RTC Nuwara Eliya Race Season canters this weekend

The much-awaited season opener of the Royal Turf Club (RTC) Horse Racing Festival 2021 will gallop ahead this weekend, 20 March, at the picturesque Nuwara Eliya Racecourse from 10:00 a.m. onwards. 

Last season’s champion thoroughbreds Spirited Touch, Alcazaba, Mehera, Honourius, Santos and other leading horses are expected to put a strong performance after a lapse in racing for nearly a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 season was written off the calendar owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, while 2019 season was cut short of completion due to the Easter Bombings, hence the 2021 season is set to be treasured by everyone who loves the sport of horse racing, RTC Hon. Treasurer Nisitha Rupasinghe said.

“This season we are gearing up to put a grand show to show to the world that Sri Lanka is alive with action. We will conduct the season adhering to the guidelines issued by the health authorities. Everything else will be as glamorous as they always used to be,” Rupasinghe further said.

Following the race day on 20 March, RTC is planning to conduct its core race days during April, including the legendary Governor’s Cup, Queen’s Cup and the Mayor’s Cup. The RTC Spring and Summer Cup has been fixed for 3 April, followed by the prestigious Governor’s Cup 2021 on 15 April. The Queen’s Cup and Mayor’s Cup will be held on the same race day as the Governor’s Cup.

The Horse Racing Festival 2021 will culminate with the RTC Magic Million Cup scheduled for 24 April with more races to follow during August, September, November and December. RTC’s event calendar will provide the stable owners – Fearless Stables and Stud Farm, Edwards Stables, Jayaratne Stables, Dynamic Stables, Monaro Stables and Cavali Stables and other individual owners the opportunity to continuously engage in active races.  

As a prelude, RTC conducted a mock race, which was held successfully on 27 February at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya with three races involving 14 runners. Fearless Stables and Stud Farm put up a gallant show, reassuring a promising season ahead in the coming four weeks, by winning two races out of three.

“We conducted a mock race prior to the season and it was an overwhelming outing for all horses. We had 14 runners on the mock race day, but for the upcoming Horse Racing Festival 2021, we will have a fleet of closer to 50 thoroughbred horses competing under five different classes,” Rupasinghe added.

K. Sanjeewan rode star stead Honourius and Spirited Touch, the current holder of the prestigious Governor’s Cup, while the Edwards Stable won one of the races with the combination of Santos and jockey S.D. Janaka.