Horseracing season promoting VisitSriLanka flags off today

The opening race day of the RTC #VisitSriLanka Horseracing Season 2023 will flag off today at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya, at 10 a.m.  

The inaugural race day of the season, which is expected to hype up by mid-April with the RTC Governor’s Cup, will include four races according to organisers, the Royal Turf Club (RTC).

“We are really excited to host our first race day of the 2023 season. Despite not having races as expected during the latter part of 2022, RTC has been very much involved with the maintenance of the Racecourse and the wellbeing of the thoroughbred horses. We are glad that finally it’s all shaping up, for an eventful season,” noted RTC Secretary Ryota Hakariya.

As last season Indian experts in horse racing will be a part of the upcoming 2023 season. Senior stalwart Cyrus J. Madan will continue his responsibilities as the Chairman of Stipendiary Stewards of RTC, while B.J. Shyam continues as Handicapper and Steward.

“This time around we are glad to welcome new owners, which includes a few foreign parties highly engaged with this glamorous sport mainly in India. We can expect a good competition as the season progresses. The inaugural race day will be the ideal springboard for the new owners and riders to assess the new conditions in Nuwara Eliya,” revealed RTC Treasurer Nisitha Rupasinghe.

As a gesture to promote Sri Lanka as a country worth visiting and exploring, RTC has decided to join arms with the National Tourism and Promotions Bureau, to aptly rebrand the 2023 season as the RTC #VisitSriLanka Horseracing Season 2023. Through this commitment, RTC expects to draw its foreign counterparts from within and beyond the Asian region to promote the country as a destination where sports tourism has the highest potential.

“Horseracing is considered a glamorous sport event, which has the ability to draw spectator interest locally as well as globally, and Nuwara Eliya being the only available and active racecourse in Sri Lanka is a destination mostly visited by foreigners and locals equally. The country as well as the sport, need greater boost and this is one of the ways we could contribute towards the country,” added Rupasinghe.

The RTC #VisitSriLanka Horseracing Season 2023, which flags off today, will include a total of five race days up until end-April, according to RTC officials. Last season, RTC completed a squeezed racing calendar, with the Governor’s Cup and Magic Million Cup taking the centre stage. Nippon Paint partnered with RTC as main sponsor for the Governor’s Cup 2022.