LABELLED the largest horse racing event locally, the Guyana Cup is expected to feature almost all of the country’s best horses, and as such, preparations for the August 13 event are moving apace.
In an invited comment yesterday Promotional Manager of the Guyana Cup, Roy Jafarally, said that despite the prolonged inclement weather, organisers have been busy putting all logistics in place in order to make the event another successful one.
The event, in its 11th year, is billed for the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice, and unconfirmed reports suggest that over $20M will be up for grabs.
Eight races have been confirmed for the day’s event, with the racing programme having the B Class event as the main attraction.
This race is open to all imported and Guyana-bred B class horses and covers a distance of 2 000m for a whopping $2M first prize. The second prize is set at $1M, third $500 000, fourth $250 000 and fifth $125 000.
There is the E and Lower 1500m race for all imported and Guyana-bred three-year-olds and up and those rated E class and Lower for a $1.2M winner’s purse.
The G & Lower Guyana and West Indies-bred racehorses will cover a distance of 1500m with the winner carting off $700 000.
The H3 and Lower race for Guyana and West Indies-bred horses has a $400 000 payday over a distance of 1100m.
The two-year-old Guyana-bred horses will run over a similar 1100m distance with $350 000 set for the winning stable, while the three-year-old Guyana-bred and I1 and Lower class event has a winning price tag of $300 000 over 1100m.
The J2 and K and Lower class animals will be battling for a $250 000 purse, while the L & Lower non-winners will contest for $200 000, both events also over 1100m.
Race-time is set for 11:30hrs. Registration is ongoing, and is expected to close on August 6.