EUGENE Ffolkes (right), managing director of the Jamaica Lottery Company Limited, handing over sponsorship cheque of $750,000 to CTL's executive manager for marketing, Millicent Lynch at yesterday's launching of Lotto Classic Raceday at the Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Road. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer THE JAMAICA Lottery Company has donated $750,000 to purses for Lotto Classic Day at Caymanas Park on Saturday, May 17.
Plans for the big raceday were outlined by representatives of the Jamaica Lottery Company and Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) at yesterday's launching at the Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Road.
Apart from the race itself, the biggest announcement had to do with "the business to business type of relationship" between the Lottery Company and CTL which will save the promoting company millions of dollars.
According to Eugene Ffolkes, managing director of the Lottery Company, "its a commitment between the two of us to work today". The deal entails CTL using the modern telecommunications network of the Jamaica Lottery company in doing its day to day betting transactions, a revolutionary agreement which will work to the benefit of both parties.
Ffolkes, in his address, said:
"As you will find out today, we will be supporting racing as promised in the past, in many more areas than just sponsorship of the race days.
EXPAND
"We believe, as does CTL, that in order for the track to improve its financial performance and provide a much more convenient service, that it has to have the ability to not only improve the service of its current OTBs, but expand to areas currently not being serviced.
"Until now, this was not possible as the communication infrastructure needed to support such an expansion was not readily available.
"As a linchpin in reaching this goal, CTL has signed an agreement with the JLC to use our next generation broadband always on data communication service to access the critical path".
Flolkes went to point out that many may not be aware that his company has built up an expertise in this field.
"We have been running wireless networks for the past seven years and very recently laid down this very sophisticated next generation full IP broadband network islandwide, the total network to date, costing over some J$500M.
"The network, in conjunction with our POS terminals allows us to sell significantly more products than our lottery tickets... The combination of network and POS devices will allow us to expand into other fields such as bill paying, collection of taxes, event ticketing, etc.
"However, we are here today to speak specifically to our communications infrastructure and how it will impact positively on the operation of CTL.
"The initial contract calls on us to convert some 80 outlets to our system and expanding as CTL grows to over 150 plus outlets islandwide. Of most importance is that we will deliver the same consistent high level of efficient communication infrastructure whether in Kingston or Bamboo, St. Ann. The alliance will improve the performance of OTBs in terms of reliability, security, speed and reach of communications while providing significant cost savings.
"Just ask the residents of Guy's Hill who before the implementation of this system had no OTB for several miles and had to travel at least half hour to Linstead and Highgate to place a bet.
"CTL will now have the ability to reach areas such as Alligator Pond, Rocky Point, Seaforth Town, etc with the exact same level of service as outlets in Spanish Town, Montego Bay, Kingston and Portmore.
"The system will provide an always on, high speed virtual private network data transmission network that will allow the operations of OTBs to have a much higher and speedier through put thereby allowing the players to experience shorter and faster moving lines....
HIGH LEVEL SECURITY
The network offers the highest level of security. In fact the security of the system was originally designated for the U.S. Navy, all transactions are fully encrypted and this (link-up) system, which is mission critical to JLC, has been proven in use by us for the past two years.
"Because we are using the latest technology, we are able to do two things that, in the past, seemed to be inconsistent or mutually exclusive, that is, deliver a higher level and more consistent service while reducing costs for the clients.
"CTL will certainly benefit from decreased costs. In fact, they will save approximately 33 per cent or 33 cents of every dollar of their communication costs, which is worth savings of several million dollars a year to them", said Ffolkes.
Meanwhile, CTL's racing secretary Denzil Miller Jr. said the Lotto Classic field will more than likely include the Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas winner A KING IS BORN, the runner-up REAR ADMIRAL, Oaks winner NAUGHTY BY NATURE, the runner-up ONE ONE NINE along with the improving PITTACUS, GOOD COMPANY, BANJUHAR, JACK DE PRINCE and possibly the 1000 Guineas heroine AERO COMMANDER, who missed the Oaks.
The Lotto Classic purse stands at $1.5 million, supplemented by a $300,000 contribution from the Lottery Company which has also donated $150,000 to the purse ($750,000) of the Lotto Sprint for top class horses and $100,000 each to the purses of the other sponsored races, the Pick 3 Twice A Day Challenge, Three Way Drop Pan Championship and Scatcher's Dash Stakes.
There will be prizes and surprises for lucky patrons at Caymanas Park on the day.
In recognition of Child's Month, CTL will open the popular Kiddies Stables. Children from the surrounding community of Portmore will be hosted on this occasion.
Among those present were CTL's executive manager for marketing, Millicent Lynch; Sonia Davidson, public relations and promotions manger Jamaica Lottery Company and Delroy Trowers, the company's sales development and distribution officer.
O.C.
