Castle Tankard final field unveiled

MICHAEL KARIATI

The 2024 edition of the prestigious Castle Tankard horse racing field nominees were announced at the Borrowdale racecourse on Tuesday with defending champion Ideal View and Raffles opening as the favourites for the title at 5/2.

Twelve  runners  will take to the starting  stalls  in the oldest sponsored horse racing event in Africa,  which is bankrolled by Zimbabwe’s largest brewer, Delta Corporation  to the tune of $50 000 .

The winning horse will take home $25 000.

In addition to the favourites Ideal View and Raffles, Dindingwe who finished second in 2023 just ahead of the absent Down To Business has also been accepted for the 2024 Tankard  Grade one race and opened betting at 8/1.

Trainer Bridget Stidolph has identified Dindingwe alongside Ideal View and Raffles as the dangers in the 2000 metre race to be run at Borrowdale Racecourse on May 11.

Bookmaker Peter Baar placed Tradition as the heavy outsider at 25/1 followed by Admirals’ Chance from the Debra Swanson stable at 20/1.

Jack Sparrow, Citrusidal, Wantage, Holy Land and Majestic Warriors are also expected to compete  in the Castle Tankard  horse race, following  their disastrous  performance in 2023.

With the exception of Holy Land, jockeys have not yet been announced.

But, the four trainers sharing the small field are Gavin MacLeod, Debra Swanson, Army Parham and Bridget Stidolph .