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Takudzwa Chitsiga Harare Bureau

THE field for the 27th OK Grand Challenge annual horse race was announced yesterday with defending champion, Equina, part of the strong line-up of 14 horses.The prestigious $40,000 horse race will be staged at Borrowdale Race Course in Harare on June 6, the same day when the OK Grand Challenge grand draw will be conducted.

OK Zimbabwe chief operations officer, Albert Katsande, said the 27 years of the running of the OK Grand Challenge horse race is something that they value and they will continue to sponsor the event.

“This is a great investment in the development of racing and I also thank the owners and trainers for an excellent field, totalling 14,” said Katsande.

“We are hopeful that this race will thrill the 50,000 people expected to attend this year’s OK Grand Challenge grand draw.”

Equina, who won last year’s Castle Tankard horse race at Borrowdale, will also be part of what appears a highly competitive field for the OK Grand Challenge horse race.

Mashonaland Turf Club racing chairman Brian Black said this year’s event will be big and better and will deliver a tougher race.

“Rarely do you get all the horses that have been entered for a race being declared to run. So for us it’s something that is quite impressive.

“By just looking through the field, one can tell that it’s going to be a tough race and we look forward to an exciting race meeting,” said Black.

The field will have Castle Tankard winner, Yer-Man from the St John Gray stable, who will come carrying a weight of 61.5 kgs.

Gorkhan Terzi stable has the highest number of entries in Lucky Sam, Menacing, Super Trouper, Merhaba, Rock the Country and Got Hold On Me while the Amy Bronkhorst stable has three.

OK Grand Challenge field

Yer-Maan, Norgay (all St John Gray) Lucky Sam, Menacing, Super Trouper, Merhaba, Rock the Country ,Got Hold On Me (all Gokhan Terzi); Two Gun Kid (D’Aquino); Madigan(Kirk Swanson); Equina, Say So Tiger, Thriller in Manilla (Amy Bronkhorst); Warcraft (Alyson Wright).