The Samoa Racing Club (S.R.C.) hosted the Independence Race Meet to mark the country’s 60th Independence anniversary at the Tuanaimato racecourse on Saturday.

The official program got underway at 1pm with Government leaders including Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, a number of Cabinet Ministers and senior officials joining horse racing enthusiasts and members of the public for the event.

There were a total of six races on Saturday with the winners of the Loibl Motor Sprint (local maiden) announced as Taumai, owned by Tanuvasa Vaotolo taking first place, Beretta owned Richard Annandale taking second place and the Ranger owned by Gaseata Tauta finishing third. 

For the S.O.S Mile (c class), the Manuki took first place while the Kit-Kat owned by Leilani Clarke came second followed by the Jane owned Maafala Meredith in third. For the Independence Trophy (b class), Lupe o le Mauga owned by Robert Leavasa came home followed by the Tarzan owned by Jomel Meredith placing second and the Vaelise owned by Valentino Meredith securing third. 

In the Samoa Racing Club race (local village horse/avega popo), the winner was the Paipa owned by Joelene with Vailima owned by Tanuvasa Vaotogo coming second and third place going to Lolane. 

Perhaps, the most exciting race of the meet in the Apialua Challenge (c class) saw eight horses vying for top honours. The Solaua Prince, owned by Tuilaepa Peter Rasch came home with Taumai coming second followed by Jane in third. 

A total of about 22 horses took part in the event with Vargas Rasch indicating that 50 per cent of the horses that ran the race tracks on Saturday were the offspring of the legendary Wild Ace, a thoroughbred that was imported from overseas around 2001–2002.

There was only one reported incident during the competition with one local jockey falling off his horse and was attended to by Red Cross medical personnel who were at the track.

The next race is scheduled for the Teuila Festival this year which is part of the country's celebrations of its 60th Independence anniversary.

The event on Saturday was organised by the SRC President Tuilaepa Peter Rasch, Vice President Lesā Richard Keil, the Secretary Richard Annandale, Treasurer Tiufea Rudy Meredith, the management committee, Chief Steward Siegfried and the stewards and the starters, Leiataua Jnr. Keil and Pupi Mathes. 

Judging the Meet were Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale, Justice Leilani Tuala, and Fata Paul Loibl, with Fonomaāitu Vaniah Tufuga as the course announcer.

The sponsors of the event were S.O.S Company, Loibl Motors, Apialua and others. 

Asked regarding the race meet, Lesā said that it was part of the country’s celebrations of Samoa’s 60th Independence anniversary. 

For those who missed Saturday’s meet, he confirmed that the SRC will host another Race Meet during the Teuila Festival.

“We will also have it for [the] Teuila Festival—it’s all part of Independence celebrations. This is an annual Independence Day event organised by the Samoa Racing Club,” Lesā said. 

He also revealed that the Samoa Racing Club will donate a portion of the proceeds from the race on Saturday to the Mapuifagalele Home of the Elderly.