By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
SATURDAY has been designated National Jamaica St. Leger Raceday at Caymanas Park.
The programme will feature the 72nd running of the season's final classic, this over 2000 metres.
Plans for the big St. Leger meet were outlined yesterday morning by representatives of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) and the sponsors, National Fuels and Lubricants Limited, at a press conference at the Portofino Restaurant.
Significantly, the race will be sponsored for the first time by National Fuels and Lubricants Limited, better known as current sponsors of the valuable National Gas Stations' Fillies and Mares Championship series for top class horses.
The St. Leger, for which nine entries were received, offers a total purse of $1.75 million. And for the first time in four years, the field includes a potential Triple Crown winner in I'MSATISFIED, to again be ridden by Winston Griffiths for trainer Philip Feanny, both seeking their fourth Triple Crown winners (three together).
In addition to the Red Stripe Derby and Track Price 2000 Guineas winner, the other entries are Courts Jamaica Oaks and Lotto Classic winner AERO STAR, Track Price 1000 Guineas heroine RAY OF HOPE, the Derby runner-up GENERAL VERRAZANO, RESTLESS WARRIOR, HELLELUJAH, MR. VIGOROUS, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG and BRINGDIMONEYCOME.
Denzil Miller Jr., CTL's racing secretary, thanked National Fuels and Lubricants CEO, Roylton d'Cambre for "another bold move in sponsorship". Miller went on to point out that Saturday's programme will also offer three good supporting features in the Viceroy Trophy over 1800 metres for top class horses, race number five in the Jamaica Championship series; the West Indian Thoroughbred 3-Y-O Sprint over 1100 metres and the second running of the Terremoto Trophy two-year-old race over the round five course, this in memory of the 1998 Derby winner.
CTL's Marketing Manager, Millicent Lynch said it was remarkable that at a moment's notice National Fuels and Lubricants was quick to sponsor the St. Leger for the first time.
Noting that d'Cambre had recently opened a CTL Off-Track Betting Parlour at the Haphazard Sports Bar in New Kingston (upstairs Kenny Rogers), Lynch further disclosed that 36 patrons at Caymanas Park will be able to participate and win free meals at Kenny Rogers Roasters in addition to twenty $500 gift vouchers from Haphazard Gaming Lounge and Pub; dinner for two at Portofino Restaurant to the winning owner and trainer of the St. Leger; gift vouchers for 40 litres of fuel to the winning trainers of each race; gift vouchers for 10 litres of fuel to the winning owners of each race; $3,000 cash for the groom of the winning horse in the St. Leger, courtesy of National Fuels and Lubricants and $1,000 to the groom of the best presented horse in each race, courtesy of CTL.
In his turn, d'Cambre said that his company's involvement in racing has shown positive results. "It was money well spent... For potential sponsors there is no better way to showcase your product", he declared.
In response to a question from the floor pertaining to the million-dollar bonus should a Triple Crown winner go on to win the Superstakes, an incentive that was discontinued some three years ago, Miller promised that it will be restored next year.
Also present were owners, trainers and jockeys of St. Leger contenders, including champion jockey Andrew Ramgeet and Rod DaCosta, as well as representatives of the Jamaica Racing Commission, CTL and the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission.
