Africa’s oldest horse race, the Castle Tankard was finally launched at the Borrowdale Park on Friday, following an $85 000 sponsorship by Delta Beverages under its brand Castle Lager.
The Castle Tankard, back after a three-year absence due to financial difficulties will be the feature race on 21 May at Borrowdale Park race track and will be run over 2 000 metres with the winner of the grade 1 race assured of a cool $50 000.
Seven other races which will be sponsored to the tune of $35 000 are also on the cards.
Delta Beverages Marketing Manager, Maxwell Karombo, expressed pleasure in unveiling the prestigious horse racing event.
“I feel greatly honoured to share with you the pleasure of launching the 2011 Castle Tankard sponsorship. Perfection is upon us today as we proudly launch Africa’s oldest sponsored race and arguably its most prestigious horse race,” said Karombo.
“We at Delta Beverages, through our Castle Lager brand have enjoyed a long standing relationship with Mashonaland Turf Club, a relationship that spans over 50 years. Over the years, the Castle Tankard has managed to attract participation from the best that horse racing in the region has to offer. It is indeed the pinnacle event on the Zimbabwean racing calendar, comparing favourably with other regional races,” added Karombo
The last real Castle Tankard was held in 2007 while the competition in 2008 was just a low-key event although it had the name Castle.
By returning to sponsor the Castle Tankard, Delta becomes one of the biggest investors in Zimbabwe sports as they also injected some money into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and the annual Sportsperson of the Year awards. Stakes in races have been competitive and this Sunday sees the running of the Independence Trophy at Borrowdale Park race course.
