THE YEAR'S second major raceday is scheduled for Caymanas this Saturday when the furniture and appliance giant, Courts Jamaica Limited, stages its big Oaks meeting.
This will feature the 65th running of the Courts Jamaica Oaks over 2000 metres for native bred three-year-old fillies, the season's third classic.
With Courts celebrating its 45th year, the company in association with Caymanas Track Limited will go the extra mile to make it a special occasion.
In light of this, provision has been made for a Grand Oldies Party under the theme Retro Vibes at Caymanas Park, this featuring vintage singers Alton Ellis and John Holt who have been thrilling audiences at home and abroad for well over 30 years.
To underscore the oldies theme, there will be an oldies fashion show depicting the era of the 50s and 60s, signature hat parade which has been a feature of Oaks Day since Courts came aboard as sponsors in 2000.
Additionally, Courts will play hosts to the media and other specially invited guests under the tent on the in-field of the track.
In keeping with its traditional 'Ladies Day' theme, Courts will once again be recognising women of distinction in the society. Last year it was the nurses, this year it will be select women in the field of tourism.
Courts has set aside $2 million for the day's activities, including $500,000 to purses on the day - including $400,000 directly to the Oaks - and the remainder to other promotional activities.
Apart from the feature event, Courts will donate a trophy to the owner of each winning horse on the programme, while prizes will go to grooms of the horses adjudged the best presented in each race. The popular Kiddies Stables will also be activated.
Meanwhile, the probable starters for the $2.5 million Jamaica Oaks are the recent Track Price Plus 1000 Guineas winner LATONIA, who is a hot ante-post favourite, the runner-up SLEW DANCER, her stable-companion SEGA, the Guineas third FLYWITHME, HENRIETTA MARIA who was fourth, along with POWERFUL BELLE, LADY LAMMTARRA, EXOTIC LINKS, DARLING ANNA and KEELER.
Early betting: Latonia 3-5, Slew Dancer 3-1, Sega 9-2, Flywithme 9-1, Henrietta Maria 12-1 bar.
