The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BG&LC) will again sponsor the 9th staging of Emancipation Race Day 2013 to be held at Caymanas Park on Thursday August 1.

The sponsorship is valued at $1.06 million with the feature event being the ninth running of the $800,000 BG&LC Trophy (Gr III) for Open Allowance horses going 1,100 metres. BG&LC’s contribution to the purse is $400,000.

BG&LC chairman Gary Peart made the announcement at a press launch at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Thursday where Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) racing secretary Denzil Miller Jnr outlined racing details.

Peart said that the BG&LC contribution of $1.06 million is to be distributed among the nine races carded, including six special trophy races that are named after fallen BG&LC workers.

These trophy races include The Emancipation Day Trophy, The Carl Hill Memorial Trophy, The Albert Rose Trophy, the Charles Randle trophy, the 9th running of the Emancipation Day Trophy and the Josseth Grey Memorial Trophy.

While there will be no significant increase in purses, the give-aways to punters have been greatly increased over last year’s. Gift items will be given to the first 1,250 patrons to enter the Stands on the BG&LC Emancipation Race Day. The hard working CTL grooms, starting gate attendants, and other staff for the day will be presented with BG&LC Race Day T-shirts.

Miller outlined that the day will be well supported by competitive fields, none moreso than the BG&LC feature. Among the possible starters for this race are the trigger-footed Double The Honey, Hupomone, Rio Cobre, Lashing Force, Potcheen, Traditional Prince, along with some late closers in Sweet Trail, El Poderoso, Kipling Weekend, Uppa Tune, Palace Gold, Prince Andrew, The Guv, Go Go Yvonne, Reasonable Press, Classy Prospect, Raging Prospect, and Typewriter.

The day will be further highlighted by the staging of the Emancipation Day Trophy for three-year-olds and upward claiming group ($600,000 – $500,000) going 1,300 metres for a purse of $570,000, inclusive of $200,000 from the sponsor. The remaining sum of $300,000 will be divided among the three supporting races on the card.

There will also be a Gimmick Race over 100 metres straight for a purse of $70,000, in which racing fans will be invited to participate. First place will receive $25,000, second place $20,000, third place $15,000 and fourth place 10,000. Entry forms for this event will close at 5:00 pm at the Racing Office today.