A Day at the Races for Peace - Comunicado PM

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER


MEDIA RELEASE

Dili, December 15, 2006

A Day at the Races for Peace

Horses from around the country will be racing in Tasi Tolu on Sunday.

An initiative of Prime Minster Ramos-Horta and a group of horse-racing aficionados, the event, labeled the ‘Peace Cup’, will bring together 30 horses or more from Dili, Suai, Oecusse and Liquica.

“Timor-Leste is renowned for its uniquely-bred ponies,” the Prime Minister said. “I hope these races can be the start of a renewal of Timor-Leste’s horse racing tradition and the development of a horse breeding and racing industry in our country.”

A main feature of the event, which is raising the most interest, brings together five Australian-bred race horses.

The Prime Minister’s own horse ‘Manatuto’ will be featured and is a favorite.

Eight year-old rising star jockey Aninhas Lopes, who was a front runner in the races held last year in November, will be riding another of the Australian-bred horses ‘Ilusião’.

Due to the differing sizes between competing horses, races are classified by height into Class A, B, C, D and E. The Australian-imported race horses will be competing in Class Super A and Super B.

The opening ceremony and the first races will be held on Sunday, December 17, from 2:00 PM at the racing track in Tasi Tolu. Races will continue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, culminating in the final race at 3:00 PM on December 23 and the presentation of the Peace Cup.

The event is aimed to bring people together in the name of peace and to promote unity and solidarity. All are welcome to come and enjoy a day at the races.

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Nota: É pena que o gabinete do PM tenha voltado a chamar a Timor-Leste, "DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE" em vez do nome correcto: REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR-LESTE".
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