Dar charity Goat Races come to shuddering halt

Goat Race, one of the major annual charity events in the country, might not be held any more, it has been revealed.

The charity Goat Race, which used to raise funds for the needy across the country for more than 17 years, has to come to an abrupt halt as a result of financial constraints.

Karen Stanley, who has been in the organising corridors for all those years, said escalation of preparations cost and lack of sponsorship were major factors behind the bleak future of the race.

She said the Goat races committee endured a torrid moment to keep everything in shape ahead of this year’s event, which took place last weekend in the city.

She said the cost of preparations included hiring of tents, chairs, power generators, the track construction, food stalls, pavilion huts, food and what have you are escalating.

While cost is becoming an issue of paramount importance, the collection from sponsors as well as prize money for race winners have gone down.

Besides those mentioned revenue falls, even the gate collection has been severely affected. Entry fees have been raised but on the other side of the coin, it has forced spectators to stay at home.

However, she said some individuals and companies have shown interest of taking over organisation of the event with effect from next year, but this is not a certainty.

She said discussions will be held in the next couple of weeks to weigh the possibility of taking over the six-hour charity show, but so far the incumbent committee has released its final breath the hard way and completely lost hope of the event’s future.

Entry fees that used to be between three and five thousand shillings have scaled toSh10,000 and Sh20,000 per kid and adult, respectively.

The event projected to generate over Sh120 million, almost the same as the previous year’s revenue collection. Over 18 years the event has generated slightly in excess of Sh1.1 billion channeled to various charitable organisations across the country.

Tanzania Breweries and Southern Sun hotel have been stanuch supporter of the races since its inauguration 17 years ago.