Horseracing and cycling at Santa Rosa

HORSERACING and cycling will mix at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Easter Monday. The Arima Race Club in an effort to lift the promotion of their 10-race card on Monday have invited cyclist from the Beacon Insurance West Indians vs The World Cycling Series to be their guests at the races. The formula of joining hands with other sporting bodies has proven a success for the ARC in the past, who drew new turfites to their fold when they entertained Test cricketers and rugby players at their Friday Limes promotions last year. ARC president Gerard Ferreira, at a news conference at racing headquarters yesterday said, it was traditional to hold the Guineas on Easter Monday, but because of a request to narrow the gap of  the three classics forming the triple crown, Easter Guineas, Midsummer Classic and Derby, the first leg was shifted to May. The push back, according to Ferreira makes a big difference, since there will be no Easter Guineas.

But the president, who is also an ex-cyclist and official still expects a large turn out at the races. “Easter Monday is camparative to Boxing Day,” he said, “and the throw back of the Guineas gave us an opportunity to merge with another exciting sport.” The merger will also afford turfites to meet and greet foreign and local cyclists of the past and present. Ferreira said: “The arrangement was at short notice, but joining of hands can become a lasting relationship in the years to come.” Michael Phillips, promoter of the the Beacon Insurance West Indies vs The World Cycling Series was happy with the ARC for extending the invitation to them to be at the races. And on a more jocular note, said, “ Cycling is like racehorses on two legs, the  only difference being our riders fall off their mounts more often than the jockeys.”

The opportunity was used by the ARC to introduce Hayden Hugging, a new member of the administrative staff, whose portfolio will be public relations, promotions and marketing. In his inital address he promised to make Monday special for all. “Along with the 10 races carded there will also be fun activities provided for the entire family,” he said. “During the races punters will be able to meet and greet the cyclist.” Racing secretary Robin Jaisingh, then got in his bit on the runners in the three spotlight races on the holiday card, the Ibis Stakes, Flamingo Stakes and Arima Race Club Cup. He said, “It’s unfortunate that we will not have our two stars, Sugar Mike and Top Of The Class in the ARC Cup line-up. “Both are being rested after hard campaigns, which makes the race a wide open affair.”