THE JAMAICA Livestock Association (JLA) will resume sponsorship of horse racing at Caymanas Park on Saturday, August 16 following a break of two years.
This was disclosed by the JLA's managing director Henry Rainford at yesterday's press launch in the Director's Room at the Park to announce plans for the JLA/Jockey Club Day race meet.
The sponsors will be putting up a total of $250,000 for the meet, featuring the $415,000 Supreme Feeds Trophy over 1100 metres for native bred maiden two-year-olds and the $285,000 JLA Trophy over the straight five course, this confined to maiden four-year-olds and up.
The JLA will donate two tons of feed to the first six finishers in the Supreme Feeds Trophy race.
In addition to the two races, the programme will facilitate the annual renewal of the Jockey Club Stakes confined to native bred three-year-olds who have failed to win a futurity race. To be run over 1400 metres, the Jockey Club Stakes offers a total purse of $550,000 and should be well supported this year.
Hugh Levy Jr. , president of the Jockey Club of Jamaica, said he was pleased that the JLA has tied its sponsorship to Jockey Club Day.
Levy explained that the race, a former classic prep many years ago, has been supported by the Jockey Club "in a weak way over the years" and was pushed down the ladder as a result.
"Now the JLA has come on board to give it some glamour," he added.
Meanwhile, Rainford responding to questions from the floor re the JLA's return to the fold after a short but noticeable break in sponsorship, said:
"We feel there has been an improvement in the administration and racing fraternity at Caymanas Park,.. there has been closer co-operation. However, there was a time when we weren't sure where they were headed."
