Minister of Sports Reginald Farley (second left) accepting the Sandy Lane Gold Cup from British Airways Captain Tony Lovelace.

This year's Sandy Lane Gold Cup will feature more foreign horses than in previous years.

That’s because the success of last year’s televised broadcasts overseas has led to an increased interest in the event.

Vice-president of the Barbados Turf Club (BTC) Francis Cozier, made the disclosure yesterday, at the Grantley Adams International Airport, after the arrival of the Sandy Lane Gold Cup on a British Airways flight.

“This year, the foreign horses almost passed the local horses in entries. There were ten local and nine foreign. This has never happened before, and that indicates growing interest overseas for the race,” said Cozier, adding that the public could see horses from Britain participating next year.

The Gold Cup, now in its 23rd year, has been sponsored by Sandy Lane for the last seven years, and has become the biggest horse race in the English and French Speaking Caribbean.

Also on hand to receive the cup was Minister of Sports Reginald Farley who said that through the work of the BTC and Barbados Tourism Authority, “millions and millions more” people would be watching the event this year than last year.

Also on hand to witness the handing over of the cup were, Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch, Sandy Lane’s director of rooms Eric Mapp, and vice-president of the BTC Francis Cozier.

Compliments of the Nation News

The three overseas-based horses which arrived in Barbados last Saturday morning, were all seen on the exercise sand track yesterday morning, but, as expected, their work was limited to just cantering.

The Eugene Melnyk pair of Kathir, with work rider Madeline Scimetta, and Moonshine Hall (with Slade Callaghan aboard) were put through their paces.

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Compliments of the Nation News

Click to see if it will be fourth time lucky for millionaire owner Eugene Melnyk. His charge Kathir will run in the 23rd running of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at the Garrison on March 6th 2004.

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