Perak Derby still a big attraction

Go-Ram
New Straits Times
04-19-2011
Perak Derby still a big attraction
Byline: Go-Ram
Edition: Main/Lifestyle
Section: Main Section

THE Perak Derby is back and fans can look forward to an interesting clash of well-performed horses where the stakes are high and the competition fierce in Ipoh this Sunday.

Major stables have multiple entries for the Perak Turf Club's big meeting with well planned strategies being worked out. Clearly the weakness and strengths of the opposition are being studied by all so that plans do not go awry.
The good news is that while other clubs have reduced its prize money for classics, PRTC has maintained its stakes for the Derby at RM500,000 which is a positive sign for the industry.

Eleven top gallopers have been entered for the Derby including three who have previously won the big race - Generous Tycoon, the defending champion, Good Nature, the 2009 winner and Kiko's Return, winner in 2008. Free Spirit, a multiple classic winner with winnings close to RM4 million, and Trigger Express, who has won two classics including one in Singapore and with winnings of RM2 million, are also entered for the event. Joining the lineup is Professional Man, winner of the richest classic on the Malaysian circuit, the Yang Di- Pertuan Negeri Gold Cup. Others entered are Flying Cat, Eagle, Joker Treasure, Sakima and Worth The Wait, winner of the Astro Wah Lai Toi Charity Cup.

Sunday will see PRTC take centre stage with the staging of its oldest classic and the only one in the Malaysia-Singapore circuit to be run over a gruelling 2400m.

The first edition of the Perak Derby was run in 1896 with prize money of only $1,000. But over the years, it has snowballed to RM500,000.

Prior to the opening of the Kranji racecourse in 1999, the Singapore Derby was the only other classic run over 2400m.

The late Ivan Allan, a seven-time champion trainer on the MRA circuit and three-time champion in Hong Kong, holds the record of being successful nine times in the series. Only one horse has won the Derby three times and that distinction goes to Opposing Force, who was successful in 2001, 2002 and 2005.

Meanwhile, the totalisator operator must make betting more affordable on the Malaysian circuit and should consider reviewing the present minimum RM10 bet for win and place back to RM5. Horse racing is for everyone from the rich to the man-on-the-street. Betting has been affordable for more than 150 years with bets of RM2 in the 50s for a win or place and then RM5 per unit on the win and place investment.

The move by the tote operators to increase the price of ticket per unit for win and place investment from RM5 to RM10 will encourage punters to look for other illegal betting avenues affordable to them. Illegal bookies and Internet operators are giving discounts and one can bet for as low as RM3.80 to RM4.20 for a RM5 bet. The minimum bet of RM10 will also stop the man-on-the- street, who knows very little about racing to bet legally.

But with the 100 percent increase in the price per unit for win and place bets, it will only see the mushrooming of food courts and coffee shops punters, where one can enjoy a meal and place bets illegally, which will only see less punters attending races.

(Copyright 2011)