This year 68 premier category horses registered to take part in the Tazza l-Kbira. From the 6 heats, 24 gained the right to participate in the semi finals from which the last 12 emerged to dispute the final next Sunday.

 

The Tazza l-Kbira is the biggest event in local harness racing and every owner and driver aspires to put down his name at least once in the honour roll of this championship.

 

With pleasure we note that this year we have several owners and drivers that will be participating in the final for the first time and we hope that this will be an experience they will treasure for many years. Even though there can only be one winner but to be one of the final twelve is already an achievement.

 

As has been done in the recent years, the draws for the final were done by the owners themselves during the television horse racing programme Sal-Gister and the Malta Racing Club has prepared a special programme befitting the event.

 

On Thursday evening the owners and drivers of the finalist horses were treated to a dinner in order to be briefed regarding Sunday’s programme. This dinner was hosted by Chukkas Restaurant, the main sponsor of this year’s Tazza l-Kbira. Present also was the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sport, Research and Innovation The Hon. Chris Agius. All those present got to meet for the first time the newly appointed Malta Racing Club Chairman Mr Edwin Borg who had just officially taken office.

 

During this dinner the owners were presented with blankets and personalised numbers to be used in the parade preceeding the race.

 

The general public is urged to be present at the Marsa Racetrack on Sunday and this does not include only those into horse racing but also those that like cars and motorcycles. Just after noon it is envisaged that MG Cars as well as Harley Davidson motorcycles will arrive at the racetrack and at 3:30 a parade will be held during which the owners and drivers of the finalist horses will be taken to the presentation area so that they will be given a token of participation. The Tikka Band will also be present to create a festive atmosphere.

 

The Tazza l-Kbira Final is the 7th one of the programme and starts at 4:40 pm. A parade with the finalist horses will be held just before the race that will be led by the 2011 winner Kakisis who has since then been retired.

 

The race has a distance of 2640m and total prize money of €4950 of which €2700 go to the winner. Glass trophies commissioned for the occasion will also be awarded to the first five finishers.

 

Although the national record over the distance is 1’13”6 the best ever time registered during this competition over the same distance of 2640m is that of 1’14”4 by Oran in one of last year’s semi finals. Still the best time ever registered during the final over 2640m belongs to Mig of the Wood when he had clocked 1’15”4 in 2012.

 

 

 

Amongst this year’s finalists we have last year’s winner Cloria Victis that will be defending his title once again under the guidance of Charles Degiorgio that since last year has established himself as a professional trainer/driver in France and who will be in Malta especially for this final.

 

On behalf of the Malta Racing Club Council we wish a magnificent race to all the finalists and a great spectacle to all those present.

 

Lorraine Cunningham

Public Relations & Media Officer

Malta Racing Club

 

 

MRC/13/15