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Besides the S$350,000 E W
Barker Trophy, the Singapore Turf Club will also be staging the inaugural
running of the Jockey Club of Turkey Cup at Kranji on Saturday, the eve of
the prestigious Singapore Gold Cup.
The running of the Jockey Club of Turkey Cup follows the first Malayan
Racing Association (MRA) Trophy held at Veliefendi Racecourse, Istanbul on
April 29.
The MRA Trophy, a Grade III event for three-year-olds over 1600m on the
turf, was won by the favourite TOPOR (Sri Pekan - Shiero by Castle Rising).
The reciprocal arrangement between the MRA and the Jockey Club of Turkey was
made possible following a visit to the Jockey Club of Turkey by the
Malaysian Deputy Minister of Finance, Dato Dr Ng Yen Yen in 2005 when the
Ministry of Agriculture in Angkara requested Malaysia to establish ties
between the Jockey Club of Turkey and the turf clubs in Malaysia and
Singapore.
All the races in Turkey are held under the authority of the Ministry of
Agriculture and all betting is conducted by the Jockey Club of Turkey.
The Jockey Club of Turkey plays a key role in the Turkish breeding industry
and ensuring that the sport continues to thrive in seven major Turkish
cities. Seven of the races on Saturday will be named after these cities –
Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Adana, Sanliurfa and Elazig with the eighth,
Antalya, the capital of Turkish tourism.
Besides these races, the Singapore Turf Club will also stage the Ataturk
Cup, held in celebration of the memory of the first President and Founder of
the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Mustafa Kamal Atatürk.
The Club’s special guests that afternoon includes His Excellency Mr Mehmed
Mehdi Eker, Minister for Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Turkey and a
delegation from the Jockey Club of Turkey led by its President, Mr Yasin
Kadri Ekinci, as well as Mrs Gloria Barker and her family.
The top prize for the Turkish Day @ the Races Lucky Draw is a pair of return
air tickets to Istanbul and hotel accommodation in the city worth a total of
$5,000, sponsored by the Jockey Club of Turkey, and five consolation prizes
of $300 each, courtesy of the Singapore Turf Club.  |
