By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
Harry Smith (right), marketing director of Digicel, hands over the Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes Crystal Trophy to CTL's executive manager for racing, Karl Angell and the company's executive manager for marketing, Millicent Lynch at yesterday's press launch at the Hilton Hotel, this for the two-day Digicel Racing Carnival at Caymanas Park on August 30, 31. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
THE 2002 Digicel Irish Racing Carnival at Caymanas Park will embrace two days - Friday, August 30 and Saturday, August 31.
This was announced by representatives of emerging communications giant Digicel and Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) at a press launch yesterday at the Hilton Hotel, New Kingston.
Both days will feature a live entertainment package, with Friday showcasing the legendary Big Youth and Leroy Sibbles, while Richie Stephens, Tonto Metro and Devonte will share the spotlight on Saturday along with M.C. Richie B.
Big event on the Saturday will be the second running of the Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes, a grade one race over 1300 metres confined to top class horses. It offers a total purse of $750,000 - up from $625,000 last year.
Probable starters include I'MSATISFIED, METEOR MAN, RESTLESS WARRIOR, MILLIMETRE, ALEXDIMASTER, OWEN TAYLOR, KING AL, DIABLO FOREVER, RATIFIED, AWESOME POWER and NEFTENGA.
According to Digicel's marketing director, Harry Smith, the other supporting features on the card are the $500,000 Digicel Cup for native bred two-year-olds over 1200 metres featuring the brilliant unbeaten DANCE DIXIE, the Motorola Timeport Sprint (claiming $120,000 - $105,000) with a purse of $260,000 ($210,000 if divided) and the Motorola Maiden Trophy over 1400 metres for four-year-olds and up with a total purse of $75,000.
Smith explained that Digicel has donated a total of $400,000 to purses for the four sponsored races on the card. He recalled that "the feedback from last year was overwhelming from consumers and patrons" and this year promises even more with two exciting days of racing in store.
The highly innovative 'Racehorse Owner of the Year' promotion will be on again this year. Also on again is the popular Kiddies Stables on the Saturday. According to CTL's executive manager for marketing, Millicent Lynch, the Kiddies Stables will facilitate children from 3D Projects and Maxfield Park Home.
A lucky punter at the track on either day will get a chance to win $50,000 or $100,000 (if carried over from Friday) by cracking the digiSafe, this requiring patrons with digicel phones to register their numbers in a specially marked box. The first of 40 punters (chosen randomly) good enough to guess the three digit code which opens the safe will be either $50,000 or $100,000 richer.
