CHIN

Eight licensed bookmakers have joined forces to sponsor the season's first classics, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas to be run at Caymanas Park on Saturday, April 7.

Details of the new sponsorship were outlined by representatives of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) and the licensed bookmakers, fourof which were represented athe press launch on Tuesday morning last in the board room of CTL, Caymanas Park.

The group of eight participating bookmakers comprises Track Price Plus, Markham Betting, Champion Betting, Caribbean Turf, Ideal Betting, Summit, Post-to-Post and Capital Betting and Wagering.

Dennis Chin-You, chairman of Champion Betting Limited, said his organisation was pleased to be a co-sponsor.

United together

"We are proud that the book-makers have united together and hope that this will be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship," he said.

Xavier Chin, CEO of Track Price Plus the island's largest bookmaking concern, had this to say:

"Track Price Plus and the United Bookmakers Association have previously sponsored valuable races at Caymanas Park and now welcome the other licenced companies to the 1000 and 2000 Guineas in 2007.

"While we had hoped for a larger financial input, we are aware that there still remain severe restrictions on the bookmaking companies' ability to compete in the betting and gaming market, and we hope the government will address these matters soon.

Opening hours

"We welcome the decision by CTL to increase the payout return to 75 per cent of stakes, and now remind everyone that the legal bookmakers can only pass on the benefits to the punters without benefitting them-selves unless the opening hours restrictions are removed.

"That amendment would allow the punters to re-stake their increased winnings with the bookmaker thus creating increased sales and hopefully increased taxes to government and increased right fees to CTL.

"I once again call on all parties concerned to continue this unified approach to the industry, as we are all dependent on each other. Caymanas Park is the backbone of the entire racing industry and the betting sector must become more involved in securing its future."

In closing, Chin said the country could depend on Track Price Plus to continue "our support of Caymanas Park and the many owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and punters who depend on this important facility."

Leading lights for the 2000 Guineas confined to nativebred three-year-old colts andgeldings over 1600 metres are MUCHO GUSTO, RUM TALK, NATURALLY ROYAL, STRONG HOPE, RUN ALDEENO, ROMEZ, MARKTO MARKET, CHIPONYOURSHOULDER and TOOT THE HOOT.

The main hopefuls for the 1000 Guineas confined to the fillies are GLITTER CLEARANCE, FIRST PRINCESS, GRACE MARIE, JAZZY JET, RIO INFINITO and the lightly raced, but improving FIDDLE STICKS.

Kiddies Stables

CTL's racing secretary Denzil Miller Jr. said the purse for each race is $2.5 million, up from $2.25 million last year. He predicated "another exciting classic season ... it's worth going miles to see."

Millicent Lynch, CTL's executive manager for marketing, described the sponsorship of $2.5 million as "tremendous" adding it was "definitely beneficial to the industry."

She envisaged an exciting day of racing with prizes and surprises for patrons at Caymanas Park in addition to the Kiddies Stables.

Among those present were Egerton Chang, managing director of Capital Betting and Wagering; Michelle Chin, general manager of Markham Betting; Walford Brown, CEO of CTL; Ruth Ann Smith-Sutherland, general manager of the Jamaica Racing Commission and Lloyd Cobran, chief steward.

- O.C.