Diamond Mile offers record $13.5m purse

The richest race in the English-speaking Caribbean, the inaugural running of the Diamond Mile offering a record purse of $13.5 million, will be run at Caymanas Park on Saturday, December 5, with Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) coming on board as title sponsor.

The event is hosted by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) and Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) and, according to racing secretary Denzil Miller Jr, it promises to be a memorable experience, "bringing glamour, fine entertainment and excitement to the Caymanas racing complex".

Details for the Supreme Ventures Diamond Mile were outlined by representatives of SVL, BGLC and CTL at yesterday's launch at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.

PRESTIGIOUS EVENT

"Supreme Ventures' commitment of $5 million to the raceday demonstrates our ongoing commitment to enhancing the horse-racing industry," said Paul Hoo, SVL's chairman. "We commend the BGLC for its vision in conceptualising and launching the plan earlier this year for what promises to be the most prestigious horse-racing event in the region.

"We certainly share the view of the BGLC chairman, Gary Peart, in his comments at the BGLC's launch in June this year that an event of this nature will help generate more revenue for CTL and, ultimately, it will help the owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, and all stakeholders at Caymanas Park.

"It is also very encouraging for a stakeholder in the gaming industry to note that the regulators do not see themselves as regulators, but also as facilitators assisting in the growth of the industry by their sponsorship.

"Our sponsorship of the Diamond Mile race day, a new investment for Supreme Ventures, is valued at $5 million, which will represent an investment of $18 million in sponsorship at CTL for 2015 alone. Indeed, our investment in the sponsorship of horse racing and the promotion of the racedays to date exceeds $103 million, by far the largest partnership in the horse-racing industry.

"As one of the companies bidding for the operations of CTL, our vision is to return horse racing to its former glory, with prestigious events that bring out the attendance of patrons, engender the interest of sponsors to come on board throughout the year and make the track one that all stakeholders will be proud of," he concluded.

Also speaking was CTL's chairman, Christopher Brown, who said SVL has now raised the bar with the addition of the ultra-rich Diamond Mile "which boasts the single-largest purse of any race - $13.5 million".

Denzil Miler pointed to several of the top horses expected to vie for top honours, including two-time 'Horse of the Year' TYPEWRITER; the 2013 Derby and St Leger winner, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR; and the crack imported horse, UPPA TUNE. He added that entries for the Diamond Mile will close on Wednesday, November 4, at 2 p.m.