Have you had of the saying that Kampalans are the world’s happiest and loveliest people on the planet? Well if you haven’t, here is your chance to judge for yourself and rate the Kampalans on that front. If you’re to do this, then you need be part of this Kampala city tour event as you grace today’s royal ascot goat race that will take place at the Commonwealth Speke Resort Munyonyo one of the best luxury accommodation in Kampala. The Kampala goat race is a social fun fare event attended by Kampala’s cream de la crème social elites as well as a notable number of distinguished persons in all categories of life ranging from business moguls to entrepreneurs/business personnel and from the public sector.
What is the goat race all about?
Well honestly speaking, the goat race is way beyond the watching of a batch of uniquely dressed goats racing across a customized track line to more of a social event that brings individuals from all circles of life together to have a good time as well as engage in networking and establishing new connections for their businesses and meet new like-minded persons. However, if you have a thing for enjoying the goats as they dart along the track, well, you’re still covered because these goats will give a heap of laughter because sometimes it appears as if they have seemingly forgotten the entire reason why they are on the track which is to race but they decide to stand motionless or even decide to run in the complete opposite direction just a few meters shy of the finishing point which completely buffers your mind given the prizes in for their owners.
How did it all start?
Goat racing is a sport that originated in Buccoo, Tobago which is part of the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The sport has been continued by some legends in Townsville. Started in 1925 by a Barbadian, Samuel Callendar, racing historically occurs on the Tuesdays after Easter day celebrations, commonly referred to as Easter Tuesday though its an unofficial public holiday.
In the same faith, The Royal Ascot Goat Race in Kampala began in 1993, by the Entebbe sailing club with inspiration from Zimbabwe’s pig race which was organized by a local horse breeder who didn’t have enough space to organize a horse race. On the first edition of the Kampala goats race, which was organized to raise funds for charity started out with 400 attendees but by 1999, the event had grown to large numbers of attendees and it had to shift from Entebbe to Speke resort Munyonyo where it has been since then.
On this Kampala tour to Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo for the upcoming Royal Ascot Goat Race, if you’re a fun of horse racing you won’t fail to realize the acute similarities between this social event and the Royal Ascot Horse Race in the Ascot Berkshire, England this is because you will see that this goat race has been modelled to give you the same feeling as though you were in attendance of the royal ascot horse race in the UK in many ways than one, here are some of these
The event highly puts a spotlight on the fashion and style of the attendees and the best-dressed couple wins itself a prize.
You will notice that most of the ladies if not all that have graced this function are adorned in beautiful or elegant huts on their heads, this is certainly not because they had forecasted it be a sunny day on this occasion but rather are all trying to win themselves the prize for the lady with the best hut.
Several gentlemen will have themselves dressed in spandex but its not that the spandex are the trending style in men’s fashion but rather it also has a prize attached to it of the best man dressed in spandex.
There is also a concerted effort to have all the attending guest dine on the finest menu selections which range from Asian cuisines to continental and to local dishes that have been immaculately prepared by a team of well experienced 5-star chefs from the this luxury accommodation in Uganda hence if you’re a foodie just like, then make this Kampala day tour to Munyonyo for the goat race with an empty stomach so that you can maximize your chances of enjoying a wide array of food. If you’re a person who has a taste for good wine, well this is the best opportunity for you to taste a wide selection of premium brands of wines, spirits, vodkas and whiskies.
Goat races
Unlike the royal ascot horse race, where thee horse are well trained and bred for the race, the goats in the Kampala goat race receive none of that and maybe that explains they get stage freight during the race since they aren’t used to such a mammoth crowd of people hence fail to performance as per the expectations of their owners however what this has got in common with the horses in the royal ascot race is that the revellers will bet loads of money on the potential winners and the winning goat receives a prize for its efforts with prices ranging between Shs500, 000 to Shs1 million. Race prices on the hand range between Shs5 million to Shs10 million.
.The goat races consist of 10 goats per race and are 8 races in total. The first, second and third place winners receive cash.
The goats come dressed in T-shirts with numbers inscribed on them. The goat owners actually bet loads of money on which goat is going to win the race.
Spectators can also bet on goats through a preliminary parade around the track and a bettors’ guide that describes each goat, spectators can gauge possible winners.
A goat race sponsor entitles one to the naming of the race, branding around the track and on event screens, prize giveaways, tickers to enter the owners tent and free entrance to the event. You can also buy a goat to participate in any one or all the races. Each goat prize is determined by the price of the race you can name your goat, and entitled to tickets to the owner’s tent.
charity event
The royal Goat race event is ultimately the fun show for everyone in Uganda. It’s one way of giving back to the needy under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Proceeds collected from the tote will go to a charity selected by Ruparelia Foundation executive committee.
There is also a special weekend package for event-goers who will want to avoid the traffic gridlock. A deluxe package with two tickets to the event goes for $149 while an executive suite goes for $400. It comes with two tickets to the event and entrance to the owners’ tent.
Sponsors
The 2019 Royal Ascot Goat Races are powered by a number of sponsors, among whom are; the Ruparelia Foundation, Sanyu FM, Gold Star Insurance Company, the Tusker Malt beer, Robbialac brand of Crown Berger Uganda Ltd and Silk events.
Tickets
Tickets to the Goat Races are going go for Shs50,000, with early bird offers at Shs30,000. VIP, which entitles you access to the owners’ hospitality tent costs Shs350,000 for early Bird and Shs400,000 at the gate. The tickets can be bought through the organizers website on www.thegoatraces.com and at designated Ruparelia group centres. Gates to the Royal Ascot goats’ races event will open at 8 am where several goat fathers will model with their smartly dressed and branded goats with different names participating in each category and proceeding throughout the day.
If you are in Kampala for the goat race, after the race you can decide to visit Jinja source of the Nile and enjoy a 1 day Jinja tour in Uganda or Jinja source of the Nile tours to see various attractions in Jinja source of the Nile which include the source of the Nile, Itanda falls, birds, Lake Victoria. Engage in various safari activities in Jinja source of the Nile which include bungee jumping, white water rafting, horse riding, quad biking and kayaking. If you decide to have an overnight stay in Jinja, the town has various accommodations in Jinja source of the Nile you can choose from and these include Explorers River Camp, Nile River Camp, Jinja Nile Resort, Samuka Island Retreat, Source of The Smile Hotel and Guesthouse. Prime safaris has distinguished itself as one of the best companies that offers Jinja day trips/ 1 day Jinja source of the Nile tours/ 1 day Jinja tour in Uganda.
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