Horse racing at the highest level

The 10th April Horse Racing Festival sponsored by Royal Turf Club Nuwara Eliya is ready to kick off with nearly 30 thoroughbreds and 10 three quarter-breds and half-breds participating. 

With the featured race ‘Kuningal Stud Magic Million’ scheduled for 16 April, race entries have been economical with many horses reserved for this exciting event paying out the largest stakes in the History of Sri Lanka. John Baker, the Brother of Samuel Baker is credited with starting the Nuwara Eliya Race course as a Practice course in 1840 with inaugural races being held in 1875.

Formed with the objectives of opening horse racing to all, RTC has brought in international racing rules aimed at, eradication of mismanagement, animal cruelty and doping. RTC is managed by veteran racing CEO Wayne Wood who has worked in more than 163 race courses worldwide. Since its birth RTC has steadily promoted the formation of new clubs and has encouraged old clubs to run races under the new club rules. The Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency will be visiting all races this year.

With the eight Trophies and stakes, including the Dashmesh Stud Cup, Class 2 Handicap 1600M of Rs. 482,500, Sporting Times Cup, Class 3 and Class 4 Stakes 1200M of Rs. 387,500, the Blackpool Hotel Cup, Class 5 Handicap 1200M of SLRs 150,000 and many more, the 10 April races will be hotly contested by many veteran horse owners. 

These include Isira Dassanayaka, Gamini Jayaratne, Hasanga Jayaratne, Rienzie and Purni Edwards, J.R. Irugal Bandara, Ajantha De Soyza and Anura Delgoda. A number of new persons, foreign and local have expressed their interest in joining the sport as horse owners for the August 2016 races and 2017 season. 

This is expected to generate around 100 direct jobs bringing the total direct employment to 140 and total indirect employment to around 500 by the end of 2016. These numbers are expected to double in 2017. This is a major boost to the Nuwara Eliya District which is known to have the second highest unemployment rate in Sri Lanka.

With the blessing of Minister Naveen Dissanayaka, organiser for Nuwara Eliya and Mayor Mahinda Dodampegamage, the 20 March inaugural races were held on the newly-renovated and restored race course which saw 5,000 on course spectators and over a million viewers on live TV.  Among the dignitaries who enjoyed the races were the Indian High Commissioner and the Deputy British High Commissioner. The number of spectators and TV viewership is expected to double for the April season. 

In addition, more than 150 room nights were booked by visiting spectators and dignitaries for the 20 March races. The April races expect to see a record 1,000 room nights being booked providing an immense boost to the local economy. RTC believes that horse racing will provide a massive addition to sports tourism in Sri Lanka for years to come.

This most colourful set of events also includes live bands, DJs, celebrity singers, children’s amusement parks, dancers and fashion shows. Tickets are available after 4 April at Sugar Bistro, Chagall Salon, at the Gates or via shop box at https://shopbox.lk/ 

Race Dates are 10, 16, 23 and 30 April with the 10 and 30 April events free of charge.