Wednesday 20th April 2016
Equality Tazza l-Kbira



MALTA RACING CLUB


Since 1868


 



 


 


Equality Tazza Kbira


 


The biggest race in the local harness racing calendar is the Tazza l-Kbira and the Final will be raced next Sunday 24th April.  This year’s edition is being sponsored for the first time by Equality.


 


As always every owner was enthusiastic to enlist their horses for this competition as it is everyone’s wish to hold up high this prestigious trophy at least once.


 


Five qualification races were held on Sunday 27th March in which a total of 57 horses participated after three were declared as non runners. During one of these races the best timing ever recorded in this competition over the 2640m distance was registered by Pedro Vici when driven by Johann Axisa he clocked 1’13”9/km. Unfortunately this horse never got to participate in the semi finals as he died a few days before.


 


On 10th April we had the two semi finals each with 9 horses so that the first 6 from each race made it to the final. Amongst these twelve we have four that were also finalists last year including the winner Qui Sait who will be attempting to become the fourth horse to win more than one edition of this competition.


 


Up till now it has been Ike Williams C who has won this honour 4 times in 1962, 1963, 1965 and 1966 whilst Voe Sole won the 1952 and 1953 editions. Recently it was James de l’Iton that won the two consecutive editions of 2008 and 2009. The best time ever registered during the final over this distance was last year’s 1’15”2 by Qui Sait driven by Rodney Gatt although the national record over this distance is 1’13”6.


 


As always it was the owners themselves during the television programme Sal-Gister who drew up the numbers with which their horses will be starting behind the autostart next Sunday.


 


It would not be such a big event without having a philantropic association and during next Sunday’s racing programme a collection will be done by the volunteers of Ghaqda Solidarjeta bl-Isport with all proceeds going to the Community Chest Fund and l-Istrina.  This is the first of a series of collections that are held during the racing season so that in December the sum would be significant. This is all thanks to the generous contributions of all those present at the racetrack. Apart from this a horse painting by Ray Farrugia will be auctioned off with proceeds going towards Puttinu.


 


Abiding by tradition the owners and drivers of the finalist horses will be presented to the public utilising automobiles and Harley Davidson Motorcyles. The horse’s parade will be led by the 2014 Tazza l-Kbira winner Cloria Victis.


 


The Equality Tazza l-Kbira will be the 7th race of the programme starting at 16:40.  A total of €4950 in prize money will be distributed with €2700 for the winner.  Trophies and prize money will be given to the first five finishers with the winning horse also getting a commemorative presentation blanket and the owner keeping the Tazza l-Kbira for one year. The twelve finalist horses will also be receiving a blanket to be used during the parade and personalised numbers that can be kept as a souvenir.


 


The general public is encouraged to come to the racetrack next Sunday in order to be present for this event which is surely going to provide a spectacle with a well balanced and fought out race.


 


Five Gold races will also be on the programme with the winner of each race receiving a €200 voucher from the sponsors of It-Tazza l-Kbira Equality.


 


Lorraine Cunningham


Public Relations & Media Officer


Malta Racing Club


 


MRC/03/16


 


 


 


 

Malta Racing Club, Racecourse Street, Marsa.


Tel: 21224800


E-mail: info@maltaracingclub.com


Website: www.maltaracingclub.com




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