TT racing at Royal Windsor Park

On Monday, at the Royal Windsor track in London, Trinidad and Tobago racing will be shown to thousands who attend this track, including members of the Royal Family.

Although prominent families in Trinidad have owned and raced horses in England, this is the first time that Santa Rosa Park in Arima will be seen by British race fans.

Where is Royal Windsor racecourse?

Famous for its evening races, Royal Windsor is situated on the banks of the River Thames. The action is up close and personal and people are quickly caught up in the unique atmosphere that is so much more than just an evening at the races.

The “Caribbean Carnival Monday” themed event will be bigger and better than ever before! This will feature live entertainment throughout the racing, competitions, giveaways and a live band on the Paddock Lawn directly after the end of racing.

The Tourism Development Company (TDC) will be conducting corporate hospitality in the grandstand suites for 60 specially invited guests including Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to the UK, Glenda Morean-Phillips.

How did this all come about? Hugo Gunning, a Trinidadian living in England, has been solely responsible for having a Trinidad and Tobago Day at Pontefract in Yorkshire on the first Monday in October. The races are named after places in Trinidad and Tobago.

When the idea surfaced of a Caribbean Race Day at Windsor just before the Nottinghill Carnival, Gunning jumped at the idea and immediately contacted the Betting Levy Board (BLB) for assistance.

BLB Chairman Roop Chand Chadeesingh was thrilled at the idea of getting TT races at one of the famous tracks. A meeting was held between representatives of the BLB and Charles Carvalho, chairman of the TDC, and the event was up and running.

Nova Alexander, account manager of the UK office of the TDC, started the planning, and by Friday, everything was in place to ensure that the day will be interesting.

The TDC has spent its money to ensure that TT racing gets high marks.

The BLB has sponsored a race and will present plaques to the winning owner, jockey and trainer of the “Come Go Racing at Santa Rosa Park Handicap,” scheduled for 1.45 pm TT time on Monday.

Members of the BLB will be present to hand over the prizes to the winners.

To ensure Trinidad and Tobago gets maximum mileage, Alexander has invited several international tour operators to the racing — Select Holidays, Virgin Holidays, Letsgo2travel, Lastminute.com, Dive World Wide, Touchdown, Wexas, British Airways, OTC, Geoddessy, The Holiday Place, Carib Tours, Wildlife World Wide Blue Lithium.com, Trips Worldwide, Caribbean Unpackaged, British Airways Holidays, Sporting Destinations, Just Tobago, and the national airline BWIA.

The press was not left out and those invited includ Trade Press, Travel Weekly, Selling Long Haul Consumer Press/Media, BBC Radio Berks, Cricket World Magazine, Best Magazine, Caribbean World Magazine and several freelance journalists.

A number of stakeholders were invited and those who accepted were Turtle Beach by Rex Resorts, Le Grand Courlan and Grafton Beach Resort.

Poison (UK) will provide Royal Windsor with the usual Carnival troupes and Miss TT (UK) and other beauty pageants will be present.

The TDC will also have a branded marquee on the lawn to give out information on the destination as well as samples of angostura rum and chocolate.

There will be several TT banners placed strategically and there is an advertisement about Santa Rosa Park in the race programme.

As an added transaction, the TDC has booked former England jockey David Mould as a tipster for the TT booth.

Mould has a long-standing history with Royal Windsor racecourse as his career began with flat racing until he became too heavy. He was 14 years old when he rode his first winner at Windsor Racecourse.

During his career as a jockey he rode just over 700 winners; 106 of these were for the Queen Mother making him her champion jockey.

Mould remains very much associated with the industry. He actively buys and sells race horses, puts syndicates together and also works for the Daily Mail as a tipster.

He will visit the TT suite and speak to the group through the race card, explaining the odds and basically will give some tips on which races are a good bet.