The Sri Lanka Turf Club, will conduct another meet at the Nuwara Eliya Race Course on August 24. It will be sponsored by the Paper Traders and called the ‘Paper Trade Challenge".

According to the President of the SLTC Dhammika Attygalle, horse racing continues to be a popular sport in Sri Lanka and the (SLTC) is doing a great job to promote it. He also said that without sponsors we wouldn’t be able to conduct these meets at the press briefing held at Nippon Hotel recently. Mr. Attygalle also thanked the sponsors and media for their support in promoting the sport.

Rajah Sinnathurai an active committee member of the SLTC told the media that the Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike Memorial Cup for throughbreds in Class 1 and run over 9 furlongs will be the main event of the day. The trophy was presented by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga last year in memory of her grandfather who was the first President of the Ceylon Turf Club and also one of its trustees.

Apart from the Bandaranaike Challenge Cup event there are six more events the Lidechsi Cup for throughbreds in Class 1 and 2 over 5 furlongs, the Swedish Trading Cup for throughbreds in class 2 over 7 furlongs, the Jupiter Trading Cup for Class 3 throughbreds over 7 furlongs, the Food Brokers Cup for Class 4 animals over 5 furlongs, the Premier Agencies Cup for three quarter breds over 7 furlongs and the Five Star International Cup for half breds in class 1 over 5 furlongs. In all 50 thoughbreds have been entered for the meet.

The races are scheduled to start at 10.30 a.m. and will continue till about 1.30 p.m. on August 24.

Last year, the Sri Lanka Turf Club successfully conducted 9 race meets in Nuwara Eliya.

From the inception of the Nuwara Eliya Horse Races, the Turf Club hasn’t had so many days of racing as at now. This time they are expecting to hold about 14 more race meets on a monthly basis. In addition they have conducted a Beach Horse Race twice at Matara and once at Mt. Lavinia. Both meets were well patronised.

Nigel Austin the Chief Steward, Steward Suranjith Premadasa and the Chairman of the Board of Stewards Bernard Halahackone also graced the briefing. (DR)