KAMPALA –The 2019 edition of the popular Royal Ascot Goat Races was launched on Thursday in a glamorous feast of celebration at Kabira Country Club in Kampala.
It will take place on Saturday, October 12, at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Known for networking, fun, eats and drinks crowned with spectacular performances from various artists, the 2019 edition will colour and brighten up the skies with fireworks.
The Ascot Goat Races is always a fabulous event to attend as it is massive on the fun – music, good food and beverages, networking and the goats racing.
The organizers have managed to hold onto their regular sponsors of the previous edition, according to the details on the launch invite.
The event’s organizers, Rajiv and Sheena Ruparelia both expressed their excitement in anticipation of the expectant date of October 12, 2019, when it’s due to take place.
The 2019 edition has attracted multiple sponsors including NTV, Goldstar Insurance, Speke Resort Munyonyo, Sanyu FM and Berger Robbialac paints.
Other corporate sponsors include; Uganda Breweries Limited, Tusker Malt Lager has returned again this year as the main sponsors plus the Ruparelia Foundation.
The proceeds from the race will go to Good Samaritan school in Kamwokya which has over 500 pupils. The funds will assist in the construction of the school’s toilets by the ghetto research lab, an environmental organisation that makes bricks, pavers and other construction materials from polythene bags and plastics.
The highest goat was auctioned at UGX 2.6M with scintillating performances from Uganda’s favourite gospel artiste Levixone wh took the crowd by storm.
The pomp-filled event is known for networking, fun, eats and drinks crowned with spectacular performances from various artists, 2019 edition will colour and brighten up the skies with fireworks.
The annual high-profile event attracted Kampala’s celebrities and socialites that included Judith Heard and Comedian Salvador who was the event’s official MC.
It will be hosted at its usual home at Speke Resort Munyonyo, the event’s major attraction and crowd puller is its water-front goat race track.
The event is also widely famed for its lavish food, comfortable VIP areas and the corporate and celebrity crowd it pulls to Munyonyo.
The Royal Ascot Goat Races, held at the Speke Resort on the shores of Lake Victoria, have been an annual Kampala tradition since 1993. It’s arguably the biggest event on the Ugandan social calendar and many fans are expected to attend the affair that started in 2004 as an annual charity event.
Speaking at the launch, Rajiv, the event coordinator, described the Goat Races as the most popular event on Uganda’s social calendar for all the years it has been hosted.
He said the event offers a great networking environment where people can network for business opportunities, corporations also, use the occasion as a platform to entertain and engage their customers while meeting new people but also that it is good for a family day out.
Different sponsors (corporate companies) said they were happy to be associated with the event that is aimed at giving back to the community.
The VIP tent at the event is reserved for race owners and goat buyers. It is known for its big set up, luxury feel and complementary foods and beverages.
The event is an occasion for fans to be dressed up in the fanciest of hats and outfits. There are top prizes for best-dressed couple, female, male and kids.
Fans can bet on the goats and the first, second and third place winners receive cash from the eight races, each consisting of 10 goats.
A goat race sponsor name the race, benefit from branding around the track and on have their brands displayed on giant event screens. They give away prizes and complimentary tickets to fans to enter the event free of charge.
A reveller can also buy a goat to participate in any one or all the races.
Goat prices range between Shs500, 000 to Shs1 million. Race prices on the hand range between Shs5 million to Shs10 million, with races of Shs6 million, Shs7 million and Shs10 million already sold to EROFOLEX, Orient Bank and Gold Star Insurance respectively.
Tickets for the general public range from Shs25000 for kids aged 8-10 years, those who book early pay Shs30000 while Shs50000 is charged at the gate. VIP tickets go for Shs350, 000 for those who book early while Shs400, 000 is charged at the gate.
The fans who want to beat the traffic on that weekend can book for accommodation at Speke Resort Munyonyo at special rates of US$149 and US$400 for Deluxe package and Executive suite respectively.
The charges come with two free tickets to the goat race and two free tickets to the event and entrance to owners tent respectively.
