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Delta Board Changes
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Jonathan Andrew Kirby as a non-executive director of the Company.... Read More...
With a storied history spanning fifty years, the Castle Tankard holds the lofty position of being the continent’s oldest sponsored horse race. This glamour was on full display on the first Saturday of May, when the celebrated racing event commemorated its golden jubilee at Borrowdale Race Course. In an interesting twist of fate, unheralded South African horse Code Rock ridden by Francois Herholdt and trained by Alyson Wright, won the Grade One event of the iconic fiftieth running of the Castle Tankard. Punters were left scratching their heads as the bookmakers favourite House of Wax another South African horse and the usual Borrowdale race course favourites of Winter’s Night and Captain Tiger were outrun. Code Rock galloped to glory in front of Winter’s Night, with Earl of Surrey and Captain’s Tiger left straggling in a race that attracted a strong field of 13. The other horses that took part in the race are Briefcase Bill, Pressure, Eight Street, Alula Borealis, Gracie Jones, Got Personality, and Boost My Ego. Max Karombo, the Marketing Director for Delta Corporation, expressed the giant beverage manufacturer’s joy in sponsoring the country’s biggest horseracing contest through the Castle Lager brand. “At Delta Corporation we are thrilled to be part of this excitement together with our longstanding partner Mashonaland Turf Club,” Delta’s Marketing Director said. He paid tribute to past and present members of the horse racing fraternity for their unwavering support over the past fifty years of the Castle Tankard. In 1960 in what was then known as the Castle Breweries Invitation Stakes, great South Africa sprinter Riza, galloped to glory in the inaugural Castle Tankard. This auspicious event jointly hosted by then Rhodesian Breweries and the Mashonaland Turf Club (MTC), pioneered sponsored racing in Southern Africa. Mr Mike van Blerk, the MTC Chairman commended Delta Corporation for ensuring the continued success of the prestigious horse racing event. “We may have had other grade one races but they have not survived this far. The Castle Tankard is one race that has stood the test of time and is still growing,” he said. The MTC Chairman also acknowledged the important role the Castle Tankard played in the community. “Indeed it is a race with history measured not only in the length of time but in its significance and depth of its impact in the socio economic and cultural values of our organisations and the community around us,” said Mr van Blerk. In a fun filled family day, prominent local entertainers such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Winky D, and man of the moment Ba Shupi as well as DJ L-Roy kept everyone in high spirits. Many race goers flaunted outfits in the gold, red and black Castle Lager colours, while a fashion showcase by some of the country’s leading designers such as Alice Knuth of Countess K and Collin Ratisai of CZee Rat added to the glamour.
Prior to race day, Castle Lager consumers got the chance to participate in the Golden Jubilee Castle Tankard Promotion. Two lucky consumers, one from the northern region and the other from the south walked away with an NP200 vehicle each while, on race day the most fortunate consumer drove away in a Toyota Hilux Vigo D4D. Smiles among the crowd were plentiful as many people walked away with surprise spot prizes. Patricia Murambinda, Delta Beverages Marketing Manager thanked the Zimbabwean public for their continued support and pledged that much like Castle Lager was the “perfect beer”, Delta Beverages would continue in its pursuit of perfection “We have bigger and better plans for next year where we will come with bigger and better prizes,” she promised.
Castle Tankard previous Winners
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