'AT
THE HIGHEST LEVEL'
 Amidst accolades, excitement, clean racing and all the fun, thrills
and spills of a racing carnival, set in the picturesque environs of
Nuwara Eliya, the newly formed Royal Turf Club concluded its first race
for the season 'At The Highest Level' !
Over 35 horses were seen in action in a total of eight races with
Charlatan and jockey Irvan Singh owned by Deepthi Jayakody emerging as
the eventual winners of the first ever Royal Turf Club Premier Cup Class
1, Stakes 1600mm which saw Rs. 585,000 and a cup being offered for the
first five places. The Gamini Dissanayake Memorial Cup along with Rs.
482,500 plus a trophy was presented to the first five winners of the
Class 2, Stakes 1,400m race, which were won by Gazaki and Irfan Singh,
owned by Keerthi Wannakuwatte.
The Mayors Class 3, 1,200m and the 3 year old Maiden Stakes 1,100m
races were each awarded Rs. 375,000 plus a trophy with the winners being
Supreme and S. D. Mahesh (owner Deepthi Jayakody) and Stock Well and
jockey Ashok Kumar owned by Isira Dassanayake respectively.
In addition for the first time since independence, in keeping with
the RTC's position on integrity in racing, four overseas independent
officials held the key positions in the judges box, namely Cyrus Maden ,
the starter Jehangir Sayed , and Stipendiary Stewards Wayne Wood and
Sinclair Marshall. President of the newly formed Royal Turf Club Nuwara
Eliya , Suranjith Premadasa said that these steps were taken in a bid to
ensure fair play and bring back the glamour and flair of the races which
had been absent for several decades .
 The
day's proceedings commenced with the unveiling of the plaque by Min.
Navin Dissanayake , commemorating the inaugural race meeting of the
Royal Turf Club, Nuwara Eliya. Amongst the dignitaries present were HE
the Indian High Commissioner Y.K Sinha and Mrs Sinha, Deputy British
High Commissioner Mrs Laura Davies, Nuwara Eliya Mayor Mahinda Dodampe
Gamage , film Producer Chandran Rutnam and many others .
The first race commenced at 10 30 a.m. at the redeveloped Nuwara
Eliya Race Course and for the very first time anti-doping procedures
were introduced. Over Rs. 2 million was offered as prize money. |
