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The first qualifying heats of the 2014 BOV It-Tazza l-Kbira championship will be held on Sunday and Monday at the Marsa Race-track, Malta Racing Club chairman Matthew Brincat told reporters this week.
Every owner and driver aspire to enter the roll of honour in this prestigious race which sees the participation of the best trotters currently racing at Marsa.
“This year is more special as we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the race which was first held back in 1934,” Dr Brincat said.
“Naturally, at the time, the inaugural It-Tazza l-Kbira final was staged at the old racetrack. That race was won by Frise Poulet, a French trotter.”
For various reasons, the championship was not held every year but has been a permanent fixture on the MRC calendar since 2008.
A total of 61 horses have registered for this year’s competition. There will be five heats with the first six trotters home qualifying for the semi-finals.
The field features five mares and trotters from eight nations including France, Sweden, Germany, Italian, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States and Denmark.
Last year’s winner Nabab du Chatelet will be defending its title while eight newcomers are among the challengers for this year’s honour.
The 30 horses qualifying for the semi-finals will race again on April 16.
The top four from the three semi-final races will earn the right to contest the final on April 27.
This year, the championship has a record prize-fund to mark the 80th anniversary celebrations.
In fact, a total of €8,000 will be handed out on the final day alone from which €4,250 will go to the winner, €2,000 to the runner-up and €1,000 to the third-placed trotter in the final.
A further €9,600 will be distributed during the heats and semi-final races.
Apart from receiving the prestigious It-Tazza l-Kbira for a year, the owner of the winning trotter will also get a commemorative trophy.
As in past seasons, the Malta Racing Club will host a special programme on the day of the final.