This year, Western Wind, owned by Jayaratne Group of Companies, produced some stunning victories at the April hill-country summer season[/caption]
It will not be an overstatement to say that the Royal Turf Club 15th of April Race-day in Nuwara Eliya belonged to the Jayaratne Stables.
This year, Western Wind, the horse owned by Jayaratne Stables - a subsidiary of Jayaratne Group of Companies, produced stunning victories at the hill-country racecourse.
Western Wind beat former Governor’s Cup and Magic Million winner Alcazaba in the premier event. He is now the undisputed champion in Sri Lanka over the 1,800-metre distance.
Gamini Jayaratne
Gamini Jayaratne, Chairman of Jayaratne Group, is a veteran in horseracing and stables. His passion for horses and horseracing has enabled him to contribute to the sport that he loves for over 22 years, since he started his stables in Sri Lanka. He later began racing in India too.
Jayaratne is ably supported by his wife Chamari Jayaratne who is too passionate about the sport of horseracing. This combination for over two decades has provided some of the best thoroughbred horseracing in Sri Lanka as well as in India. Their son, Hasanga Jayaratne, Director of Jayaratne Group’s oversees horseracing operations, is also instrumental in the spectacular wins this season.
Laudable effort
Jayaratne also has the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan to have started horse breeding stable operation. And, there is only a few Sri Lankans who have taken part in horseracing altogether in the Indo cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore, and Chennai.
Being a well known entrepreneur, pioneering some of the most innovative services in Sri Lanka, his efforts to develop the interest among young and able Sri Lankans in horse-riding is laudable.
The Jayaratne Stables have set up a riding school too in Dambulla to encourage locals and foreign visitors to learn and enjoy the art of horse riding.
Figures behind success
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April 2021 Nuwara Eliya Summer Season became a memorable one for the Jayaratne Group of Companies[/caption]
April 2021 is a memorable month for Jayaratne and his horse trainer Sridhar Sivarathnam. Western Wind, a thoroughbred horse trained by Sivarathnam, won the premier race in the country, the Governor’s Cup’s three races out of five. It should be noted that the race was with a rich history of over 150 years.
Jockey K. Vivek, especially flown in from India, brought glory to the Jayaratne Stables by riding the horses to victory in both Governor’s Cup and Queen’s Cup this year.
Sivarathnam became the champion trainer in this year’s entire April Season. And the Jayaratne Stables emerged the Champion Stables.