adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE 52nd edition of the Castle Tankard horse race was officially launched at a brief ceremony held at a Bualwayo hotel on Monday night.
Speaking during the ceremony, Delta Beverages’ channel executive manager for the Southern Region, Beang Moyo said the promotion officially kicks off today and will run up until May 10, the day of the race.
“I am sure you are aware that the Castle Tankard is the biggest horse race in Africa, having been running since 1960 although there was a three-year sabbatical leave due to a squeeze on the economy,” said Moyo.
As in previous years, the Borrowdale race track in Harare will be the venue for this prestigious race on the horse racing calendar.
Last year the event, which had prize stakes of $50,000, ran under the theme “Destination Perfection.”
The premier race was run over 2,000 metres on a race card with seven other races all sponsored by Delta brands namely Castle Milk Stout, Castle Light, Golden Pilsner, Zambezi, Zambezi Light, Bohlinger’s and Carling Black Label.
On the competition side, Zimbabwean horses have been coming second best to their South African counterparts with the last Zimbabwean horse to win being Winter’s Night in 2010.
Last year, A King Is Born became the third South African horse in a row to win the 2,000-metre event at Borrowdale Racecourse.
Online Reporter