by TYRONE EVELYN

IT IS EXTREMELY difficult for any sporting organisation in Barbados to survive without the sponsorship support of the corporate sector.

This opinion was advanced by Francis Cozier, vice-president of both the Barbados Turf Club (BTC) and the Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (BTBA), at a media conference called earlier in the week to launch Guardian General Insurance Day, which runs off at the Garrison tomorrow.

Cozier, who was sitting in for BTBA president Rawle Batson who was out of the island, was at the time complimenting Guardian Life for its sponsorship of tomorrow's race day in general and the feature race in particular.

Cozier disclosed that Guardian General Insurance Breeders' Stakes and Trophy was the third largest race in Barbados with respect to prize money, and that only the Sandy Lane Gold Cup and the United Derby were bigger.

Robin Bynoe, a BTC director who moved the vote of thanks, observed it was races like the Guardian General Breeders' Stakes which encouraged breeders to try and breed quality horses since the prize money gave "breeders something to aim for".

John Jones, executive manager of Guardian General, said his company was happy to be associated with sponsoring such a race and it was a demonstration of his company's "civic duty and responsibility".

He said he was grateful to both the BTC and the BTBA for their efforts in putting together tomorrow's feature race.

Jones said the intention was to make tomorrow's racing at the Garrison "a family affair".

In this regard, they would be introducing a Kiddy Korner mascot and road safety advocate at the track.

He added there would be clowns, balloons, a jumping tent, play castles and other forms of entertainment so families could come to the races and enjoy the day.

The day's feature race, the Guardian General Insurance Breeders' Stakes and Trophy, is for Barbados-bred three-year-olds to be run over a distance of 1 570 metres.

It carries prize money totalling $74 228 (including subscriptions), with the winner getting $40 825, second place $15 588, third place $10 392, and fourth place $7 423.

HERE ARE the weights and entries for tomorrow:

Race 1: The Guardian General Flexi Office Trophy Handicap, C1 to E1, 1 100 metres, Purse $12 000: 1. Morethanawomen 130, 2. Tobys Dream 123, 3. Captain PJ 130, 4. Who's Wavering 125, 5. Good Intent 106, 6. Lion Country 117.

Race 2: The Guardian General Commercial Fire Trophy Condition, W.I. Bred 4YO&Over M'dns & G2 winners, 1 100 metres, Purse $8 500: 1. Crystal Dancer 130, 2. Spirit Of Gold 123, 3. Katsumi 133, 4. Forever 'N'Ever 131, 5. Early Flight 121, 6. Makemyday 132, 7. El Mundo Puro, 8. Machiavelli 126, 9. Major Tom 133, 10. Celestial Dream 124.

Race 3: The Guardian Flexiplus Home Owners' Trophy Condition, Imported 3YO M'dns, 1 100 metres, Purse $12 000: 1. X It 116, 2. Turbulent Guy 116, 3. Piper Perkins 109, 4. Heavy Roller 102, 5. Just Jiving 116, 6. Lightning Pilot 119, 7. Crossing Nile 121, 8. Naparima 123, 9. Friendly Manner 119, 10. Kentucky Chill 121.

Race 4: The Guardian General Motors Assist Trophy Condition, W.I. Bred 3YOs (non-winners of 2 races in career) & 3YO M'dns, 1 100 metres, Purse $10 500: 1. Hypa Cat 116, 2. Island Express 119, 3. What A Splash 113, 4. Mr Price 123, 5. Anacapri 116, 6. Van Hesling 126, 7. Supersonic 116, 8. Pirate 119, 9. Arrangement 106, 10. Dancin' 119, 11. Mighty Diamond 106, 12. Victoria Bay 109, 13. Celestial Queen 106, 14. Surgard 109.

Race 5: The Guardian Motor Insurance Trophy Condition, G1&G2, 1 570 metres, Purse $8 000: 1. Early Flight 115, 2. Lubricator 126, 3. Scarlet Light 121, 4. Coral Princess 130, 5. Soca Dancer 124, 6. Malabar Todd 102, 7. Wellington 126, 8. Restless Rullah 114, 9. Maestro 133, 10. Machiavelli 110, 11. Dettori 126.

Race 6: The Guardian Material Damage All Risks Trophy Condition, F1&F3, 1 570 metres, Purse $9 500: 1. Midnight Lace 120, 2. Nice Reality 127, 3. Senor Clemente 116, 4. Island Lady 113, 5. Holy Nak 126, 6. Sweet Music 112, 7. Whispering 112, 8. Destiny's Child 109, 9. Sweet Dreams 111, 10. Giovanetti 130, 11. Here And Now 117, 12. Forever 'N'Ever 105, 13. Bandanna Day 109, 14. Wild Kisser 133, 15. Inherit The Wind 122, 16. Mr Blue 133, 17. Grey The Minstrel 105.

Race 7: The Guardian General Insurance Breeders' Stakes & Trophy, B'dos-bred 3YOs, 1 570 metres, Purse $39 288: 1. Zouk 120, 2. Poetic Justice 120, 3. Victoria Bay 123, 4. Body 'N'Soul 120, 5. Lady Flood 120, 6. First Edition 123, 7. Queen Of Sheba 120, 8. Mach One 123.

Race 8: 6:03 p.m. The Guardian General Contractors' All Risks Trophy Condition, D1&E2, 1 570 metres, Purse $11 000: 1. Secret Prince 133, 2. Flag Woman 112, 3. Sugar Daddy 113, 4. King Solar 102, 5. Officer 120, 6. Spectacular Dixie 109, 7. Dixie Brassbowl 113, 8. Royal Affair 118, 9. Minnesota 126, 10. South Sea 102, 11. Don Anglesonny 115.