Cal's new sponsor of Jamaica Derby

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The 91st running of the Jamaica Derby at Caymanas Park on Saturday, June 11 will have a new sponsor - Cal's Manufacturing Limited.

This was announced at yesterday's media launch at Caymanas Park for the much-anticipated Cal's Jamaica Derby - for the Sir John Mordecai Trophy - offering a whopping purse of $9 million, inclusive of $750,000 from the sponsor.

Cal's Manufacturing, distributors of Real Vibes Party Wine and other liquid-based products such as assorted syrups and ketchups, has contributed a total of $1 million to the purse of the Derby and two other sponsored races, on a day which offers total purse money of $16.8 million for 11 races.

"The derby represents a significant landmark in the life of a thoroughbred and we at Cal's feel that this association can only do well for our products," said Sabrina Thomas, Cal's Manufacturing's marketing manager.

Cal's has donated $150,000 to the $1.38 million purse of the Real Vibes Party Wine Sprint (grade one) over 1300 metres, a race that will feature the 'mother' of all clashes between the crack American horses - RONRON and MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE - over an ideal trip for both, as well as the Cal's Spring Water Juvenile Stakes for native bred two-year-olds, with a purse of $845,000, inclusive of $100,000 from the sponsor.

Dream victory

According to CTL's racing secretary, Denzil Miller Jr, it is the dream of every owner, trainer, jockey and groom to win the derby, as this is one of the milestones that will live forever at Caymanas Park.

Miller said the premier classic should see the likes of 2000 Guineas winner BIG MAN BOYU, Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) winner ERASMO, Oaks heroine CARIDAD, HERMOSA AMIGO, COLD GROUND, JET SETTER, RIGHT MARKER, MAAS LAURIE, TECHNOMOTO and RED FLAG, among others, in the line-up.

In addition to the sponsored races, provision has been made for the Kiddies' Village on the infield and also the derby after-show at Caymanas Park, featuring Kiprich, George Nooks, Jodian Pantry and One Third, with Jenny Jenny as MC.

CTL will also introduce an innovation to local horse racing fans for the first time - the Down The Backstretch Trivia game.

Project co-ordinator, Nicola Ramanand, explained that racing enthusiasts will have an opportunity to use the vast knowledge they have on horse racing history to win thousands of dollars (via text messaging) on a weekly basis, beginning on June 11.

The game combines the technology of mobile phones with 50 years of Caymanas Park milestones and memories.