With the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) sponsoring the Boxing Day card, the racing fraternity breathed a sigh of relief that the day which was once considered the biggest day in the history of local racing, now has a sponsor.
Yesterday morning at the press conference held at the Racehorse Owners Association office at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, it was said that the THA is now the sponsor of the Gold Cup, the St James and St Ann’s Stakes this year and has committed for next season also. But is open to many more years of sponsorship based on dialogue.
Tracy Davidson-Celestine, deputy chief secretary and secretary for Tourism and Transportation THA said: “The THA is pleased to be associative with this initiative. Over the years, the THA has partnered with the ARC in that regard and once again it gave us the opportunity to sign on and it was an easy sell for Brand Tobago.
“I would like to congratulate the Arima Race Club (ARC) for their collaboration. This is an investment and we look forward to further opportunities to partner with the ARC.” President of the ARC Linford Carrabon said: “However, this year there will be no goat racing but rest assured that next year we will see the return of the goat races at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.”
But all is set for a great THA Tobago Day At The Races on Boxing Day, when there will be a good 10 races on the card which includes three grade one races. Two of those feature events are for the top juveniles colts and gelding in the Secretary of Tourism and Transportation, St James Stakes, and the fillies in the Secretary of Tourism and Transportation, St Ann’s Stakes.
The main event on the day’s card is the Chief Secretary Gold Cup, which will be fondly called the Orville London Gold Cup. The new sponsor will be looking forward to viewing the performance of this year’s Horse of the Year, Bigman In Town.
“The other thing which favours the THA is the fact that Boxing Day is a Saturday so there will be no one wondering about going to work the following morning,” quipped Carrabon.