RTC takes charge of the stables
View(s):Sri Lanka’s second governing body for horse racing had been launched under the name of Royal Turf Club (RTC), who is likely to take over the operations of the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse. RTC, which will replace the operational activities at the well known Nuwara Eliya Racecourse, hopes to make its official launch in the coming week with the first race set for March.
Royal Turf Club expects to start off their activities with a launch followed by the first horse race meet in March
Sri Lanka Turf Club (SLTC), the sole governing body for horse racing for over 144 years, will not be involved in any of the operations at the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse, according to reliable information, after RTC gained control over the venue to conduct horse racing events.
Headed by equestrian Suranjith Premadasa, the other office bearers of the RTC include, Lucille Dahanayake as the Secretary, Nishitha Rupasinghe as the Treasurer while Ranjith Dahanayake, Nihara Jayatilleke and Sudharshana Deshapriya form the Committee.
According to Lucille Dahanayake, the RTC has to date made a sizeable investment to develop the infrastructure of Nuwara Eliya Racecourse, including renovating the track and replacing the track railings, refurbishment of the Grand Stand, Steward Room, Jockeys’ Rooms, as well as all other buildings within the premises which were in need of extensive repairs. Dahanayake, asserted that the main focus of RTC based on sports tourism, which is not under-utilized by the potentially feasible Island Nation.
“The main issue is that horse racing has never reached that level over the recent times. It’s never run in a professional manner; races were conducted for mere fun. We want to change that picture, make horse racing more vibrant and make it an integral part of sports tourism. We have to start somewhere and we believe this is the best way to give it a start,” Dahanayake said.
As part of its intended work, the RTC hopes to go on with its development programme by investing over the next two years, in partnership with foreign investors to make Sri Lanka and Nuwara Eliya, a racing hub for the region.
As part of their long term development strategy the RTC have secured the services of Wayne Wood as their inaugural Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Stipendiary Stewards, and Sinclair Marshall as Thoroughbred Riding Instructor and Stipendiary Steward. Wood, a respected member of the international racing community comes to the Club with a wealth of thoroughbred racing experience, both in practical terms and as a senior administrator. Wood held the position of Chief Integrity Steward for the Royal Western India Turf Club in Mumbai and most recently as the Director of Racing and Chief Stipendiary Steward for the Bangalore Turf Club. Wood is noted for his integrity and for being a fair and fearless adjudicator with a no nonsense attitude towards those who breach the Rules of Racing.
Marshall who takes up the position of Thoroughbred Riding Instructor and Stipendiary Steward is a dedicated, energetic professional specialising in the thoroughbred racing industry. He held the position of Stipendiary Steward and Riding Instructor and track-work jockey at the Bangalore Turf Club up to the time of his appointment in Sri Lanka and his specialty is building skills to establish trust and credibility and represent the jockey’s community with the turf authorities of India at all levels.
Marshall has ridden in both in England and Macau, for a brief stint, riding 983 winners out of around 4000 rides. He has ridden eight Derby winners across the country and several 1000, 2000 Guinness and graded races, and in total 38 Indian classic winners. He was champion jockey several times in the Bombay, Pune, Madras and Mysore Turf Clubs.
Under the guidance of these two renowned names in the global world of horse racing and an experienced committee, the RTC aims to elevate and uplift the standard of horse racing in Sri Lanka to new heights and bring back the traditions of this gentlemanly sport.
“We are in the process of drawing our annual event calendar with the aim of kick-starting horse racing in Nuwara Eliya very soon. Since July 2015, what the RTC has done is take charge of the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse and give it a deserving facelift. By today anyone who sees it, will surely feel overwhelmed with the current improvement of the racecourse. The future of horse racing, as we at RTC anticipate, will be totally different and more globalised than it was in Sri Lanka. It’s just someone has to initiate and we at RTC, take great pride in being that unit who stepped forward for a positive change in horse racing,” she explained.