AREUTALKINTOME?will race out of gate No. 3 and Shared Adventure will battle from gate No. 9 in the March 8 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
This follows the post position draw for arguably the Caribbean’s most prestigious horse race during a Press briefing at the offices of the Barbados Turf Club (BTC) in the Incitatus Members Lounge before a fair-sized gathering yesterday.
BTC president Sir David Seale, in his welcome address, said it would be a record day as the club would be staging an 11-race card. He specifically welcomed the participation of the three overseas representatives – the Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey-owned Major Marvel, the Anthony Navarro-owned Nominee and his very own Dashing David – and said it should be one of the most competitive Gold Cups in many years.
General manager of Sandy Lane Hotel, Randall Wilkie, thanked the directors and management of the BTC, owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and the media for their dedication with the preparation for the 1 800 metres event.
“We are looking forward to a superb and a fantastic day of racing and we are truly honoured to be title sponsors for the 18th year with the Barbados Turf Club,” he said.
Wilkie later made the presentation of the trophy and the cheque to the BTC’s secretary and CEO, Rosette Peirce. In the draw, which was supervised by BTC steward Rawle Batson, the speedy Areutalkintome (Box 3) and American invader Major Marvel (Box 4) were drawn next to each other.
The other renowned speedsters Shared Adventure, Jakersam and the Trinidad and Tobago representative Nominee will be racing from positions 9, 10 and 11.
This could spell trouble for those drawn in the middle of the field with limited speed. It was later revealed that apart from the normal pomp and pageantry associated with the Gold Cup, the Savannah will be graced with the presence of the Merrymen, performing what has become the Gold Cup anthem, Beautiful Barbados.
Post?positions
(with parishes the horses are representing bracketed)
1. Dashing David (St Joseph), 2. Knight Rider (St Andrew), 3. Areutalkintome (St Philip), 4. Major Marvel (St Peter), 5. Daga (St George), 6. Discreetwon (St Lucy), 7. Aristodemus (Christ Church), 8. Indian Officer (St James), 9. Shared Adventure (Bridgetown), 10. Jakesam (St Michael), 11. Nominee (St John).
