Equestrian festival tomorrow

The Malta Racing Club will kick off its 2011 racing year with a bang tomorrow when hosting an equestrian festival featuring various horse racing breeds kept in Malta. The event, which starts at 12.50 p.m., also includes pony events, trot races and two competitions reserved for flat racing.

In a statement, the club said the exclusive meeting is aimed at all horse racing enthusiasts and for those who have never been at the racetrack before to enjoy this special event.

The trotting races in programme see the participation of some veteran drivers along with those still trying to make their mark at Marsa but certainly the ones to watch out for in future. There will also be a race featuring top TV personalities and no fewer than six races where only owners are allowed to drive.

The racing card features two flat races, one for Class A runners and the other one reserved for Class B racers. Both races will be over the short 1,750m distance.

Six horses are registered in each race, including a number of well-known trotters, the likes of Etoile du Pic, Lordswood and Mean Mr Mustard.

The Monte, a trotting race without sulky, will be contested over the 2,160m distance and also features six horses, including two racing in the Premier class – Liosco Atout and Love de Fleur, which together with Power Cape will start the race with a 20m handicap.

However, for the pure horse racing enthusiast the main attraction of the festival tomorrow should be the Grand Final for Premier class horses over 2,640m. This involves an equal number of horses from those that recently competed in the Prix de Vincennes final and the President’s Cup final at Marsa.

The contenders will be In Vitro du Bourg, James de l’Iton, Kakisis, Lou Petiot, Madis Boy and Melino du Rib, three Swedish horses, Arnie Sensation, Bello Fratello and Carnegie Hall, and an Italian trotter, Enjoy Kronos. Many of these horses have been among the main protagonists in the season just ended at Marsa.

Meanwhile, the racing club an-nounced that a number of presentations will also be held during the festival tomorrow for the best performers of the 2010 season.

Among others, awards will go to the top trotter, top flat race horse, best driver and jockey.