell highlighted to the media CLICO’s input into this year’s event, the second of its kind.

“CLICO will be pumping over $3.5m into this year’s event with cash prizes totalling $2.7m and the remainder being spent on other miscellaneous items such as bandannas, cell phone holders and the printing of programmes for the day’s event.” Bovell also called on all jockeys and trainers to work hard for the  event for the benefit of the fans on the East Coast of Berbice who view horseracing not just as a pastime but as the most popular sport after cricket in the area.

Sales and Marketing Manager of CLICO Guyana Ltd., Venita Bovell, third right, hands over the cheque for $2.7m to honorary president of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club and retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, right. (Lawrence Fanfair photo)

Fans and staff members of CLICO (Guyana) Limited attending the event will also be entertained by a music system. They will also have the opportunity to win prizes, including Sony Ericsson cell phones, MP3 players and cash prizes, besides participating in a hat competition. Honorary president of the KMTC and retired Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard took the opportunity to thank CLICO for their sponsorship for this year’s event, and reminded them that accountability was the order of the day with the KMTC.

“It would be remiss of me, if I do not say thanks to CLICO for their generous support in sponsoring a day of races at the KMTC for the second time. We at the KMTC are grateful to CLICO for this generous sponsorship.”

“No sporting activity whether it is cricket, football, cycling or even horseracing can be successfully promoted without the aid of sponsorship, and we are always grateful for sponsors such as CLICO who comes forward to do so,” said Kennard.
He urged other sports associations and clubs to ensure proper accountability and the availability of proper toilet facilities for  sponsors and patrons respectively.

Meanwhile, Kennard further stated, “On a sadder note, it is appalling to note that some persons in the sporting fraternity do not have a proper accountability system for sponsors’ money and KMTC is an exception in this area. We ensure that when you the sponsors give to us any amount, even if it is $20,000, we give to you an accountability record on the expenditure of same, whilst at the same time show our appreciation for same in some form or the other.” Eight races are  carded for the day including two feature races over one mile, carrying a first prize of $300,000 and a trophy each, with two  USA-born and bred horses competing in the first race of the day which is being run over a distance of six  furlongs and carry a first place prize of $150,000.

Horses expected to be on show during the day are Spin and Squeeze, Trini to d bone, Little Pannie, Delmur Gold, Great Memories, I’ll be There and Laura Lee in Flight, amongst others.

Rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) are applicable during the running off of this event where entries at $2,000 per event will  close on Monday. If entry fee is not paid, the horse’s name would not feature on the official programme.

Horse owners and trainers desirous of having their horses enter the competition can do so by making contact with Justice Kennard via 226-1399, 225-4818 or 623-7609; or Roopnarine Ramgobin, aka ‘Shine’ on 646-6584 or 325-3192.