‘400’ special in Friday Lime

The “Friday Evening Limes” at Santa Rosa Park, Arima are here to stay. This is the promise of Colin Murray, Sponsorship and Events manager, Carib Brewery Limited, sponsors of tomorrow’s racing programme. Among the invitees are His Excellency Brian Lara and members of the West Indies and English Test cricket teams. At a press conference at the Carib Executive Box, Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain yesterday, Murray indicated that tomorrow’s ‘Lime’ is to honour Brian Lara, the new record holder of the most runs in an innings in Test cricket.

Lara posted 400 runs not out against England in the Fourth Test in Antigua to regain the top spot, after his 375 run spree against the same team on the same ground a decade ago. This mark was was erased by five runs by Australian cricketer Mathew Hayden six months ago. “With Lara in our presence, tomorrow’s Lime will be much bigger,” Murray said yesterday. He said last year’s event, which embraced the touring Australians, was a major success and caught his company off guard, since they did not expect such a large turnout of patrons. “But if that was any indication, the signs are that ‘Evening Limes’ are here to stay,” he said. “The presence of the batting star will make tomorrow’s event bigger and arrangements have been put in place to accommodate  a larger attendance.”

Carib are also offering a lot of incentives for fans attending the races. “After every race, one lucky turfite will walk away with a case of Carib Beer, through the Lucky Losers Draw,” Murray said. The Starter Allowance event, which will hold highlight on the nine-race card will carry the Brian Lara tag. The event (Race 6), he said, is designed to start at  4 pm, and Carib has also found a unique way to put the magical “400” figure in place. “After the running of race five, up to when horses flash past the post in the Brian Lara feature, Carib Beer will be sold at 400 cents,” he promised. Patrons making purchases of the top selling beer at the bars will also get a chance to witness the second One-Day International at the Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday.

With every purchase of Carib, a ticket will be given. Half of the ticket must be placed in boxes strategically located. Five draws will be made and patrons retaining the corresponding piece of the winning tickets will win two tickets to witness Saturday’s encounter between England and West Indies. “Also the Carib Girls will be on hand to blend in with the entertainment of which, Iwer George, a Carib family member, will a part,” Murray said. President of the ARC, Gerard Ferreira, said it was an honour to host His Excellency, Lara.

He gave kudos to Carib for introducing the “Friday Lime” and applauded its helping mix horseracing with other sports. Ferreira said plans are on the drawing board to introduce night racing next year and he expects the relationship with Carib to continue. The former Mayor of San Fernando also disclosed plans for the staging of  a World Cup Day of racing at  home. “It will have an international flavour, will comprise competition from aboard and will be an annual event,” he said.