This year's Tazza l-Kbira was announced this week with a press conference by the Malta Racing Club. Here are the details issued during the Press Release:
This Year’s “Tazza l-Kbira – Dragonara Casino Brasserie” horse racing event starts on Friday
Dr. Matthew Brincat, Malta Racing Club Chairman, announced today the launch of Malta’s most prestigious trotting trophy, It-Tazza l-Kbira. The prized Cup, It-Tazza l-Kbira, will be awarded to the winner of the championship Final, to be held on Sunday 7th April.
The early qualifying heats, featuring the top 72 trotters (61 from the Premier class and 11 from the Gold class) will be held this Friday. The race distance is as usual 2,640m and the first four horses from each of the six heats will qualify for the semi finals. The 24 semi-finalists will run again on Sunday 24th March. The first race on Friday 8th March starts at 18:30.
During the press conference held at the MRC Tote Shop, MRC Chairman Dr Matthew Brincat said, “It-Tazza l-Kbira, is the most prestigious Trotting Racing Trophy in Malta. This award dates back to 1934 and has built a reputation that all horse racing enthusiasts consider as the main annual event in this sport. The Trophy has been won over the years by some of the best horses ever to race on the island, has seen controversy on a number of occasions and has survived for nearly 80 years."
Dr Brincat continued “ this year’s participants come from no less than seven different countries, 42 French participants, 22 Swedes, 3 Germans, 2 originating in the US and one each from Denmark , Finland and the Netherlands. The youngest participant is Swede Opal Hall (6 years), whilst the oldest is French 2011 Tazza l-Kbira winner Kakisis, also the winner of the December VOB grand final held last year.”
The winner of this year’s It-Tazza l-Kbira Dragonara Casino Brasserie Final will be awarded the trophy for a year plus €2,600. The total prize money for the Final is €4,480, consisting of the first prize, €1,000 for the runner- up; €450 for the third place; €250 for the fourth place and €180 for the fifth placed. A trophy will also be awarded in respect of each of the first five placed horses. All finalists will be awarded a personalised number, horse blanket (ghata) with the winner of It-Tazza l-Kbira receiving a special horse blanket.
Dr. Brincat added “undoubtedly all the participants are quality horses and we wish the best of luck to all of them.”
The 2013 Tazza l-Kbira edition will be sponsored for the 2nd consecutive year by The Dragonara Casino Brasserie.
Malta Racing Club
6th March 2013