ON the other side of the Atlantic, plans are also underway for the upcoming ‘Carribean Royal Ascot’, as described by Barbados Tourism’s Marc McCollin.

“The Sandy Lane Gold Cup happens on the first Saturday in March, the Sandy Lane Hotel have been sponsoring it for over 20 years. This is the biggest event in the horse racing calendar in Barbados where you have horses coming from all across the Caribbean and internationally as well.

“Throughout the year you would typically have major have race meeting two weekends a month at Garrison Savannah, which in itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Polo, which runs from mid-December through to early April, is really, really big in Barbados and that started in Garrison Savannah as well.

“You’d have local teams competing against one another and then you’d have international teams such as from Argentina and the United Kingdom.

“I like to tell people that May is a really good time to visit. You get some great hotel rates and the weather is great.” Mark advised.