The Barbados Turf Club (BTC) will pay tribute to the top performers of last year with the Salute to the 2011 Champions Raceday at the Garrison Savannah tomorrow.
The action in the fast lane will be the eighth day of the first racing season.
The main attraction on the eight-race card, set to get going at 1:45 p.m., is Race 7, the Kendal Moon Trophy Handicap over 1 570 metres.
Kendal Moon won Champion Three-year-old and Horse Of The Year awards.
Race 3 is named after the winner of the M.E.R. Bourne Award for champion owner – Lord Michael Taylor.
This trophy handicap race has special interest as it sees the BTC reintroducing claiming races where anyone can make a bid to claim any of the 12 runners.
Such a move should be commended as it seeks to get the public more involved in racing. The race is for three-year-olds and older horses over 1 000 metres and carries a claiming purse of $5 000.
Aysha Syndicate-owned Who’s To Say takes top weight of 133 pounds. His form has not been inspiring for some time but he is clearly the class of the field.
Cameron Carter’s Sweet and Sour and Taylor’s Spellbound, both winners of their last efforts, are now handicapped to carry 108 pounds and look like the main opposition.
For the genetic engineer of equine athletes, the Sir John Chandler Award for champion breeder once again went to Sir Charles Williams.
In the Sir Charles Williams Trophy Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 60-85 and also open to horses rated 59 and below over 1 100 metres, the Taylor-owned Run Alke Run shoulders top weight of 133 pounds.
While his form has been good, the handicappers now seem to have his number.
Sir David Seale-owned Golden Moment, in at 127 pounds, has been in terrific form and looks like the one they will all be gunning for.
Whataline, Must Be The Money, Nomoreginrog, Royal Spirit and Vandross – all recent winners – appear to have a good chance.
Daga captured the Mentone Award for champion imported horse, and Race 4 is the Daga Trophy Handicap for three-year-olds and older horses rated 38-60 and also open to horses rated 37 and below going 1 800 metres.
Sir David’s Proud Bajan, top-weighted at 130 pounds, is in good form.?Another plus is that he is a stayer.
Eddie Belle-owned and trained Northern Sheriff takes 128 pounds. He ran a very encouraging race last effort when finishing third. A repeat of that performance could bring him a similar result.
A Team-owned Just Jiving, nicely handicapped at 122 pounds, loves the distance and must stand an excellent chance.
