ALL is set for the fourth annual Guyana Cup horse race meet, which is organised by the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Stables in collaboration with the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC), and gallops off today at the Rising Sun, Arima Park, West Coast Berbice.
Over $10M in prize money is up for grabs in what could be the richest horse race meeting in Guyana’s history in a sport that is being called the King’s sport, with over 100 horses taking entry. A mammoth crowd is expected.
Beverage giant Banks DIH Limited is sponsoring the main C class event with a guaranteed amount of $2.2M, with the winner galloping off with $1.2M along with the Banks DIH trophy and bragging rights.
The Elcock Stable leads the entries with three top runners in Miss Republic, The Message and the newly imported Prince Charming, while a number of other new imports will also feature including Zafar, Home Bush Baby and Marathon Man in the 1600m scorcher.
The 3-years-old Zenyatta’s Memorial classic for horses born and bred in Guyana and the West indies will run for a first prize of $1M and is expected to be highlighted by a return clash between Peaceful and Celebration Time of the Elcock Stable and Sabrina’s Princess of the Jagdeo Stable.
Others competing will include  Got To Go,  Appellin Harvest and Fairy Landing in another 1600m race compliments of Jumbo Jet Auto Sales. 
The E & Lower event, sponsored by Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, which is an 1100m which is the distance for all the other events, will see Night Crescendo of the Crawford Stable competing against Fresh Prospect, Maracas Star and The Gap for the $600 000 top prize and trophy.
Two-year-olds race for horses born and bred in Guyana and the West Indies will see Better Than Gold looking to continue its dominance against the likes of Subrina Joy and Big Impact for the $800 000 winnings, sponsored by Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Cummings Electrical.
The Two-years-old event sponsored by Jumbo Jet for locally bred horses will see the likes of Super Cat, Royale Salute, King Gambler, J.D Junior and Speed Vision trying to stop the winning streak of Wicked Intentions in the battle for the $400 000 top prize and trophy.
Digicel is the sponsor of the G & Lower showdown with a winning of $400 000 and trophy and will see Pixie Fire, Stylish Line, Zip PA de Do Da and Gabriel’s Gold competing for the top prize.     
The H & Lower has been sponsored by Imperial Manufacturers and Dependable Spares, with a first prize of $300 000 and a trophy, with Finishing Touch, Prospector Pride and Baby Boy battling for supremacy.
I & Lower race is sponsored by Yellow Mining with Miami Vice, Savion, Little Spike, and De Gump all in the hunt for the $200 000 winnings and trophy.
I’& Lower for animals with one win and lower is sponsored by Two Brothers Guyana Limited which has put aside $150 000 plus trophy for the winner of the event with Savian, Little Spike, Miami Voice and De Gump among those in the hunt.
Innovative has assured runners in the Division 1&2 category of their winnings with sponsorship of $100 000 plus trophy for the winner. The race is expected to be a serious affair with Sporting Time, Black Beauty and Royal Time battling for supremacy.
Added attractions, including games for adults and children, are all part of the day’s proceedings, being run under the auspices of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA).
Jamaican jockey Andron Findlay has been in Guyana for just over three months acclimatising for this big event and will compete against the likes of overseas-based Guyanese Sunny Singh just from a successful tour in his adopted home of Canada.
They will throw down the gauntlet against a host of top home riders from Guyana including Paul Delph, Rupert Ramnauth, Daniel Flores, Krishna Singh who is back home after a short sojourn overseas,  Kevin Paul, Yap Drepaul, Winston Apadhu and apprentices Mark Vossey and Krishna Singh.
The top jockey along with the runner-up, top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with accolades, compliments of Ramesh Sunich of The Trophy Stall in Bourda Market and City Mall.
Slingers Sound Machine and Black Widow Power Sounds will be keeping fans occupied throughout the day’s proceedings, while Banks DIH beverages and Chester Fried chicken and chips and barbecue will be available to those who need to splurge with their appetite.
Last-minute queries can still be directed to Sham Chattergoon on Tel 641-9135, Sadeek Mohamed 223-6189, Melissa Chattergoon 698-7004, Romell Jagroop 624-1798, Fazil Habibulla 648-6522, Inshanally Habibulla 623-4495 and Paul 652-731.