THE 56th edition of the Castle Tankard Horse Race scheduled for May 7 at Borrowdale Racecourse in Harare promises to be yet another thriller.
Running under the theme, ‘It all comes together with Castle’, this year’s Castle Tankard will have a number of sporting and entertainment activities.
Each year, scores of people of different age groups grace the event.
The popular horse race is complemented by a lot of entertainment activities.
The ‘after party’ of this year’s race will be headlined by top musicians Jah Prayzah, Winky D, XQ and DJ Stavo.
Music has become a major highlight of the race, attracting hordes of people.
The chairman of Mashonaland Turf Club, Christopher Peech said the Castle Tankard will grow bigger every year.
“The Castle Tankard horse racing event is the first ever sponsored horse race in Africa and it is no exaggeration that it remains the most prestigious horse race in Zimbabwe,” said Peech at a press briefing.
However, with no tradition of horse riding it seems indigenes at the racecourse are more interested in the entertainment aspect of the event than the actual horse racing.
Many are interested in the music performances and paratroopers.
The Castle Tankard has become a platform where revellers are able to enjoy high-riding artistes for a reasonable fee and in a family-friendly environment.
Another exciting activity lined up at this year’s Castle Tankard is the fashion show that will see models showcasing the African print.
The fashion fiesta will run under the theme ‘Rocking the African Print’.
“After decades of being strictly relegated to the runway, the African print had made inroads to become an essential piece of today’s dress code,” said Delta marketing manager Patricia Murambinda.
Delta Beverages, through Castle Lager, are the major sponsors of Castle Tankard.
Castle Lager’s relationship with horse racing dates back to around 1904 when the Castle brand first played a significant role as an advertiser.