Second racing season in Nuwara Eliya in August
Royal Turf Club will hold its second racing season from August 6h
with racing taking place nearly every two weeks until May 13, 2017.
"Over this period 19 race days will be conducted, while sponsors have
already indicated their interest to come on board. We are still
negotiating the finer details with two international brands," CEO of the
RTC Wayne Wood said.
Wayne Wood CEO RTC, Nisitha Rupasinghe Treasurer RTC,
Suranjith Premadasa President RTC , Zayne Mirza MD
Kunigal Stud Farm, Cyrus Madan Consultant RTC, R R Byramji
Indias leading and legendary horse trainer, Nihara Rutnam
Committee member RTC and Sudarshana Deshapriya - Committee
member RTC. |
He said an A list Hollywood star would be present to launch the
racing season which has also been designated a Charity Race Day with all
the proceeds going to Charity.
"We have earmarked a Special Race Day in aid of the Cancer Hospital
and this is just one example of our committed solidarity to Charity. In
fact charity will be an ongoing association and not just an off the cuff
one time affair," Wood told the media in Colombo. President of the Sri
Lanka Cancer Society, Tony Angi was also present at the media briefing.
The RTC's feature days are: Saturday 6th August a Cancer Hospital
Charity Race Day, Saturday 17th September a Ladies Days where the RTC
hopes to have a lady rider, Saturday 29th October will be an Indian
theme to celebrate Deepawali, Saturday 5th November will be a Guy Fawkes
theme with special activities for children and Saturday 10th December
will be the Christmas Cup Meeting.
With regard to foreign investment Wood said that the RTC had been
approached by several foreign investors who had closely monitored its
performance over the April Season.
"Naturally the club will discuss any proposals they have and if the
proposal will be of benefit to the Sri Lankan people, the Nuwara Eliya
community and the racing industry we shall definitely take the matter
further," said Wood.
Wood said horse racing is a way to attract up-market tourists.
"With tourism being a key foreign exchange earner, horse racing is
bound to bring in many high spending tourists as is the case around the
world, evidenced at the Royal Ascot, the Melbourne Cup, in Dubai, Japan,
Hong Kong and elsewhere. With the proper development of this sport,
tourism will greatly benefit, resulting once again in the generation of
employment both directly as well as indirectly, not forgetting valuable
foreign exchange that will be brought into the country," he added..
Consultant to the RTC, Cyrus Madan explained the scope of the
development activities in Nuwara Eliya and RTC's commitment to uplift
horse racing as a tourism attraction while passing the economic benefits
to the communities there.
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