The big race continues to bring in the big boys.
Celebrated Triple Crown announcer Larry Collmus and Breeders’ Cup vice-president of media and entertainment Peter Rotondo will be coming to Barbados next month for what is anticipated as the biggest running of the Sandy Lane Gold Cup.
Barbados Turf Club director Kevin Burke made the announcement during Thursday’s arrival of the Gold Cup at the Grace Adams Suite of the Grantley Adams International Airport.
“For all of us the benefit is immeasurable. Our appeal has reached out to people in the horse racing world and this year we have two significant guests in the horseracing world,” Burke disclosed.
“One would be the vice president of the Breeders Cup, which is essentially the world championships of horse racing, as well as one of the premier commentators in the US.
“The directors of the Barbados Turf Club along with all the other stakeholders in the horseracing industry are very grateful to Sandy Lane Hotel for their generous contribution to the day’s racing and the Gold Cup itself.
“Without this event horse racing in Barbados probably would struggle,” he added.
An announcer for the New York Racing Association, Collmus, 51, is best known as the race caller for NBC’s coverage of the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, where Rotondo helps to coordinate theevent’s entertainment.
It’s the biggest news surrounding the March 3 showcase since it was announced that Coolmore champion Northern Star wouldn’t contest the Gold Cup.
But the region’s biggest horse race won’t be wanting for star power, as no less than ten overseas entrants are expected to go in the starter’s gates, including seven United States-based horses.
The supporting feature events, the Tanglewood Stakes and the Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes, are also set to get a major boost from foreign entries.
“Although it may not be a full field of 12 horses, it is probably the strongest field of horses we will ever have in Barbados for a horse race,” Burke reasoned.
“We’ve been able to attract many owners who are main principals in racing in the international world of racing.
“In particular, we’ve been a benefactor of Ken Ramsay, who has been a champion breeder and owner in the Gold Cup.
“Mr Ramsay has placed this on his list of things to do every year with his horses, which race all over the world, and this year he’s come with probably the strongest contingent ever to come to Barbados,” he added. (JM)
