Sekou Mark, right, general manager, corporate banking, First Citizens, hands over the Gold Cup to Kenwyn Ogeer, chief executive officer, of the Arima Race Club (ARC).

First Citizens Bank will sponsor the feature event on Boxing Day-The FCB Gold Cup over 2,000 metres on the main course. The Grade One event has a purse of $500,000 and will see eight thoroughbreds vying for the position of champion stayer of the South Caribbean. However, for two of those horses, Bruceontheloose and Blackstone Street, the race is also for “Horse of The year 2009” title. The John O’Brien trained Bruceontheloose which is unbeaten in this country has been impeccable, beating the three-year-olds easily in two legs of the Triple Crown —The Midsummer Classic and Derby.

Now, he will take on the older horses headed by last year’s Gold Cup winner Chief Commander. When the draw for position was made yesterday, last year’s victor, Chief Commander who whipped Storm Street in a close finish, will run from post position six. The Glenn Mendez trained Blackstone Street which won the Stewards Cup a month ago will race from pole position seven with Canadian champion jockey Patrick Husbands in the saddle. Bruceontheloose has the chance to give its admirers another chance to smile when it breaks out from stall eight at the outside of the field with Calder based jockey Wilmer Galviz astride.

Galviz looks to have no more than a steering job as trainer John O’Brien showed when he gave the Tres Amigos owned roan colt his final piece of work on Sunday morning. Bruceontheloose had turfites and onlookers shaking their heads in disbelief as he toyed with stablemate Raging Halo over 1,200 metres. Bruceontheloose galloped superbly as he registered the time of 1.13.20 for the distance with jockey Heribert Martinez doing precious little. At the press conference held at All Sports office yesterday, Managing Director Anthony Harford stated that ten companies came out to support the Boxing Day card to the tune of $125,000.

BOXING DAY RACES
Here is the list of companies and the races they have sponsored

• Race 1: The Ceramic Trinidad Trophy: 1100m (Turf) —Purse $20,000,
• Race 2: The Grey Goose Vodka Challenge: 1350m —Purse $35,000,
• Race 3: The Barbados Tourism Authority Trophy: 1600m —Purse $35,000
• Race 4: The Ultra Lubricant Challenge: 1200m—Purse $30,000
• Race 5: MRI of Trinidad & Tobago Trophy: 1350m —Purse $28,000
• Race 6: The Trotters Sports Bar Trophy: 1350m—Purse $24,000
• Race 7: The Toyota Challenge: 300m—Purse $35,000
• Race 8: The RIK Booksellers Trophy: 1350m —Purse $32,000
• Race 9: The First Citizens Gold Cup: 2000m —Purse $500,000
• Race 10: The Allsport Finale: v200m —Purse $30,000